I think every rhubarb I've seen had had at least one flower spike on.
The very mild winter may be to blame?

the new show: The big allotment challenge had them all making rhubarb
curd, or rhubarb and custard curd this week!

What do you think about the concept of the show? Will it boost waiting
lists of people expecting a weed free newly dug plot?

--
http://www.voucherfreebies.co.uk

On 17/04/2014 11:49, mogga wrote:
I think every rhubarb I've seen had had at least one flower spike on.
The very mild winter may be to blame?

the new show: The big allotment challenge had them all making rhubarb
curd, or rhubarb and custard curd this week!

What do you think about the concept of the show? Will it boost waiting
lists of people expecting a weed free newly dug plot?




My rhubarb is flower-free thus far, but I'll keep a close eye on it now
you've said that. Thanks.

I watched the show with very mixed feelings. It's not like any
allotment I know, that's for sure. It seemed to drag a bit early on,
then it jumped to mature plots all too soon, but it was interesting to
see the produce, however briefly. There were some nice bits to watch: I
enjoyed the sweetpea trial and the flower arrangement, but less
enthralled about the cookery session. I suppose there's more point to
it when you've produced the raw ingredients, but I got bored with
cookery shows years ago. I might watch it again to see how it develops,
but it didn't grip me the way the Sewing Bee did for instance.

To answer your final point, I can't see many people rushing into
allotment tending (newly dug or otherwise) on the basis of this show so far.
--
Spider.
On high ground in SE London
gardening on heavy clay

On 2014-04-17 11:22:22 +0000, Martin said:

On Thu, 17 Apr 2014 11:49:37 +0100, mogga wrote:

I think every rhubarb I've seen had had at least one flower spike on.
The very mild winter may be to blame?

the new show: The big allotment challenge had them all making rhubarb
curd, or rhubarb and custard curd this week!

What do you think about the concept of the show? Will it boost waiting
lists of people expecting a weed free newly dug plot?

I suspect that after the first episode only bored non-gardeners will watch it.

I'd think any wannaba allotmenteer will run screaming in the opposite
direction if they think they have to make hand-tied posies and jams
etc. to be called 'proper' allotment holders.
--
Sacha
www.hillhousenursery.com
South Devon

On Thu, 17 Apr 2014 12:24:50 +0100, Spider wrote:


My rhubarb is flower-free thus far, but I'll keep a close eye on it now
you've said that. Thanks.

I watched the show with very mixed feelings. It's not like any
allotment I know, that's for sure. It seemed to drag a bit early on,
then it jumped to mature plots all too soon, but it was interesting to
see the produce, however briefly. There were some nice bits to watch: I
enjoyed the sweetpea trial and the flower arrangement, but less
enthralled about the cookery session. I suppose there's more point to
it when you've produced the raw ingredients, but I got bored with
cookery shows years ago. I might watch it again to see how it develops,
but it didn't grip me the way the Sewing Bee did for instance.


We only caught two bits of the sewing bees but enjoyed them very much!
Will have to watch them all on iplayer if they're still there.

This program isn't in the same league.


To answer your final point, I can't see many people rushing into
allotment tending (newly dug or otherwise) on the basis of this show so far.

It is giving a fairly romantic view I thought - no hard work, picking
flowers and making jam. I don't see the point in growing flowers for
cutting in the house when they look so good outside. I only grow
phacelia and poached egg plant as flowers on my plot. I do appear to
have got a buddleah though but that will be moved shortly.
--
http://www.voucherfreebies.co.uk

On Thu, 17 Apr 2014 12:29:38 +0100, sacha wrote:

On 2014-04-17 11:22:22 +0000, Martin said:

On Thu, 17 Apr 2014 11:49:37 +0100, mogga wrote:

I think every rhubarb I've seen had had at least one flower spike on.
The very mild winter may be to blame?

the new show: The big allotment challenge had them all making rhubarb
curd, or rhubarb and custard curd this week!

What do you think about the concept of the show? Will it boost waiting
lists of people expecting a weed free newly dug plot?

I suspect that after the first episode only bored non-gardeners will watch it.

I'd think any wannaba allotmenteer will run screaming in the opposite
direction if they think they have to make hand-tied posies and jams
etc. to be called 'proper' allotment holders.

I am bewildered by the desire to have 3 matching radishes - showing
veg isn't for me.
We grow our own because it tastes better than the uniform looking
stuff the supermarkets sell.
It was interesting to see the variety of radishes but not enough for
made of that.
--
http://www.voucherfreebies.co.uk

On 2014-04-17 11:41:54 +0000, mogga said:

On Thu, 17 Apr 2014 12:29:38 +0100, sacha wrote:

On 2014-04-17 11:22:22 +0000, Martin said:

On Thu, 17 Apr 2014 11:49:37 +0100, mogga wrote:

I think every rhubarb I've seen had had at least one flower spike on.
The very mild winter may be to blame?

the new show: The big allotment challenge had them all making rhubarb
curd, or rhubarb and custard curd this week!

What do you think about the concept of the show? Will it boost waiting
lists of people expecting a weed free newly dug plot?

I suspect that after the first episode only bored non-gardeners will watch it.

I'd think any wannaba allotmenteer will run screaming in the opposite
direction if they think they have to make hand-tied posies and jams
etc. to be called 'proper' allotment holders.

I am bewildered by the desire to have 3 matching radishes - showing
veg isn't for me.
We grow our own because it tastes better than the uniform looking
stuff the supermarkets sell.
It was interesting to see the variety of radishes but not enough for
made of that.

It was freely admitted before the programmed aired, that it was a sort
of gardening spin-off of the Great British Bake Off. The point at which
it failed is that you just cannot cram a few hours tension into growing
plants! A disaster in the kitchen in the space of e.g. 4 hours can be
irrecoverable - but some of those competitors had sown radish seeds
about 6 times and you can't actually watch radishes or anything else
grow and ratchet up the suspense! If a cake falls on the floor at the
point of adding the last smidge of icing, that's a bit dramatic. If a
radish isn't identical to its brothers and sisters - not so much! So it
just doesn't work in this format because gardening to produce food to
eat simply is not dramatic! Now - if one starts creeping around at
night poisoning the others' pumpkins, it may get a bit more
interesting. Otherwise, it's a worthy competitor with Mogadon, ioo!
--

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

On 17/04/2014 15:01, Sacha wrote:
On 2014-04-17 11:41:54 +0000, mogga said:

On Thu, 17 Apr 2014 12:29:38 +0100, sacha wrote:

On 2014-04-17 11:22:22 +0000, Martin said:

On Thu, 17 Apr 2014 11:49:37 +0100, mogga
wrote:

I think every rhubarb I've seen had had at least one flower spike on.
The very mild winter may be to blame?

the new show: The big allotment challenge had them all making rhubarb
curd, or rhubarb and custard curd this week!

What do you think about the concept of the show? Will it boost waiting
lists of people expecting a weed free newly dug plot?

I suspect that after the first episode only bored non-gardeners will
watch it.

I'd think any wannaba allotmenteer will run screaming in the opposite
direction if they think they have to make hand-tied posies and jams
etc. to be called 'proper' allotment holders.

I am bewildered by the desire to have 3 matching radishes - showing
veg isn't for me.
We grow our own because it tastes better than the uniform looking
stuff the supermarkets sell.
It was interesting to see the variety of radishes but not enough for
made of that.

It was freely admitted before the programmed aired, that it was a sort
of gardening spin-off of the Great British Bake Off. The point at which
it failed is that you just cannot cram a few hours tension into growing
plants! A disaster in the kitchen in the space of e.g. 4 hours can be
irrecoverable - but some of those competitors had sown radish seeds
about 6 times and you can't actually watch radishes or anything else
grow and ratchet up the suspense! If a cake falls on the floor at the
point of adding the last smidge of icing, that's a bit dramatic. If a
radish isn't identical to its brothers and sisters - not so much! So it
just doesn't work in this format because gardening to produce food to
eat simply is not dramatic! Now - if one starts creeping around at night
poisoning the others' pumpkins, it may get a bit more interesting.
Otherwise, it's a worthy competitor with Mogadon, ioo!

Do you think the time might be right for a "Watching Paint Dry" series?

--
Regards,
Martin Brown

On Thu, 17 Apr 2014 15:01:01 +0100, Sacha
wrote:


It was freely admitted before the programmed aired, that it was a sort
of gardening spin-off of the Great British Bake Off. The point at which
it failed is that you just cannot cram a few hours tension into growing
plants! A disaster in the kitchen in the space of e.g. 4 hours can be
irrecoverable - but some of those competitors had sown radish seeds
about 6 times and you can't actually watch radishes or anything else
grow and ratchet up the suspense! If a cake falls on the floor at the
point of adding the last smidge of icing, that's a bit dramatic. If a
radish isn't identical to its brothers and sisters - not so much! So it
just doesn't work in this format because gardening to produce food to
eat simply is not dramatic! Now - if one starts creeping around at
night poisoning the others' pumpkins, it may get a bit more
interesting. Otherwise, it's a worthy competitor with Mogadon, ioo!


Indeed. It misses all the politics that goes with allotments.
--
http://www.voucherfreebies.co.uk

On Thu, 17 Apr 2014 16:45:16 +0100, Martin Brown
wrote:


Do you think the time might be right for a "Watching Paint Dry" series?


I have seen a DVD of a roaring fire.
--
http://www.voucherfreebies.co.uk

On 17/04/2014 16:51, mogga wrote:
On Thu, 17 Apr 2014 16:45:16 +0100, Martin Brown
wrote:

Do you think the time might be right for a "Watching Paint Dry" series?

I have seen a DVD of a roaring fire.

Now that people have their large flat screen TVs where the fireplace
used to be I guess that sort of makes sense as a room focal point.

It would look a bit alarming inside a big wooden box vacuum tube based
in the corner of a room though.

--
Regards,
Martin Brown

"mogga" wrote
What do you think about the concept of the show? Will it boost waiting
lists of people expecting a weed free newly dug plot?

That is my concern, if the public think they will get a perfect weed free
allotment with perfect soil, like potting compost, they will have a very
rude awakening. As I said another bout of plots being snapped up and then
left after two years max.
--
Regards. Bob Hobden.
Posted to this Newsgroup from the W of London, UK

On 17/04/2014 16:45, Martin Brown wrote:
On 17/04/2014 15:01, Sacha wrote:
On 2014-04-17 11:41:54 +0000, mogga said:

On Thu, 17 Apr 2014 12:29:38 +0100, sacha wrote:

On 2014-04-17 11:22:22 +0000, Martin said:

On Thu, 17 Apr 2014 11:49:37 +0100, mogga
wrote:

I think every rhubarb I've seen had had at least one flower spike on.
The very mild winter may be to blame?

the new show: The big allotment challenge had them all making
rhubarb
curd, or rhubarb and custard curd this week!

What do you think about the concept of the show? Will it boost
waiting
lists of people expecting a weed free newly dug plot?

I suspect that after the first episode only bored non-gardeners will
watch it.

I'd think any wannaba allotmenteer will run screaming in the opposite
direction if they think they have to make hand-tied posies and jams
etc. to be called 'proper' allotment holders.

I am bewildered by the desire to have 3 matching radishes - showing
veg isn't for me.
We grow our own because it tastes better than the uniform looking
stuff the supermarkets sell.
It was interesting to see the variety of radishes but not enough for
made of that.

It was freely admitted before the programmed aired, that it was a sort
of gardening spin-off of the Great British Bake Off. The point at which
it failed is that you just cannot cram a few hours tension into growing
plants! A disaster in the kitchen in the space of e.g. 4 hours can be
irrecoverable - but some of those competitors had sown radish seeds
about 6 times and you can't actually watch radishes or anything else
grow and ratchet up the suspense! If a cake falls on the floor at the
point of adding the last smidge of icing, that's a bit dramatic. If a
radish isn't identical to its brothers and sisters - not so much! So it
just doesn't work in this format because gardening to produce food to
eat simply is not dramatic! Now - if one starts creeping around at night
poisoning the others' pumpkins, it may get a bit more interesting.
Otherwise, it's a worthy competitor with Mogadon, ioo!

Do you think the time might be right for a "Watching Paint Dry" series?




LOL! Quite possibly.

--
Spider.
On high ground in SE London
gardening on heavy clay

On 2014-04-17 15:59:45 +0000, Martin Brown said:

On 17/04/2014 16:51, mogga wrote:
On Thu, 17 Apr 2014 16:45:16 +0100, Martin Brown
wrote:

Do you think the time might be right for a "Watching Paint Dry" series?

I have seen a DVD of a roaring fire.

Now that people have their large flat screen TVs where the fireplace
used to be I guess that sort of makes sense as a room focal point.

It would look a bit alarming inside a big wooden box vacuum tube based
in the corner of a room though.

Any more scary than the artificial sun being shown on screens to
Chinese people who no longer see it, thanks to the appalling air
polution?
--
Sacha
www.hillhousenursery.com
South Devon

On 2014-04-17 15:45:16 +0000, Martin Brown said:

On 17/04/2014 15:01, Sacha wrote:
On 2014-04-17 11:41:54 +0000, mogga said:

On Thu, 17 Apr 2014 12:29:38 +0100, sacha wrote:

On 2014-04-17 11:22:22 +0000, Martin said:

On Thu, 17 Apr 2014 11:49:37 +0100, mogga
wrote:

I think every rhubarb I've seen had had at least one flower spike on.
The very mild winter may be to blame?

the new show: The big allotment challenge had them all making rhubarb
curd, or rhubarb and custard curd this week!

What do you think about the concept of the show? Will it boost waiting
lists of people expecting a weed free newly dug plot?

I suspect that after the first episode only bored non-gardeners will
watch it.

I'd think any wannaba allotmenteer will run screaming in the opposite
direction if they think they have to make hand-tied posies and jams
etc. to be called 'proper' allotment holders.

I am bewildered by the desire to have 3 matching radishes - showing
veg isn't for me.
We grow our own because it tastes better than the uniform looking
stuff the supermarkets sell.
It was interesting to see the variety of radishes but not enough for
made of that.

It was freely admitted before the programmed aired, that it was a sort
of gardening spin-off of the Great British Bake Off. The point at which
it failed is that you just cannot cram a few hours tension into growing
plants! A disaster in the kitchen in the space of e.g. 4 hours can be
irrecoverable - but some of those competitors had sown radish seeds
about 6 times and you can't actually watch radishes or anything else
grow and ratchet up the suspense! If a cake falls on the floor at the
point of adding the last smidge of icing, that's a bit dramatic. If a
radish isn't identical to its brothers and sisters - not so much! So it
just doesn't work in this format because gardening to produce food to
eat simply is not dramatic! Now - if one starts creeping around at night
poisoning the others' pumpkins, it may get a bit more interesting.
Otherwise, it's a worthy competitor with Mogadon, ioo!

Do you think the time might be right for a "Watching Paint Dry" series?

I think we're heading rapidly in that direction. Whether that's
intentional or not, heaven knows. I heard recently of a director
filming one of the foremost plant experts in this country in a
gardening programme, who talked about making 'pretty tv'. When you get
that attitude on what is a factual and instructive programme, you might
as well take the plug off the tv!
--

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

On Fri, 18 Apr 2014 12:46:43 +0200, Martin wrote:

On Thu, 17 Apr 2014 16:59:45 +0100, Martin Brown
wrote:

On 17/04/2014 16:51, mogga wrote:
On Thu, 17 Apr 2014 16:45:16 +0100, Martin Brown
wrote:

Do you think the time might be right for a "Watching Paint Dry" series?

I have seen a DVD of a roaring fire.

Now that people have their large flat screen TVs where the fireplace
used to be I guess that sort of makes sense as a room focal point.

At the beginning of the 1980s we had a TV in our fireplace until people laughed
at us.


I suspect you put the fire out first.

Steve

--
Neural Network Software http://www.npsnn.com
EasyNN-plus More than just a neural network http://www.easynn.com
SwingNN Prediction software http://www.swingnn.com
JustNN Just a neural network http://www.justnn.com