Broad beans and bonus parsnips! Claire's Allotment Part 92

[angeltramp]

@killerdalek stop correcting me on my grammer and just concern yourself with what was written,

have some respect for ladies,

admit you were rude by what you wrote, it will make you more of a right and good man in the ways of the world.

you might even get lucky some day with politeness and respect

[angeltramp]

clair you are a youtube star, bless your husband :)

[clairesallotment]

@angeltramp I couldn't do them without him.

[angeltramp]

@killerdalek unless your clair's husband, dont be so personal to a lady!

get a life and stop being a perve a real man see's and says nothing to a married woman have some respect !!

[clairesallotment]

@angeltramp You know what, I don't think I had seen that comment...not sure how to take that one! Thanks for saying what you did. They're allowed to look but not touch!

[killerdalek]

@angeltramp Get off your high horse and learn how to use an apostrophe!

[angeltramp]

p.s love the parsnip, thats a big one:)

[clairesallotment]

@angeltramp I pulled up some huge ones this year also. They seem to like how I'm growing them.

[angeltramp]

your brillient, i like the fact that your so real, its good to see it in people especially these days so brillient well done being you :):)

[clairesallotment]

@angeltramp I'm so glad that you find the videos useful. You got quite a few to get through. It seems like I've been doing them forever, but it's only been 4 years. And there's still lots to cover.

[killerdalek]

You have very nice breasts Claire.

[clairesallotment]

@killerdalek That's for me and my husband to know, and you NEVER to find out.

[killerdalek]

@clairesallotment Can't take a compliment then.

[kimbetta1]

Hi Claire, I planted nasturiums as a companion plant this year and all the blackfly had a party on that and ignored my broad beans! :-)

[clairesallotment]

@kimbetta1 Fantastic. I've got a nasturtium plant by my front door, and it's growing like a triphid at the moment. I'll wake up one morning, and it'll have taken over the whole front porch.

[kimbetta1]

Thank's Claire, I really love your tutorials - I've learnt so much just through watching you. Could you show us how to pinch out the tops of the broad beans?

Thanks a lot

[clairesallotment]

@kimbetta1 When they get to that stage I'll make a video.

[countryboy09876]

I give you 5 stars because ur videos are inspirational and easy to follow great job hope the garden gods reward you for all that hard work you put in.

[clairesallotment]

@countryboy09876 Everything seems to be growing very well so far. Fingers crossed it'll continue.

[07andyc1]

hello claire,i didnt no about what you said about the top shoots. thats great advice.i planted mine out today.1st year on my allotment. wish me luck please.

[bertsdog]

I like the way you say HELLLOOO.LOL.

[clairesallotment]

@bertsdog You have to be cheery. I'm down the allotment getting very dirty, I couldn't ask to be in a better place.

[fljpopguy]

Your soil is so attractive.

[craigfromnewcastle]

vimeo dot com / 15084362

Hi Claire my 1st tomato video :)

[clairesallotment]

@craigfromnewcastle The way to avoid all the wind noises is to get a clip on mic, but they're quite expensive if you want to get a good one. I expect we'll look into it, and hopefully get one. Enjoy your salad basket, it sounds lovely. Peas are wonderful when they've just been picked. Keep the jokes to yourself, but I can imagine.

[craigfromnewcastle]

@clairesallotment

I suppose I was wrong to make a joke about 18 inches, but the reality is every single man and most women who watched your video thought the same thing. I don't appreciate you saying, "Keep the jokes to yourself" it reads like you're being unpleasant towards me - maybe I've read it wrong - I wouldn't mean to offend you.

I think your videos are nice, I'm not the type of person to spoil them. I haven't introduced myself very well - I'm sorry about that.

[clairesallotment]

@craigfromnewcastle I wasn't being unpleasant at all, and I'm sorry it sounded that way. Jokes don't come across on emails very well. I wasn't offended in the slightest. I say some very risky thing in some of the videos, "Give it a good hard forking" is one of my favourites. Mark wonders if I say these things on purpose, of course I do. If you can't have a laugh what's the point in living. Speak soon.

[craigfromnewcastle]

@clairesallotment

Thanks Claire, I feel a lot better about it now.

I'll celebrate by letting you know I've got my first ever red tomato on the patio now :D and and outdoor chilli! hehe for my first try, this year has been a success!

[clairesallotment]

@craigfromnewcastle Enjoy your first tomato, don't they taste so much better than the shop ones, are your chillies hot and spicy?

[craigfromnewcastle]

@clairesallotment

I'll let you know how nice the tomatoes are once we've tried them, I'm hoping his little friends will go red too - follow his lead :)

Chillies are hot yes - next year I'll begin sooner, so I catch more of the suns rays.

Peapods are delicious! they're SO sweet!

I love it :) only had problems with earwigs, might try sacrificial pot next year-, get them to head there first then when the slugs go there, with the earwigs chasing, I'll start a sneaky crop for myself :)

[clairesallotment]

@craigfromnewcastle My tomatoes in the greenhouse have just started to turn, so I'm very happy. I picked some today as well as some chillies. I had 2 chillies that were joined by 1 stalk. Freshly picked peas are so sweet and gorgeous. I hate earwigs, they get caught in my whizzy washing line and every time I put it up several fall out. Enjoy warm tomatoes straight from the greenhouse, the shop ones have nothing on them.

[craigfromnewcastle]

@clairesallotment Oh wonderful! What I've done is take the one tomato that was red and put him with his green friends in the cupboard, they're all going red now :) I'm keeping the seeds :)

My Chillies that begun life indoors are coping so well outdoors but with the weather their crops have slowed down.

I discovered my first lot of slug pellets weren't enough as the slugs are back but I hope the earwigs eat them - dunno :)

Will tomatoes flavour decrease like the pea pods do?

Well done! x

[clairesallotment]

@craigfromnewcastle Tomatoes have more flavour when they're grown on the vine, and if you take them off they do have less flavour, but so much more than shop ones that have no flavour at all. The sun gives them loads of flavour, and with that decreasing so will the flavour. It's going to be very cold tonight, so make sure they're warm an cozy.

[craigfromnewcastle]

@clairesallotment

Thanks Claire. I was worried they'd not ripen at all if I left them on the plant, so I took the 1 red one and placed them in a box in the warm, and they're all setting each other off! I'm surprised how long they last when not in the fridge - I'm so excited to try them :)

I can't wait to grow my own tomato babies! along with everything else I've kept.

My pak choi seems to be flowering, I hope I can get some seeds from it but don't know how as of yet :)

[clairesallotment]

@craigfromnewcastle Enjoy all your goodies. I've got 1 tray of tomatoes left to ripen. I'll have another look tomorrow to see how they're doing. I started with about 9 trays, so I'm nearly there.

[craigfromnewcastle]

@clairesallotment

great :) our tomatoes did really well :)

I'm buying some garlic for next year now - hope that works.

What are you starting off now for next year Claire?

[clairesallotment]

@craigfromnewcastle It's half term at the moment, but when the kids have gone back I'll be planting some broad beans in the soil, just to compare with planting them in Spring. When you plant your garlic make sure you cover it with net curtain or the like to stop the birds picking it out.

[CLARMCHL]

We have an allotment at my school and I am the school gardener, I am new to veggies though and this has been so inspiring, as I don't quite now when to plant everything. I have so many books but find that watching you was so much easier. Thank you will be watching in the futre!

[clairesallotment]

@CLARMCHL Sometimes books have too much information in them. They have to have pictures though. Very important. Do you have a gardening club at your school? Get the kids involved. Kids love getting messy.

[BlitzkriegStaffords]

that t-shirt is too funny and very suiting! haha

[chris95069]

Whats an allotment?

[clairesallotment]

@chris95069 Basically it's a piece of land owned by the local council. They rent out different sized plots to people so they can grow their own vegetables and fruit. They became very big during WW2 and carried on from there. About 5 years ago they weren't very popular, but now everyone wants one. I have done a video "What's an Allotment" have a look at that for more information.

[craigfromnewcastle]

@clairesallotment

Shipping costs in WW2 were high and risky so the government tried to get everyone to grow their own veg - I think everyone still should - instead of pretty gardens they should have pretty and practical (rewarding) gardens.

It's just the bloody pests!!!

[clairesallotment]

@craigfromnewcastle I think everyone should at least try to grow a little bit of veg. Everything was hard to come by in the war and for many years after also. You never saw a banana. How they managed for so many years amazes me.

[craigfromnewcastle]

@clairesallotment

absolutely - I think it gives you more than just the vegetables, it gives you feelings of satisfaction, intrigue, and a positive attitude to things that you're willing to try, that they will (most likely) work, as long as you begin.

I've started my girlfriend's grandson's off on some pea pods :)

I'm going to enjoy watching your videos past and future.

Cheers Claire. Craig x

[clairesallotment]

@craigfromnewcastle The satisfaction you get when sitting down for dinner and all the veg on the plate has come from the allotment is huge. Everything tastes so much fresher and the odd bit of dirt on the carrots and potatoes only adds to the experience.

[craigfromnewcastle]

@clairesallotment

I'm pleased I've begun - space is the only real restriction for me, really (oh, I mean to ask why do you have plastic bottles upside down on sticks??)

[craigfromnewcastle]

@chris95069 seriously?

Land which is used for growing things.

[blackcap111]

another great video!! love that T-shirt

[blackcap111]

another great video Claire :-) i love that T-shirt

[clairesallotment]

@blackcap111 Thank you. My hubby buys me the best presents.

[clairesallotment]

@blackcap111 Thanks

[moschops130175]

love the t-shirt!!! your channel has helped me loads, thankyou xxx

[clairesallotment]

@moschops130175 I love my t-shirt too, it's very comfy. Glad you find the videos useful.

[tipsybunny]

this is the first time i've seen you, and really enjoyed the info (and loved the parsnip) I'll definately be back to watch more :) x

[clairesallotment]

@tipsybunny Glad you find them useful. Thank you.

[ALifeLessSimple]

Black fly do indeed love broad beans but it's not all bad, you can use them as a 'conpanion' plant. If you have a problem with black fly you can broad beans close by and the black fly will chose them instead of other things

[clairesallotment]

@ALifeLessSimple I look at mine every day, and as soon as I see any, I'll spray with washing up liquid and nip off the top buds, hopefully this will keep them at bay. Maybe I should farm ladybirds, they eat about 100 aphids a day.

[kokonutbaby1]

Hi Claire! Yes you certainly are a You Tube Star! Nice shirt, so cool! And bravo on the lovely parsnips, I even love the 2 legged one, lol..Im sure they will taste lovely. So glad to see you back on cam..been waiting all winter for this..am so excited to get back to gardening..hooray for spring!..Angie from Arkansas, Usa

[clairesallotment]

@kokonutbaby1 It's warming up nicely over here. On the Easter hols at the moment. Kids go back on Monday, so I'll be straight down the allotment, planting and digging. More videos to come in the next month. Have a great year.

[allotmentdiary]

You can't beat an unexpected bonus crop fresh from the plot at this time of year can you.

Good stuff.

[clairesallotment]

@allotmentdiary I know. Some of those parsnips were huge.

[powerspade]

I also sow Bunyards Exhibition Braod Beans every year. I sow mine 8 inches apart in double rows and about 21/2 feet between rows Usually I do 4 rows of them. You can have a peek via my youtube click my name to view slides

PS nice T shirt your husband is right you are a star, Thnxs for your videos really enjoy them

[clairesallotment]

I thought it was a little too close, but I'm never one to argue with instructions (well sometimes I am). I'll see how they grow, maybe I'll thin them out a little when they get large enough to move, there's still room in the bed. I'll check out your video.

[ShushLorraine]

Thanks! So glad to see you again. Gardening is going to be more fun now. :-D

[clairesallotment]

Every year it gets easier. Have loads of fun.

[clairesallotment]

I love when the flowers start to appear, you know the season is beginning again. The flowers on Runner Beans are beautiful also, especially the white ones. Have a great year.

[59acres]

Ok you've had the Gulf Stream all to your selves over there long enough time to share with cold winter bound Canada :).Great vid Claire...oh and btw you don't have to lift a broadfork like you do a garden fork because its a rocking motion that turns the soil so I'm sure you could handle one...Cheers from Canada

[clairesallotment]

I'm sure the Spring will arrive soon for you. Since the beginning of March it's be sunny, but cold here. That's fine by me, but role on the summer.

[dahhred]

looking forward to seeing your future videos =)

[dahhred]

lol the cold weather is stopping now. it got to maximum 11celcius today and frosts are beggining to stop here in north west england.

[clairesallotment]

It was jolly chilly last night, just above freezing. But at least the days are getting warmer. You had so much more snow this year than we did. I hope that's it for both of use until December at the earliest.

[ConocimientoEsPoder1]

Indeed you are a youtube star Claire. Welcome back :)

[sadia102]

Hey Claire...great to see you for another season: been looking forward to it. I had great broad beans and have more coming up now. No black fly but will keep an eye out for them. LOL we used the same brand of seeds. Hope yours grow as well as mine did and taste as good. I made felafel. Wow on the parsnip. I didn't realise the stalks and flowers grew so tall. You are a You Tube star !! well done hubby.

[clairesallotment]

@sadia102 The broad beans did ok this year, will try again next year, and plant earlier in the season. Some of the parsnips I dug up where huge. Very tasty.

[lillith886]

i love it when you're digging over a patch and you find the ones that got away!! we took the top shoots off our broadbeans last year and had them for tea. cook them like spinach, very easy and delicious. we didn't need to spray after that as they just seemed to lose interest!!

[clairesallotment]

I'll have to try that with the top shoots of the beans they sound wonderful. Fry them for a few minutes in a bit of butter, yum!

[rlewismays]

Yeah!  for the new season!!! Can't wait to see the new greenhouse.

[55utubemartin]

Your hubby is right, you're an inspiration for me, you make it look so easy!!! Thanks : )

[bowler8]

Love the t-shirt Claire!!!

[loveofvegetables]

Claire you are the best! Thank you for sharing your knowledge with us.

[clairesallotment]

Glad you find them useful. Thank you.

[amiraprod525]

Wonderful!! You're very inspirational. I'll have to post a video response and show you what I'm growing this year. Yay, Youtube Star!

[meandmyallotment2010]

They look a bit close together Claire.

[clairesallotment]

@meandmyallotment2010 There was a mis print on the packet, I made a video later to explain. Sorry.

[jihadacadien]

Ahahahh great T-Shirt!

[jihadacadien]

yay new videos! Hope you have a great 2010 garden!

[clairesallotment]

@jihadacadien It's turning out great so far, hope yours is too.

[1fanger]

Hi Claire, Good seeing you.

[BrightSocks]

I have a small feeling that this video was epic, and it was :D! I will definatly be doing a gardening video soon :D ur an insperation to us all and i love beans

[grappler321]

good to see u posting again

[clairesallotment]

They'll be more as the season goes on.

[mountfields]

you do make me smile,,.... thanks...

[clairesallotment]

You're very welcome.

[chattingwithu]

Great to see you! I have watched all of your videos...you are very informative and I enjoy your simple straightforward approach. We are doing our first big garden this spring/summer. Can't wait.

We are in Arkansas, USA! Still quite cool here though!

[clairesallotment]

Have fun in your garden. Take it a little at a time. Take "before" and "after" photos, so you can remember what you did in years to come.

[nobski]

You are a "You Tube Star" great to see some new videos's.

2nd, the book and TV show, great idea.

[roryj123ok]

i could see you having your own tv show and book in years 2 come

[clairesallotment]

That would be wonderful. Let's hope so.

[confessionsofagasman]

nice to see you back, looking forward to your info as this is my fist year in new garden, hope its a good one

[clairesallotment]

Enjoy your first year. It's so rewarding, but hard work sometimes. Keep going though.

[nkey01]

good luck with this years allotment and plants

[clairesallotment]

Thank you. Hope you have a very successful year also.