I was diagnosed with COPD in 2016 , i adapted the way i grow moving to no dig which has made things a lot easier given i have a third of an acre garden including my veg plot

@CraigsAllotment

5 күн бұрын

Good luck with everything :)

That fella could give you some excellent advice let's hope he comes along whilst your there.

@CraigsAllotment

14 күн бұрын

I hope so too

In response to: "what's it worth". I started gardening when I moved from a lovely flat to a bungalow upon retirement five years ago. Well this year I spent £1300 on solar panels and a power-station as back-up for my freezer (and other stuff). The reason is that now my chest freezer is full of the produce that I grow. To lose a freezer full of supermarket food can easily be measured in cash terms; what it costs to replace the items. To lose a freezer full of your own homegrown organic produce, which is the fruit (and vegetables) of five years of learning, planning, failing and eventually becoming good at growing can not be measured. I don't know what it is worth to you today but I can assure you it will become worth more than you currently think.

@CraigsAllotment

8 күн бұрын

Absolutely agree 👍

I thought on your 1st video how nice it would have been to have reached out to the previous tenant. I hope he does come by, he will be a valuable source of information to you of what to plant where and when. What better way to learn and even providing him with veg going forward

@CraigsAllotment

16 күн бұрын

I hope so too. I'll keep working on it

That so nice to invite the man that had the plot before you, I hope he comes he be valuable with so much information added bonus and something for him. To lose your health and something you love to do so can cause so much damage mentally to someone, I really hope he goes to the Plot.

@CraigsAllotment

15 күн бұрын

It would be a real strain being forced to give something up die to ill health and so frustrating

Premier seeds.... they do allsorts, and the packs are usually around 99p each ! postage is cheap too! And what a lovely gesture , such a kind person you are

@CraigsAllotment

19 күн бұрын

Thanks ❤️

Finding that string was a real treasure! They don't make beautiful tools like that any more. Keep the iron oiled so it's always free of rust, and if the cord is cotton, a bit of Pine Tar from the local hardware store will keep it healthy for years. I honestly don't know why pine tar has fallen out of favor. All my tool handles get an annual treatment of pine tar and turpentine mixed 50/50. Clean the wood, apply the mix, warm it with a torch or heat gun and watch it sink into the wood. Nothing preserves wood handles better, and the patina can't be beat! For growing, lately I've been on a "heritage" kick. There's too much mass-production of seeds and plants, and we've lost a ton of the variety that once kept the plants, and us, healthy. They're talking about this boxwood blight that's spreading around the world, but nobody ever mentions how that's only possible because everyone and their grandma planted boxwoods instead of their own native evergreen shrubs, and all those boxwoods were only one or two specific cultivars that were popularized in the gardening magazines. That's basically creating a mono-culture spread around the globe, so it's no wonder disease would spread. Everything I've read says that the "heritage" breeds are often better in a lot of ways. Or better for purpose. The apples, for example, might be best for canning or baking, rather than eating fresh off the tree. Maybe they were selected for making cider, or because the tree set fruit late in the year, ensuring folks had fresh apples as far into the season as possible. You might pay a little more for the seeds to start with, but it's a pittance in the grand scheme of things. Plus, there's something neat about growing the same crop as was grown in the 1800's! If you can find "vintage" or "antique" or "heritage" seeds, they're definitely worth the time to try.

@CraigsAllotment

2 ай бұрын

That's great information, thanks!!. Much appreciated

Great find, 😊

@CraigsAllotment

20 күн бұрын

Thanks 👍

Seed prices in the UK are different to New Zealand, but its how many seeds to packet. Carrots are generally 2000, some fancy seeds of melons and tomatoes can be 6 to a dozen seeds only. Get a couple of catalogues, now mail order.

@CraigsAllotment

14 күн бұрын

I'll have a look online

I would keep the cold frame and fix it up to use in the future. It would be a great help with hardening off some plants

@CraigsAllotment

18 күн бұрын

Cheers 🍻

I hope the guy shows up bud. I’m off to episode 3 👍 Edit: ep 4 😂

@CraigsAllotment

13 күн бұрын

Cheers bud. He was ill but he's out of hospital now. They've got him on the mend all being well

landed on your feet, good on yer. Seeds can be addictive.

@CraigsAllotment

11 күн бұрын

You got that right!

I think Premier Seeds is a good place to buy Seeds free. Very reasonable priced and you get a lot in the packets. I live in Ireland and can't get them delivered to Ireland anymore 😕

@CraigsAllotment

11 күн бұрын

Ahh that's a shame :(

God I wish my rubbish pile looked like that😫 the previous owners used it as a dumping ground for years and was charging people for rubbish collections and dumping it there. Defo don’t get rid of the small greenhouse on the floor, a lick of pain and a clean up it’ll look fab! The Range are great for seeds. They usually are either 49p or 69p (the range branded as they usually have the more expensive ones next to them also

@CraigsAllotment

2 ай бұрын

😞 sounds like you've inherited much more work than I have. I've been lucky in that respect for sure. The plot was loved for 20 years previously so in good general condition. Thanks for the seed tip :)

@Dannitk

2 ай бұрын

@@CraigsAllotment i just keep doing little bits everyday like you mentioned in either this video or your newest one. Anything is an improvement at this point! I seen you mentioning the previous owner, hopefully he comes up the visit the allotment he loved for so many years. A great thing for you to offer to him

@CraigsAllotment

2 ай бұрын

A bit of a sad update, I heard yesterday that his health has declined really quickly and he's currently in hospital 😢 I hope he gets well enough to pop up

What a lovely gesture 😊 well done you! I'm glad ur keeping the coldframe 👏👏👏

@CraigsAllotment

19 күн бұрын

It's been of good use so far 👌

Nothing wrong with supermarket seeds. But premier seeds online are fab and most of the main allotment owners use them. Thats a lovely plot you have there im subscribing because i get excited with a new project lol.

@CraigsAllotment

2 ай бұрын

Haha I'm excited about it too. It's a lovely space to be. So peaceful

suttons online are doing a huge sale and free p n p at the mo I've just ordered even more lol

@CraigsAllotment

13 күн бұрын

Oooh I'll check now, thanks 😊

@thewitch69

13 күн бұрын

@@CraigsAllotment i had to restrain myself from buying everything lol

That was very thoughtful of you

@CraigsAllotment

21 күн бұрын

Thank you :)

Ive started some veg patches in my garden basically making it up as i go along but enjoying seeing everything grow. Good luck with the allotment, will be good to watch the progress

@CraigsAllotment

2 ай бұрын

Thank you! Is yours a big garden?

@BennyRob85

2 ай бұрын

@CraigsAllotment it's not a bad size, I have a good few patches and a greenhouse that someone was giving away on market place. The wife won't let me expand any more tho lol potatoes seem to be the easiest to grow so far and they grow super fast

What a gorgeous, vintage string line! For seeds, i really love Real Seeds, they dont do any F1 varieties so you can save your own seed without problems and i always have great germination. I like Grown Local too and Premier Seeds Direct. Plot is starting to take shape nicely now!

@CraigsAllotment

2 ай бұрын

That's great information and just what I was looking for, thank you 😊