A P(l)otted History part2, Aug 2015 onward

[Primrose]

Gosh that compost looks good. Next year's seedlings will think they are in heaven !

[Pa Snip]

Primrose, even I think I sound stupid saying this but here goes anyway.....

As far as it is possible to be impressed by composted manure I am about as impressed by it as I can get.
The seeds stand more chance of being in heaven than I do


Ye gods and little fishes I must be a saddo, I've been impressed by many things and people in my time but composted manure!!!!!! I really need to get a life

[Primrose]

Pa Snip. You have a life ! Anybody who can be amazed at the complexities of good quality manure or compost has, in my view, an excellent understanding of the miracles of nature in how it breaks down from green rubbish to such wonderful brown particles. Your education has not been wasted !! Believe me, I recently came across somebody who saw leeks growing in my veg patch and didn't have the slightest idea what they were.
"Ye gods and little fishes." Now that is an expression I have not heard for many years since my late father-in-law used to utter it at the TV screen whenever a politician not of his liking was shown!

[Pa Snip]

Today (Monday 26-10-15) my day once again will centre around manure.

Two of my fellow plot holders want 20 barrow loads (roughly just over a cu. mt. each) each from the delivery I had (excess to my requirements) so we are shifting that today.

Have also got to ring the supplier and order another 10cu. Mt. load for delivery as 3 other plot holders want to share a full load between them.

Hi Ho, Hi Ho, it's off to work we go shovelling sh sh sh, ............
manure by hand. At least it doesn't stink, in fact it smells quite sweet, nor is it heavy.

[Primrose]

This compost envy seems to be very infectious! Your allotment society, if you have one, will be walking off with all the prizes next summer!

[Pa Snip]

I rang the order through at 08:30. was told they weren't sure when delivery would be. Got a phone call at 10.30 saying they had a delivery cancellation would I like delivery today between 1pm and 2pm.

And so it was, on the nose.

Primrose

There are about 5 of us on the site who enter the local horticultural and craft show in September. We enjoy a bit of friendly rivalry in the process, just for fun.

[Primrose]

Well Pa Snip, it looks as if you've just given away your winning advantage If they're all getting in on the compost act!

[Pa Snip]

Dammit Primrose

I never thought of that !!!!

What a silly billy I am

[Pa Snip]

Seems as if it is not my year.

Apart from the tomatoes having blight in a manner they have not suffered it before, Cauliflowers that didn't really come to anything, Calabrese that failed
I tried the 'trial' tomato sent out with seed orders early in the year by D T Brown's
Variety was called 'Nimbus'. Sowed all 9 seeds in trial pack in greenhouse, two germinated. Of the two that germinated one died very quickly, the other grew only slightly and produced no fruit. Both were gone before others suffered blight.

Also tried new 'Gigantomo' from Van Meuwen having seen a write up in Daily Mail about its introduction. Allegedly produces largest tomato in the world.

6 seeds germinated, kept 2 and gave 4 away.
Concluded that to get really big toms you needed to only grow one fruit per plant.
Unlike other beefsteak tomatoes we have tried in the past this one was watery and almost devoid of taste., yet my daughters two plants had good taste according to her. Didn't hear how my neighbouring plot holder got on with the two I gave them, assume they failed as I would have been told if they had done well with them

Now as we come to the end of the year Mrs S informs me that we appear to have onion fly affecting the leeks !! if so they will have to go the route of the tomatoes, to the tip. (and I don't mean the tip that is the plot next door )

[Geoff]

I tried two plants of the free Nimbus. They were completely different in habit, one fairly normal and the other endlessly produced multiple side shoots and end of truss leaves, almost thought I should have grown it as a bush. Seems to be an unstable strain and with the fruit being nothing special if others have had the same results I guess we won't see it again. The packet asked for feedback but I never worked out how to do it.
Best beefsteak this year was Cherokee Purple but Beefmaster was quite good also, particularly late on.

[Primrose]

Somebody gave me a Giagantomo to trial. It produced only one truss with two tomatoes, one of which very small. The large tomato grew almost to the size of my palm but the top part near the calyx was so crinkled and deformed that at least half an inch would have had to be sliced off and wasted from the fruit if you were serving it sliced as a tomato salad. The flesh had the consistence of a peach or nectarine, with very little juice. An interesting experiment to grow but not good value for money in my opinion, in terms of yield or flavour versus growing space needed.

My leeks have all developed rust so I doubt if they will last through the winter as they're looking very straggly. I foresee a lot of leek and potato soup on the menu.

[Pa Snip]

The packet asked for feedback but I never worked out how to do it.
.

Geoff

Nor Me !!!

[Pa Snip]

The large tomato grew almost to the size of my palm but the top part near the calyx was so crinkled and deformed that at least half an inch would have had to be sliced off and wasted from the fruit if you were serving it sliced as a tomato salad. .

mine not only had the ugly crinkled top ( as did the one who won £1000 at Harrogate flower show for being the heaviest one) it also had a crinkly bottom (leaves the forum wide open for retorts to that )

[Primrose]

Well I suppose I shouldn't be complaining about food waste when Hugh F-W is kicking off his campaign on TV tonight, but nobody really wants to eat a crinkly bottom I don't think setting out deliberately to breed or grow ugly fruit or vegetables is going to catch on.

[Pa Snip]

but nobody really wants to eat a crinkly bottom

Oh my word, you mean that the past 5 years of secret trials in the shed and greenhouse within the grounds of Snip Manor (it was a bargain price when we got it)along with the months of secret negotiation with a top seed supplier have all been to no avail !!!!!!

We have just set up the press releases, the publicity photographs have all been taken and we were ready to launch, now we are going to have to scrap it based upon Primrose's advice

All those wasted hours of early morning scientific exchange with OH, was all to no avail
The new variety Tomato 'Cellulite' will not be appearing free on the front of your favourite magazine after all.

Sorry folks