Kitchen Garden Forum

Well............

Not that I like to be controversial, I made my raised beds teh same way and have turned out ok, the couch really did not come back in a big way, I think Joe is great, it looks like he has done it mainly on his own, I think it will turn out to be good, he may not want to use Glyscphate and for that size of patch it will cost him a lot.

I wish him luck, I think the traditionalists are tad envious

Compo

I think people are being a little unfair on Joe Swift. If you'd really watched the programme instead of storing up your objections to it you would've heard him say that the compost and bark were delivered to the site, not to his plot. The same thing happens at our site, and its first come first served. I also think that he's doing a good imitation of a newbie - not always listening to good advice, wanting something different, and, yes, rotovating against his own advice, but really, aren't we all a little impatient? How boring would the programme be if all we saw was Joe digging metre after metre of his plot? Of course the weeds will be back, but instead of putting off prospective plotholders I think it will encourage those just starting out; they will know they're not alone. Give the guy a break, he's admitted he's not a veg grower, and at least we're going to see more fruit and veg on the show. The only thing I was cross about was his van. I want one!

"Give the guy a break, he's admitted he's not a veg grower, and at least we're going to see more fruit and veg on the show."
Very well said, Angi. I couldn't agree with you more. Give the bloke a chance!
I would also say that I think Monty does a good job on GW but that will certainly induce Keyboard Rage in a few (no names) forum members.

John

Not me, I like Monty, he's the reason I have an allotment.

"Well, I'm glad that some of you like me."



I hope you'll all be watching tonight.

I didn't watch the programme - but feel as if I had done! Could it be a big set up? Alternate weeks you see Joe Swift floundering and eventually submerging in a sea of weeds and Jack Steady plodding on slowly but surely, following the sound advice from the old boys. A bit like the tortoise and the hare. Probably not, but it's nice to think about.
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Granny

Having just read all your comments about the Gardener's World programme "not in this world" and all the cheating that's been going on behind the scenes for nature programmes, can you understand why we don't have a TV? It seems to me that most TV programmes are sham in some way and not the real thing.

I'd rather have the real thing.

Dear Monika, an old bricklayer i used to work with used to say, T.V is nothing but brainwashing, maybe he was right.

You may be right OH....I do watch some TV (not a lot though) and I still have two very active brain cells...one spends all its time searching for the other

I have just finished watching tonight's programme and quite enjoyed it. I think that Joe Swift knows more about vegetable gardening then he lets on.

Barney

Having just watched gardeners world,when they Monty and Joe sow seeds they seem to drown the trays with water, I thought that all the compost needed was to be damp for the seeds to germinate.
Bren

I've noticed that as well, Bren. I was always taught that the proper way to water compost, if you're using a Haws-type can as they do, was with a fine rose pointing upwards so that the water fell naturally and gently. You also had to start the water flowing to one side then bring it in to cover the compost then finish at the side. All three them just seem to slosh water carelessly about all over the place.

John

Watched GW again tonight,and what I like about Swifty is that he is honest, Blue Peter was no better or worse just becaue they presented various versions of their project i.e. - ' here's one that I prepared earlier', there are lots of plots out there who have overgrown allotments and if his enthusiasm does not motivate them, nothing will.

I go against the grain, I use home made compost with weed seed and, I dig up couch grass time and time again till it's gone, and will rotavate a bed that is not completely clean to save time...like Joe I do not have an unlimited amount of time being in full time employment. I get the crops in the ground and do some 'speed weeding later' otherwise I would dig all year round and never get crops sown.

No doubt tomorrow will see me sowing my main crop tatties in the rain, but they will still give me a good crop. Down with the purist and up with the individual, lets hear it for Joe and Co.

Compo

Bren. My late father always watered from the bottom, IE after sowing the seeds in the modules, would then place the seed tray in 2inches of water [sorry I am still imperial] telling me that this way any air left in the potting compost , came out of the potting soil naturally. shallotman

I think Joe had sorted himself in the meantime. The raised beds had been re-arranged to be more or less equal and the paths had membrane added. He had obviously weeded a lot too. Good effort from where he started from.
I always water seed trays well with a rose down then let them drain for ½-1 hour, sow on top then cover with dry material and let the moisture soak up into that.