Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat

Growing => Grow Your Own => Topic started by: DD. on January 09, 2012, 10:39

Title: Strange growth for the time of year.
Post by: DD. on January 09, 2012, 10:39
Wasn't sure whether to put this in GYO, General Gardening or Chatting, as no doubt there will be some overlap.

If put it in GYO as I'm kicking it off with that subject. I mentioned in another thread a neighbouring plot holder having 1' high peas in flower. Here they are. Anybody else got something well in advance?

Photos not necessary, but always an advantage!

(http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c182/G4IAR/P1010394.jpg)
Title: Re: Strange growth for the time of year.
Post by: lazydog on January 09, 2012, 11:23
DD did he plant them on purpose or are they self set from last season?
Title: Re: Strange growth for the time of year.
Post by: DD. on January 09, 2012, 11:26
Spoke to him this morning when I took the photo. They are planted on purpose and are a risk. He admits that last year they wouldn't have made it.

He's got artichokes about 3' high, that he says should not get that tall until May. (I know nowt about artichokes!).
Title: Re: Strange growth for the time of year.
Post by: aelf on January 09, 2012, 11:54
I have some volunteer potatoes that are knee high already! I keep meaning to clear them away but am curious to see how they do.

Also have daffodils in pots that are 18" tall and have buds on and a couple of swedes have thrown up flower spikes. and the Long-Tail Tits are flirting with each other and setting up in one of my nest boxes!

This time last year the ground on my plot was frozen solid and nothing was growing except icicles  :)
Title: Re: Strange growth for the time of year.
Post by: DD. on January 09, 2012, 11:55
I've just mown the lawns.  :ohmy:
Title: Re: Strange growth for the time of year.
Post by: bigben on January 09, 2012, 12:39
I have a strawberry plant that has flowers on it. Very strange - non of the rest have and I suspect the first hard frost will kill them off.
Title: Re: Strange growth for the time of year.
Post by: savbo on January 09, 2012, 12:56
most of the artichokes around us a re growing well. And one of my parsnips has started on its 2nd-year growth - better dig it up quick.

But no buds on our goosegogs yet?
Title: Re: Strange growth for the time of year.
Post by: arugula on January 09, 2012, 13:16
The climbing hydrangea plants have healthy buds on them.
Title: Re: Strange growth for the time of year.
Post by: stentman on January 09, 2012, 13:29
I took cutting from my Geraniums in Oct expecting the usual frosts to have killed the parent plants by now. But no the plants are recovering from being hacked about and are putting on new growth. As for the lawn unless the local weather starts doing proper winter things it's going to be mower time here soon. What a marked difference to last year.
Title: Re: Strange growth for the time of year.
Post by: arugula on January 09, 2012, 13:32
It was so wet in the autumn, our lawn missed at least one last cut. Its now been so wet for so long the blades of grass are just disappearing. We'll see if it recovers from this...
Title: Re: Strange growth for the time of year.
Post by: Spana on January 09, 2012, 14:15
I have roses, fuchsia and geraniums out in the garden still in flower and like aelf volunteer potatoes a good 18inches out of the ground. I'm going to leave the pots until a frost-if we get any- takes them.
Title: Re: Strange growth for the time of year.
Post by: gobs on January 09, 2012, 16:51
I have spilt it here and there, but here they are:

Globe artichokes - keep budding and wanting to flower

One asparagus - started to shoot this week, another still has green foliage

Strawberries - a whole bed in flower

Another plot's rasberries(summer) - full of flower buds

Volunteer summer broad bean seedlings - 1-3 inches tall

Main crop peas (purple podded) dropped and found germinated seeds - in cold gh 1-2 inch seedlings

In the flower garden all sorts - spring, autumn, winter and summer flowering plants - have blooms at the same time.
Title: Re: Strange growth for the time of year.
Post by: Trillium on January 09, 2012, 19:38
When my snow clears in a few months, I'll let you know what's growing   :(

Not surprised about the peas though, they love cool weather as do brassicas.
Title: Re: Strange growth for the time of year.
Post by: New shoot on January 09, 2012, 19:46
I've got ready to pick mustard greens that I put in late last year as a bit of a punt. They were too small to bother with last autumn but didn't get around to clearing them and they have grown steadily under their cloche all winter  :)
Title: Re: Strange growth for the time of year.
Post by: totalnovice on January 09, 2012, 20:01
My stawberries are fruiting!!! ???
It is the thrid time since June, so the poor plants will be exhausted by the time they should be fruting again in June! I have picked off all the flowers (most with black centres) and all of the fruit i saw - but talk about bonkers!!!
I have noticed it in the flower garden too - seedlings coming already, fushcia and marigolds still flowering from last year (!) and yesterday we saw a honey bee flying around as if it was spring time already! I am worried how everything will be knocked back if we ever get a good long cold snap, or if not how the plants will deal with the very long season without going dormant at all.
Title: Re: Strange growth for the time of year.
Post by: Plottered on January 09, 2012, 21:20
It will probably snow in July  :blink:
Title: Re: Strange growth for the time of year.
Post by: NASH on January 09, 2012, 22:23
I still got self blanching celery growing nicely, planted last april.  ???
Title: Re: Strange growth for the time of year.
Post by: DD. on January 09, 2012, 22:27
That's actually not unusual. It  can stand through quiet severe frosts, but just hasn't had to this year!
Title: Re: Strange growth for the time of year.
Post by: arugula on January 10, 2012, 07:12
It will probably snow in July  :blink:

I've seen it in June in lowland UK. :)
Title: Re: Strange growth for the time of year.
Post by: Springlands on January 10, 2012, 09:04
My hydrangea were still in bloom in December and are only just losing their leaves, pot marigolds still have flowers on them. A very strange year. 
Title: Re: Strange growth for the time of year.
Post by: prakash_mib on January 10, 2012, 14:35
I was wondering why my hay fever symptoms has returned  :(
Title: Re: Strange growth for the time of year.
Post by: mumofstig on January 10, 2012, 15:12
Hi prakash *waves*
I don't think there's enough pollen about, nor is it dry enough, for hay fever - sorry, I think you must be allergic to something else (as well)
Title: Re: Strange growth for the time of year.
Post by: Growster... on January 10, 2012, 16:09
At least a dozen 'Albertine' buds and flowers here!

They go with the bird song too...
Title: Re: Strange growth for the time of year.
Post by: shokkyy on January 10, 2012, 17:02
My outdoor spring onions have carried on growing all through the winter and I'm still picking them :)
Title: Re: Strange growth for the time of year.
Post by: hubballi on January 10, 2012, 17:32
I have strawberry's hanging from my basket in the greenhouse and are slightly ripe.
Title: Re: Strange growth for the time of year.
Post by: DD. on January 10, 2012, 17:39
Rhubarb, rhubarb...

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-16495043
Title: Re: Strange growth for the time of year.
Post by: Ice on January 10, 2012, 19:07
Rhubarb, rhubarb...

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-16495043
Those monsters!!!!  Keeping rhubarb in such cramped conditions indoors with nothing but a candle to see by.  Something needs to be done :lol:
Title: Re: Strange growth for the time of year.
Post by: AdrianH on January 10, 2012, 20:22
Strawberries appearing (not ripe though), and my blueberry bushes are flowering!
Title: Re: Strange growth for the time of year.
Post by: Growster... on January 10, 2012, 20:36
Strawberries appearing (not ripe though), and my blueberry bushes are flowering!

Hellfire, that's quick!

I only mentioned to Mrs Growster yesterday, that ours were just starting to bud!

Good for you!
Title: Re: Strange growth for the time of year.
Post by: Auntiemogs on January 11, 2012, 06:13
I have strawberry's hanging from my basket in the greenhouse and are slightly ripe.
Not ripe for me Hubballi but deffo past the flowering stage. Tis quite vexatious...
Title: Re: Strange growth for the time of year.
Post by: prakash_mib on January 11, 2012, 16:53
Hi prakash *waves*
thanks MOS... struggling with two kids. life is completely different.
Title: Re: Strange growth for the time of year.
Post by: arugula on January 13, 2012, 16:21
The bluebells are up by a good couple of inches. I don't remember them ever sprouting in January.
Title: Re: Strange growth for the time of year.
Post by: shokkyy on January 13, 2012, 16:23
Yes, mine are up too, as are the daffodils. And I've never heard so much birdsong in January :)
Title: Re: Strange growth for the time of year.
Post by: mumofstig on January 13, 2012, 16:26
Let's see what happens after this predicted cold snap  :ohmy:
Title: Re: Strange growth for the time of year.
Post by: arugula on January 13, 2012, 16:29
I reckon the bluebells will be fine. OH reckons you could drop a bomb on them and they'd still grow back every year!  :lol:
Title: Re: Strange growth for the time of year.
Post by: Growster... on January 14, 2012, 06:28
Catkins are well out here, and we have orange Berberis flowering too!

Amazing!
Title: Re: Strange growth for the time of year.
Post by: sunshineband on January 14, 2012, 09:40
We have catkins too--- all silvered with frost this morning   :)
Title: Re: Strange growth for the time of year.
Post by: Rangerkris on January 14, 2012, 11:24
I found a couple of white strawberries yesterday on the plot while cutting all the dead leaves off.
Title: Re: Strange growth for the time of year.
Post by: AnneB on January 14, 2012, 13:54
We had a really hard frost last night, but oddly enough last year's flat leaved parsley and a few remnants of spring onion are looking quite perky. 
Title: Re: Strange growth for the time of year.
Post by: DD. on January 25, 2012, 13:14
Wasn't sure whether to put this in GYO, General Gardening or Chatting, as no doubt there will be some overlap.

If put it in GYO as I'm kicking it off with that subject. I mentioned in another thread a neighbouring plot holder having 1' high peas in flower. Here they are. Anybody else got something well in advance?

Photos not necessary, but always an advantage!

(http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c182/G4IAR/P1010394.jpg)

These are now dead, killed by the frosts a week or so ago.  :(
Title: Re: Strange growth for the time of year.
Post by: gobs on January 28, 2012, 12:06
The self-sown summer broad beans and peas in the unheated gh are still fine here, but there is worse to come, so I heard.

The celery is giving in now.
Title: Re: Strange growth for the time of year.
Post by: sunshineband on January 28, 2012, 12:08
The self-sown summer broad beans and peas in the unheated gh are still fine here, but there is worse to come, so I heard.

The celery is giving in now.

Our celery is still Ok inside the outer stems, but not for much longer I think
Title: Re: Strange growth for the time of year.
Post by: DD. on January 28, 2012, 12:30

Our celery is still Ok inside the outer stems

We call that the "middle".  :tongue2:
Title: Re: Strange growth for the time of year.
Post by: carlrmj on January 28, 2012, 12:35



Blueberries are starting to flower
Title: Re: Strange growth for the time of year.
Post by: sunshineband on January 28, 2012, 12:39

Our celery is still Ok inside the outer stems

We call that the "middle".  :tongue2:

Sorry, not au fait with all the technical terminology, DD  :lol:
Title: Re: Strange growth for the time of year.
Post by: gobs on January 28, 2012, 15:21

Our celery is still Ok inside the outer stems

We call that the "middle".  :tongue2:

Sorry, not au fait with all the technical terminology, DD  :lol:

That's nothing. I'm going to harvest tomorrow no else but celery hearts.
Title: Re: Strange growth for the time of year.
Post by: Thrift on January 29, 2012, 06:57
Everything is way ahead. I saw wild strawberries in flower last week!

Talking to our farmer neighbour the other day and he told me weed growth starts at about 4C and grass at 7C. The fields are as lush and green as in April and we are at about 600ft.
Title: Re: Strange growth for the time of year.
Post by: DD. on January 29, 2012, 08:03
The weather we're forecast to get will peg everything back:

http://chat.allotment-garden.org/index.php?topic=87515.msg987079#msg987079
Title: Re: Strange growth for the time of year.
Post by: gobs on February 03, 2012, 10:36
The vinca flowers are well frosted, but still look happy.
Title: Re: Strange growth for the time of year.
Post by: Auntiemogs on February 08, 2012, 08:29
Just slow-tailed it out to the greenhouse to rescue my two bulbs of Solent Wight garlic which I hadn't gotten around to planting yet and last years lettuce and spinach are still going strong - who'da thunk?  :lol: