Sorting your seeds - Claire's Allotment part 57

[ukgardener1]

This is a brilliant idea and one i need to do as im always misplacing seeds and growing cabbage when i think it was going to be sprouts, nice one Claire thanks for this

[clairesallotment]

@ukgardener1 Glad you find it helpful.

[jakeboy588]

wow u grow alot of food, do u eat it all? what do u do when you get to much, do u sell it, or jar and pickle them too?

[clairesallotment]

@jakeboy588 Yes we eat most of it. Some I give to my sister. If we've got too much I then either freeze it or this year for the first time I've made chutney. I tasted it the other day and it was very nice. The fruit I tend to make jam with. So much better than the shop stuff you get.

[jihadacadien]

Oh and to help with bees I've actually stopped cutting my lawn around the garden. It's mostly clover and it blooms like crazy attracting lots and lots of bees =)

[clairesallotment]

Unfortunately I have to keep my grass short at home because the foxes will use it as a toilet, and at the allotment it has to be short so that it doesn't encroach on the beds. A clover lawn is beautiful.

[jihadacadien]

That is actually a good idea ;)

[member699]

What a great idea!

Thanks allot

[sadia102]

done. Thanks Claire.

[sadia102]

Thanks Claire. I have already started a journal so I can transfer that info into a monthly sowing schedule. Thanks for that. Perhaps obvious for some but not for me. There was nothing in my yard so it is all new. There will be flowers for sure for bees and predators. Thanks heaps.

[clairesallotment]

It's always a good way of not forgetting to sow anything.

[clairesallotment]

Lucky you to be able to plant all year round. If you send me some sun I'll send you lots of rain. Had light showers today and only about 9 degrees. Hope you have a very successful year.

[texasnative7]

I also keep a yearly journal, I'll jot down notes next to the items( how well they grew, or not) and where I planted them, so I can rotate my veggies. Sometimes, I'll add photos, or the seed packet, never trust to memory if you plant alot! I live in central texas,US, we can garden year round here, although the extreme heat and humidity can be challenging! I love to see other gardens, and I have been enjoying your videos! Send me some of that rain,please!

[jenRWfan]

Ahh, so then we don't have all those little packs of unopened seed at the end of the year!!! Why didn't I think of this? Did you do one on positions of things in the plot-rotation etc Totally confused about that !

[clairesallotment]

I just plant my seed in rows across the allotment, I think its West to East, then they get full use of the sun. Don't do crop rotation, it's too much like hard work. Just make sure tomatoes DON'T follow potatoes and vice versa. Also make sure you plant beans in a different place each year.

[jenRWfan]

Thanks for that,you make it sound easy! I have also found insects and bees like the tall Sedum-Autumn joy and for springtime the Poached Egg flower Limnanthes -  Now - Ironing or Seed sorting.......!!!

[azza7717]

do you know wich flowers bring the bees to the grandens

[clairesallotment]

Fox gloves are good (Digitalis) they attract especially bumbles, Sweet peas, cornflowers anything with a biggish flower. Try and get a cottage garden mix of seeds, or meadow that should do the trick.

[reddyreddyredred]

Fantastic set of videos!! I wish I could take back all my gardening books. Just got my new allotment and I will follow your videos! Re your seeds, any chance you could post a list of your varieties - ie what type of pea/onion etc you plant. You should send a tape to a TV station, inspirational!!

[clairesallotment]

As and when I plant them I'll say what they are, and where they came from. Mostly Thompson and Morgan or Johnsons. Enjoy your new allotment,

[clairesallotment]

The gardens less than 50ft long and about 16ft wide, it's far too small. When I finally get chickens I'd like at least 2 doz to make it worth while. Ours used to go out on the grass during the day. We rescued 18 battery hens and my dad paid 50p each for them. The were then really free range hens.

[clairesallotment]

My parents used to have chickens when I was young. The most we ever had was 21. I'd love to have some myself, but don't have the room in the garden. You've given me chicken envy. Our eldest chicken was nearly 14 when she died.

[tractorboydarren]

Great to see you back Claire, this will be my first year on my plot and you videos are a great help -will hopefully follow you thorugh this season and learn more.

Thanks

[tenneral]

Great video. I've dug over a lot more of my little lawn and plan to grow many more vegetables this year. I'll be following your programme to the letter!!

[clairesallotment]

Good luck and make sure you have loads of fun.

[powerspade]

Nice to see you back ,let all hope that we have a good season this year

best wishes

[clairesallotment]

Same to you. Happy growing.

[Brown969]

Hurray!! First to view the New Year's videos!!