Kitchen Garden Forum

I am glad I'm in good company, I also can't throw any plant with a sign of life in it away, its the same with shrubs any prunings and I'm there pottings up cuttings, same with perennial plants split them and pot up the spare roots.
Bren

Looks as if it might be some sort of maternal thing going on with you ladies, not sure what to say about Peter.

Perhaps we need to learn how to ship plug plants to each other and have a Plant Swap section.

I try to always grow a few spares, but this year I've invested in a pro-seeder which only picks up one seed at a time so you can space them out neatly and hopefully won't have to thin them out. It is OK in trays, modules etc. but I should think it is a bit fiddly outside unless you sit on the ground.

When you've been caught out by sowing thinly and carefully and get very poor germination, I think it makes you err on the generous side to make sure you at least get some plants - then of course they all germinate beautifully and you have too many. So I'm giving my new seeder a try and hope I get good germination.

Hi Geoff,
In 2004 when I had grown literally thousands of brassicas for the retail and mail order market and then went and had a heart attack and had to retire I tried hard to give the plants away on this forum but nobody was interested. I asked for the postage only which I thought reasonable but still no takers.
A swap system should work very well but as soon as you mention postage the large majority will only want something if it is at no cost to them.
This morning I saw some plants in Ludlow which were said to be Brussel's Sprouts but no variety mentioned priced at £2.60. for 10 plants. So people are buying something they do not even know when to expect the sprouts to harvest! These plants had not yet got there first pair of leaves let alone the four they should have for planting out.
Of course they were outside 'The Organic Shop.'
I'm afraid I had a go at the proprietor and insisted he removed them from sale. He in turn told me to f off. So I told him it is about time Trading Standards had a hand in it. I have duly done what I said what I will do.
Strangely Trading Standards said that they had already had a complaint in hand and an officer has it in hand to call this afternoon. They have promised to inform me of the outcome.
JB.

Johnboy In 2005 I think it was when my husband asked on the forum about some runner bean seeds, you were getting rid of them, you offered him some he offered to pay for them you said you didn't want any payment, he never got any from you.
Bren

Hi Bren,
I am so sorry that you didn't get your seeds because of the few people who did ask for seeds they were all dispatched generally on the same day.
Then in 2005 I had further spells in hospital so whether it was then or not I am afraid that cannot say. Please do accept my sincere apology.
JB.

I have been guilty of this too of course and I suspect that with me it is more the 'jackpot' principle at work - same as not being able to stop buying chocolate from the machine as every success feels like a win.

When I see those waving armies of seedlings stretching into the haze of great distance I feel proud that I am the creator of such bounty. The fact that my three year old could do it has always escaped me so far.

This year however I have decided that quality over quantity will be my aim and that my pride will come from the proifessional approach of just sowing enough and skillfully bringing them on with no waste.

I'll make the environmentalists happy and still fill the larder.

David

Smile now, you might not get another chance.

Dear David, you will get your rewards at the end of the day, and your three year old will be very proud of you.

Johnboy your apology is accecpted, we knew at the time you had a health problem and was attending hospital, hope you are in better health now.
Bren

With regards to the shop concerned, in my earlier posting, they have no plants for sale now but Trading Standards have not contacted me as promised. Probably a letter will be forthcoming in the months to come.
JB.

JB your point is a good one and the efforts of unscroupulous traders to 'cash in' on the grow your own movement makes my blood boil too. If we had a good swap scheme they wouldn't te so succesful.

I was in Homebase in Millbrook near Southampton yesterday to pick up some tiles and was astounded to see trays of tomato plants with red fruit on them standing on trolleys in the carpark.

Thoughts of the airmiles and heat needed to make that happen sit alongside the disapointment that will be experienced by anyone buying these plants and expecting a good result.

I would gladly produce more plants and donate them to a scheme if it got people growing their own in a sustainable way.

Best

David

Cured! Potted up 12 Red Cabbage yesterday and put the rest of the seedlings on the compost.

Could you hear their plaintive cry in the night? "Why? why? why?"

Geoff - and it will be Sods Law that within a couple of days all your little cabbage seedlings will have been attacked by slugs and you'll be cursing yourself for having thrown the rest away ! I've just taken a gamble and planted out my leek seedlings but am saving a second small reserve tray I've sown in case I get a few gaps appearing, which always seems to offend my symetrical eye. If I don't need them, I'll give them away.