[Jenny]

Okay, I admit it.  :oops:
I have been secretly looking at this site for quite a while now without registering and finally the guilt caught up with me and I felt I had to 'out'.
So, 'Hello!'
I've had my allotment for three years but despite the lack of rain, this year is the best so far.
Currently I am eating: carrots, peas, courgettes (the whole 19p packet germinated - that's about 15 plants...), cucumbers, potatoes (but not many due to the drought) and yesterday I had my first ripe tomato and a sweetcorn!!!
I am growing: everything I'm eating..., runner beans, vegetable spaghetti and butternut squash, pumpkins, onions, chillis, melons, cabbages, salsify, leeks, lettuce (bolted), parsnips, asparagus peas, coriander and some other herbs, kohl rabi and sweet potatoes.
Despite being 'up north' I have been praying for rain for two months with very little result. Hasn't it been an odd year??!!!

Jenny

[John]

Hi Jenny
Anyone would think it's sinful being an allotmenteer! 'My name is Jenny and I have an allotment'' LOL  
Surprised you have sweetcorn already - mine are nowhere near and I'm a bit south of you. Haven't been to hull for a long time but I do recall it was a little cool. In fairness it was winter and I nearly got the car stuck in a blizzard on the M62.
Anyway, now you're out of the closet you can go on the growing pride march.
Lovely to have you onboard.

[BillinPA]

Hi Jenny
Anyone would think it's sinful being an allotmenteer! 'My name is Jenny and I have an allotment'' LOL  

Sounds like joining a 12 step program for an addiction!! :oops: But it's a good addiction to have................

[rugbymad40]

Welcome onboard.

It is a great community - friendly, full of advice and support.

[GrannieAnnie]

Yes, Hi from me too down in in sunny south lincolnshire!!!

[Eristic]

How in heavans name do you get through the courgettes from 15 plants. I planted 6 expecting some losses, and one plant obliged. Now the courgettes  are getting to 1 kilo  in 2-3 days from embrios so you must be noshing 10 kilos a week.

I think most people will be struggling with the potatoes this year, particularly when the maincrop is due. Jerusalems anyone.

How is the sweet potatos doing and are you using shop bought tubers or proper slips? I'm nosy.

[John]

Jerusalems...  you'll be able to supply a methane generator

My early potatoes are reasonable - so hoping that the maincrop work out. No hosepipe ban our way, so giving them a good soaking every 3 days or so.

[GrannieAnnie]

I had 11 courgette plants germinate.  Planted 4 first in last year's compost bin, then another 4 (they are a bit crowded now!!)  and 3 in the polytunnel, but they didn't like it there, so put them in a big trough outside with loads of manure under them.  But they are stillnot happy.  wondering whether to leave them or try to move them again as they haven't grown very big.

Had loads of courgettes so far, eaten loads (even raw when I'm walking around with the dog, she loves them too!) given loads to my friend Sharon and frozen some, even if they are only of use in stews in the winter, at least they won't get wasted!!

[Jenny]

Courgettes are being eaten with everything (and I've found out that they taste quite nice raw). I am hoping to make a chutney or something similar with my surplus. I am using some of my spares in my flower garden to beef it out a bit
As for sweet potatoes, I bought some slips last year, not Beaureguard because T+M sent out something else instead, um T37 or some such forgettable name, and it is SO EASY to take cuttings that I have grown on a couple of plants this year. It does look like I am growing bindweed in my greenhouse but there we are...
Last year my soil was not really fine enough so I had a couple of decent sized ones and then some tiny little mishapen potatoes  - in fact I still have some left from last year. They'll do for soup.

[Oliver]

as for sweet potatoes ... take cuttings

Now that's an idea! they like them roasted or boiled.

So - what do you take cuttings of and when; when do you plant them cuttings; do they like sun or shade; shall she sieve the soil first before they go in; or would they be happier in a LARGE pot in the poly?

Answers would be much appreciated! Thank you - Anything to keep Her quiet!

[Jenny]

All I did was trim off the tips of new growth and strip the larger leaves off, leaving a cutting about 10cm high. Bung them around the edge of a decent sized pot and leave them on a window sill over winter. Mine were in need of potting up in February! (Well, I think they are related to bind weed...)
I did try to take cuttings from a supermarket sweet potato and it should work fine but the potato will rot if you're not careful - I stuck the cut side down in a saucer and I got a few sprouts.
This year I have mine in a grow bag in the greenhouse on the allotment so a large pot should be fine. But, sweet potatoes don't tolerate frost and go all slimy like dahlia tubers do. Still I think they are exciting to grow!

[hermon]

i have to sweet potatoes sprouted on my window sill some of the stems are about5 inches long shall i plant them on my plot? also i tried 2 lots of slips from T&M  but no luck with any of them! :x