Anyone tempted - as a response to higher food prices and survival?

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-62206677

I'm trying to grow potatoes, sweetcorn, sweet potato, aubergine, peppers and tomatoes this year.
Potatoes and corn looking good, the rest seems a bit hit and miss so far.

They say that the demand for allotments in Cardiff means that there's a waiting list, but half the allotments around the corner from me are empty.
I'd say high prices are more likely to lead to someone nicking your lovingly-grown lettuces....

already am, front and back gardens both dug up, growing all sorts. 2 poly tunnels as well.

I handed my allotment back during covid, the " allotment enforcement officer " went to our site and said the grass on my paths were more than 15mm high :hehe: this was during the 1st lockdown and I Felt driving to the allotment wasn't a " essential journey " but his reply was it was fine under my " exercise outing " , after a discussion on it, I told him to stick it

the funny thing is, our site has 120 allotments and I bet under 1/2 are ever used and really overgrown, yet my grass paths were over 15mm

Allotments are very satisfying ,wonderful place to meet folk , grow yer own ,prune a bush or two ,forge a lasting relationship with the earth and yes eat merrily stuff like onions , spuds ,beets broad beans , peas , sprouts , carrots , tomatoes , fruit ,sweat corn , the majority of holders are women these days , and oh boy ,they know how to cultivate .

Picked the 1st lot of runner beans this morning. Otherwise what comes up each year - a couple of espalier apple trees, the ubiquitous rhubarb, quince [never made use of], and a cherry tree.

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Originally Posted by life on mars

Allotments are very satisfying ,wonderful place to meet folk , grow yer own ,prune a bush or two ,forge a lasting relationship with the earth and yes eat merrily stuff like onions , spuds ,beets broad beans , peas , sprouts , carrots , tomatoes , fruit ,sweat corn , the majority of holders are women these days , and oh boy ,they know how to cultivate .

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mostly old guys at my old one, they would get up the allotment 8 ish, have a bacon sarnie and a cup of tea / coffee, then a few beers in the afternoon, then head home for tea, they have a " mess hut " with kitchen in it, all chip in a few quid a week for the tea and coffee, worked well as a social thing

Thought this was going to be a thread about "urban foraging" in supermarkets.

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Originally Posted by tforturton

They say that the demand for allotments in Cardiff means that there's a waiting list, but half the allotments around the corner from me are empty.
I'd say high prices are more likely to lead to someone nicking your lovingly-grown lettuces....

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The council tried to start an allotment site here in St Mellons many years ago but there were no takers...
I wonder why?

Home brew is the way forward.

As Voltaire said in Candide: We must cultivate our garden

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Originally Posted by Cyclops

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-62206677

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I grow the full range at my allotment, and toms, cucumbers, chilli peppers and various lettuces at home. Tried aubergines and peppers last year, but I think we had too little sun.

Real range of people down my allotments - men and women of all ages.

I went to a gig a little while back for the first time in ages and it felt quite 'rock and roll' fighting my way to the bar like the old days. Got to the front of the queue and next to me was Bob from the allotments, so we exchanged news on our broad beans. How times have changed! :hehe:

Allotment owning seems like a constant battle though. Only last week something had all of my lovingly cultivated parsnips!

I've been trying to get a plot at several of the allottments near me, but they've got massive waiting lists, or not responding to my emails at all.

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Originally Posted by Cyclops

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-62206677

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It's an excellent idea - practical, fun, good for wellbeing, great for kids and can save a little money, even if you are just growing things in your garden.

Runner beans and tomatoes are my recommendation..

About seven years ago, I turned the garden over to growing veg, building three raised beds.
It was exciting in the beginning and I grew a variety of veg but it became progressively harder - not least, because of the hard work and the cost.
The last straw was a crop of potatoes which were growing well one minute, and the next were decimated by blight. All that work gone overnight!.
It seemed that I was fighting a continuous battle against bugs and snails/slugs. Once again I have grown runners which have been badly affected by black fly again. Cabbages were grazing grounds for caterpillars.
I'm not sure I want to go thru all that again after replacing the veg patch with a great flower bed (if I say so meself)

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Originally Posted by blue matt

I handed my allotment back during covid, the " allotment enforcement officer " went to our site and said the grass on my paths were more than 15mm high :hehe: this was during the 1st lockdown and I Felt driving to the allotment wasn't a " essential journey " but his reply was it was fine under my " exercise outing " , after a discussion on it, I told him to stick it

the funny thing is, our site has 120 allotments and I bet under 1/2 are ever used and really overgrown, yet my grass paths were over 15mm

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People like him loved the power when it was only guidance “ allotment enforcement officer “ FfS

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Originally Posted by Cyclops

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-62206677

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Not worth the effort, cheaper and easier to buy veg, how much do you make an hour growing your own 50p?

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Originally Posted by Cyclops

About seven years ago, I turned the garden over to growing veg, building three raised beds.
It was exciting in the beginning and I grew a variety of veg but it became progressively harder - not least, because of the hard work and the cost.
The last straw was a crop of potatoes which were growing well one minute, and the next were decimated by blight. All that work gone overnight!.
It seemed that I was fighting a continuous battle against bugs and snails/slugs. Once again I have grown runners which have been badly affected by black fly again. Cabbages were grazing grounds for caterpillars.
I'm not sure I want to go thru all that again after replacing the veg patch with a great flower bed (if I say so meself)

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Agreed I can't see the attraction and if it's in your garden it would like a right mess?

Growing Strawberries, raspberries,courgettes and potatoes in the garden.

Mixed results but as this is the first year of trying happy to bumble along.

Not sure I will expand the fruit and veg growing but a certain amount of satisfaction.

Can’t see Waitrose being too concerned despite me going all organic or at least my definition which may not be textbook.

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Originally Posted by North Cardiff Blue

Not worth the effort, cheaper and easier to buy veg, how much do you make an hour growing your own 50p?

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Oh, there is definitely no viable business plan for growing your own stuff. It's about more than that. Some people get that. Others don't.

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Originally Posted by Swiss Peter

Oh, there is definitely no viable business plan for growing your own stuff. It's about more than that. Some people get that. Others don't.

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I kind of get it, but it's not for me, each to their own :thumbup:

Ofcourse there is more to growing your own than the bottom line. As Voltaire said: we must cultivate our garden

I enjoy it, don't get down there too often but try and keep low maintenance stuff. Asparagus, Strawberries, raspberries and a few fruit trees, they pretty much look after themselves and give us decent crops. My old man grows beans and shallots down there. Potatoes are doing great again this year, always worth buying decent seed potatoes and making sure you're rotating from year to year.

Courgettes and cucumbers are great for gardens, crop like buggery

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Originally Posted by North Cardiff Blue

Agreed I can't see the attraction and if it's in your garden it would like a right mess?

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Actually, the veg beds looked good.
Regimentally straight beds; gradual gradation from low at front to back and colourful leaves of chard and lettuce etc.
You'll think me very strange, but the worst thing for me was seeing caterpillar poo over the cauli heads.

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Originally Posted by Cyclops

About seven years ago, I turned the garden over to growing veg, building three raised beds.
It was exciting in the beginning and I grew a variety of veg but it became progressively harder - not least, because of the hard work and the cost.
The last straw was a crop of potatoes which were growing well one minute, and the next were decimated by blight. All that work gone overnight!.
It seemed that I was fighting a continuous battle against bugs and snails/slugs. Once again I have grown runners which have been badly affected by black fly again. Cabbages were grazing grounds for caterpillars.
I'm not sure I want to go thru all that again after replacing the veg patch with a great flower bed (if I say so meself)

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My mrs is Buddhist, and really doesn't like using any chemicals in the garden or house, so we don't use any chemicals or means of dealing with the pests that involves killing them.
This basically means most nights spending 5-10 minutes gently removing any slugs and snails with a pair of tweezers and yeeting them over the fence (there's a empty patch of land over the fence, they aren't going in someone's garden.) It does eventually work though, there were loads of the buggers to begin with, now it's only 1 or 2 a night

Caterpillars are similarly dealt with, they are a real pain at the moment, so you have to use nets on any brassicas especially.

What I really don't get is, knowing the problems that bugs and pests cause, how are 'organically' grown veg so perfect?

Hydroponics is something I'd like to try if i have the time. used much lest water than traditional methods , can keep fish as well to generate the fertiliser

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Originally Posted by Rjk

Hydroponics is something I'd like to try if i have the time. used much lest water than traditional methods , can keep fish as well to generate the fertiliser

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I looked at this many years ago ( they have a boat ride in Disney called " living with the land " with hydroponic grown plants, they even keep fish and use the water to fertilise the plants, its dull as hell, but 100% aircon'ed and lovely to sit down and cool down ) , started to put together the stuff for the allotment, even had a old solar panel ( which was heading to the skip ) to power the pump, then the allotment started to have break-ins and it put me off, I could actually do it in my new house as the garden is huge, but not sure the wife would be happy with that time spent when she has a list of a million jobs to be done