Google Groups no longer supports new Usenet posts or subscriptions. Historical content remains viewable.
Dismiss

I hate to say it, but another unproductive year.

6 views
Skip to first unread message

Baz

unread,
May 18, 2013, 6:49:04 AM5/18/13
to
Brassicas have wilted. ALL of them. I don't think it is cabbage root fly
because I have taken precautions, such as collars around them.
No Brussels sprouts this year, again.

Is there still time to have another go at it this year?

Baz

Bob Hobden

unread,
May 18, 2013, 12:55:24 PM5/18/13
to
"Baz" wrote .
Have you got a proper old nursery near you that grows veg plants? When I
have a failure, savoys and winter cabage this year we go and buy the plants.
Our local one does strips of 12 for �1.50 so it's hardly worth doing it
yourself anyway considering the cost of seed etc..
--
Regards. Bob Hobden.
Posted to this Newsgroup from the W of London, UK

David Hill

unread,
May 18, 2013, 1:14:35 PM5/18/13
to
On 18/05/2013 17:55, Bob Hobden wrote:
> "Baz" wrote .
>>
>> Brassicas have wilted. ALL of them. I don't think it is cabbage root fly
>> because I have taken precautions, such as collars around them.
>> No Brussels sprouts this year, again.
>>
>> Is there still time to have another go at it this year?
>>
>>
> Have you got a proper old nursery near you that grows veg plants? When I
> have a failure, savoys and winter cabage this year we go and buy the
> plants. Our local one does strips of 12 for �1.50 so it's hardly worth
> doing it yourself anyway considering the cost of seed etc..

You might also find some at a car boot sale.

Sacha

unread,
May 18, 2013, 1:14:41 PM5/18/13
to
On 2013-05-18 17:55:24 +0100, Bob Hobden said:

> "Baz" wrote .
>>
>> Brassicas have wilted. ALL of them. I don't think it is cabbage root fly
>> because I have taken precautions, such as collars around them.
>> No Brussels sprouts this year, again.
>>
>> Is there still time to have another go at it this year?
>>
>>
> Have you got a proper old nursery near you that grows veg plants? When
> I have a failure, savoys and winter cabage this year we go and buy the
> plants. Our local one does strips of 12 for �1.50 so it's hardly worth
> doing it yourself anyway considering the cost of seed etc..

Amazing how many people are now growing their own veg. At Tucker's
particularly, the sales of veg plants are outselling the ornamentals.
Perhaps it's the dire cold start to the year that's prompted a lot of
people to give up trying to get their own going and to buy baby plants.
--

Sacha
www.hillhousenursery.com
South Devon
www.helpforheroes.org.uk

David Hill

unread,
May 18, 2013, 3:28:31 PM5/18/13
to
Well I bought a pack of 6 tomato plants in Lild yesterday, I must say
they were the best Tomato plants I've seen for a few years, a good 5 to
6 inches tall, stocky and not dry.

kay

unread,
May 18, 2013, 1:48:23 PM5/18/13
to

'Baz[_3_ Wrote:
> ;983550']Brassicas have wilted. ALL of them. I don't think it is cabbage
I haven't sown mine yet




--
kay
Message has been deleted

Baz

unread,
May 19, 2013, 5:24:58 AM5/19/13
to
"Bob Hobden" <Bo...@invalid.com> wrote in
news:avpq3s...@mid.individual.net:

> "Baz" wrote .
>>
>>Brassicas have wilted. ALL of them. I don't think it is cabbage root
>>fly because I have taken precautions, such as collars around them.
>>No Brussels sprouts this year, again.
>>
>>Is there still time to have another go at it this year?
>>
>>
> Have you got a proper old nursery near you that grows veg plants? When
> I have a failure, savoys and winter cabage this year we go and buy the
> plants. Our local one does strips of 12 for �1.50 so it's hardly worth
> doing it yourself anyway considering the cost of seed etc..

Yes we do. But I wonder if its too late now?
I know what you mean, plants v seed. I like to grow from seed, it interests
me, don't know why.
I will buy some plants and see how it goes.

Thanks, Bob
Baz

Baz

unread,
May 19, 2013, 5:44:12 AM5/19/13
to
Sacha <not...@nowhere.com> wrote in
news:avpr81...@mid.individual.net:

> On 2013-05-18 17:55:24 +0100, Bob Hobden said:
>
>> "Baz" wrote .
>>>
>>> Brassicas have wilted. ALL of them. I don't think it is cabbage root
>>> fly because I have taken precautions, such as collars around them.
>>> No Brussels sprouts this year, again.
>>>
>>> Is there still time to have another go at it this year?
>>>
>>>
>> Have you got a proper old nursery near you that grows veg plants?
>> When I have a failure, savoys and winter cabage this year we go and
>> buy the plants. Our local one does strips of 12 for �1.50 so it's
>> hardly worth doing it yourself anyway considering the cost of seed
>> etc..
>
> Amazing how many people are now growing their own veg. At Tucker's
> particularly, the sales of veg plants are outselling the ornamentals.

It IS amazing. Fresh veg. are far tastier than shop bought ones. I am glad
that folk are comming around to this. We,(family)at home can never go back
to shop bought stuff. Only during winter.

> Perhaps it's the dire cold start to the year that's prompted a lot of
> people to give up trying to get their own going and to buy baby
> plants.

Yes, that could be it! And I, for one, have done it already this year. It
has gone belly up. Another go is on the cards. Fingers and toes crossed.

Baz

David Hill

unread,
May 19, 2013, 8:09:38 AM5/19/13
to

> It IS amazing. Fresh veg. are far tastier than shop bought ones. I am glad
> that folk are comming around to this. We,(family)at home can never go back
> to shop bought stuff. Only during winter.

It depends a lot on What you buy more than where you buy it.
I have been buying English tomatoes the last couple of months from
Tesco, very good flavour but cost more than imported, but well worth it,
same for Asparagus, buy British against imported from somewhere like Peru.
Then in season why but runner beans from Zambia or Zimbabwe when there
are British for sale.
the message is READ THE LABEL.

Sacha

unread,
May 19, 2013, 9:58:27 AM5/19/13
to
One of the things I find irritating when shopping online is that Tesco
rarely put the country of origin on produce. They do tend to say
"British" if it is, though. British asparagus beats all others hands
down, imo. The last we had was from the Wye valley, David and I can
recommend it highly. ;-) Our own crowns, planted as two year olds
last year have disappeared entirely. I assume they just rotted away.

David Rance

unread,
May 19, 2013, 11:49:23 AM5/19/13
to
On Sun, 19 May 2013 Sacha wrote:

>One of the things I find irritating when shopping online is that Tesco
>rarely put the country of origin on produce. They do tend to say
>"British" if it is, though. British asparagus beats all others hands
>down, imo. The last we had was from the Wye valley, David and I can
>recommend it highly. ;-) Our own crowns, planted as two year olds
>last year have disappeared entirely. I assume they just rotted away.

I sowed some asparagus seed two years ago and planted them out last
year. They grew but the stems were very thin. Would that be normal?

We're just about to go over to Normandy to see how they're getting on
this year. I wonder if they'll be strong enough to harvest.....

David

--
David Rance writing from Caversham, Reading, UK

David Hill

unread,
May 19, 2013, 1:14:14 PM5/19/13
to
They will take 2 to 3 years to produce good sized spears, and will
continue to provide larger ones for several years

David Hill

unread,
May 19, 2013, 1:16:32 PM5/19/13
to
On 19/05/2013 16:49, David Rance wrote:
Give them time, it is a slow season for a lot of things.
I don't know how slugs feel about Asparagus, could they be having then
as they break through?
Did you build a raised bed for the Asparagus?

kay

unread,
May 20, 2013, 3:28:23 AM5/20/13
to

David Hill;983625 Wrote:
> On 19/05/2013 16:49, David Rance wrote:-
> On Sun, 19 May 2013 Sacha wrote:
> -
> One of the things I find irritating when shopping online is that Tesco
> rarely put the country of origin on produce. They do tend to say
> "British" if it is, though. British asparagus beats all others hands
> down, imo. The last we had was from the Wye valley, David and I can
> recommend it highly. ;-) Our own crowns, planted as two year olds
> last year have disappeared entirely. I assume they just rotted away.-
>
> I sowed some asparagus seed two years ago and planted them out last
> year. They grew but the stems were very thin. Would that be normal?
>
> We're just about to go over to Normandy to see how they're getting on
> this year. I wonder if they'll be strong enough to harvest.....
>
> David
> -
> They will take 2 to 3 years to produce good sized spears, and will
> continue to provide larger ones for several years

And even when they're producing thick spears, they'll continue to
produce some thin ones too.




--
kay

Martin Brown

unread,
May 20, 2013, 4:34:52 AM5/20/13
to
Or where ever your local good causes run stalls and do bacon butties and
coffees on a Saturday morning for fund raising. In our local market town
this is in a hall underneath the council chamber. Different good cause
every week and booked up for about 18 months in advance!

Always worth a quick look in case some interesting rare plant is on
offer at a knock down price. Vegetable seedlings are common too. Some
village halls also have a trade or swap your seedling plants day.

--
Regards,
Martin Brown

David Rance

unread,
May 21, 2013, 3:30:02 AM5/21/13
to
On 19 May 2013, David Hill wrote:

>On 19/05/2013 16:49, David Rance wrote:
>>
>> I sowed some asparagus seed two years ago and planted them out last
>> year. They grew but the stems were very thin. Would that be normal?
>>
>> We're just about to go over to Normandy to see how they're getting on
>> this year. I wonder if they'll be strong enough to harvest.....
>>
>Give them time, it is a slow season for a lot of things.
>I don't know how slugs feel about Asparagus, could they be having then
>as they break through?

Just had a look at them and they are growing very much more strongly
this year. Not quite ready to harvest yet so I'll leave them another
year but very encouraging.

>Did you build a raised bed for the Asparagus?

Yes, I planted them out in the way that the old gardening books show
you.

However the weather here is depressing as, whenever we come over, it is
raining and I just can't get out to the meadow to cut the grass. And, by
the look of things, it has been very wet here for some time. Can David
(in Normandy) or Emery confirm that? Yesterday was a bank holiday and it
was mildly amusing on the French news to hear them complaining about the
cold damp weather all over France! Even down in the midi!

The one bright spot yesterday was that I opened the first bottle of last
year's cider and it was very good!

My wife's just told me that some of our children, who are spending a few
days in Provence, have just texted to say it's warm and sunny! They
should be so lucky!

David

--
David Rance writing from Le Mesnil Villement, Calvados, France

Emery Davis

unread,
May 21, 2013, 12:33:12 PM5/21/13
to
On Tue, 21 May 2013 08:30:02 +0100, David Rance wrote:

> However the weather here is depressing as, whenever we come over, it is
> raining and I just can't get out to the meadow to cut the grass. And, by
> the look of things, it has been very wet here for some time. Can David
> (in Normandy) or Emery confirm that? Yesterday was a bank holiday and it
> was mildly amusing on the French news to hear them complaining about the
> cold damp weather all over France! Even down in the midi!
>

The weather is bloody awful. I've been able to cut the lawn as I have a
mower that doesn't mind the wet, but getting into the field with the
tractor is a non-starter as you say. I have a lot of seedlings that are
showing signs of damping off unfortunately, and young grafts in pots that
have some blacking leaves. We seriously need a few days dry, and above
all some warmth. Hay will be good, though...

Yes, it has been extremely wet, lots of volume too. The Figaro said
today that it isn't likely to change before at least next month.

> The one bright spot yesterday was that I opened the first bottle of last
> year's cider and it was very good!
>

Good on you. We made perry for a few years, it was very enjoyable, but
the source of pears went away. I'm thinking of planting cider apples, as
it happens. Will you be making calvados?

> My wife's just told me that some of our children, who are spending a few
> days in Provence, have just texted to say it's warm and sunny! They
> should be so lucky!

My daughter just got back from Salon. The weather was gorgeous, proved
by pictures!

cheers,

-E




--
Gardening in Lower Normandy
0 new messages