GardenBanter.co.uk - View Single Post

Uncle Marvo · 14-09-2006, 10:26 AM posted to uk.rec.gardening

In reply to Bob Hobden ) who wrote this in
, I, Marvo, say :

I though I'd mention this to help any budding allotment growers.

Seen on our site this year...
1. Tomatoes not staked sufficiently strongly for the more exposed open
allotment site so they collapse when covered in fruit, it rains adding
weight and it's windy. Make a sturdy wooden/steel goal post type
structure and tie the canes to that.
2. Indeterminate Tomatoes not pinched out and allowed to do their own
thing. 3. Pumpkins and other cucurbits planted too close not realising
their
ability to grow.
3. Onions planted late and not weeded so they got large spring onions
in effect as they grew to the light.
4. Tender plants bought from Garden Centres and planted immediately,
much too early. (they were very lucky we had no late frosts here) The
very end of May beginning of June is early enough.
5. Runner Beans planted up bamboo canes that are too short and again
not strong enough to take the weight and wind without sturdier help
(wood or steel poles) so they all collapse.
6. No compost bin made so weeds are thrown away on a spare plot.
7. No manure used (as far as we could see) so plot will suffer in the
long term.
8. Too much of one thing planted, probably used the whole packet of
lettuce seeds in one go, so most go to waste.

Plus tomato canes miles too short for climbers, not anticipating the weather
making the plants grow to nearly six feet! They are still producing fine
tomatoes though, perhaps they like laying on the ground? Perhaps the only
reason why tomatoes are climbed up long poles is "that's the way we've
always done it".