Feeling that our plot has been like a bit if a noose around my neck this year, which is really sad because we had such a fabulous harvest last year! Last year being our first year as allotmenteers. T…

Comment by Catherine on August 30, 2012 at 11:49

I had a bit of a "slump" this year too, Michelle and I have been gardening for years. I think it was lack of sunshine to our bodies too...S.A.D. But when we started getting a bit of warmth my enthusiasm perked up. Yes....this year was a bit of a disaster with some veggies, but then again we did have enough to not have to buy any from the shops. I have started sowing some in the tunnel for the winter and feel good again :) Do not give up as each year is a new challenge for us gardeners. Good Luck and Happy Gardening :)

Comment by Flighty on August 30, 2012 at 12:08

I should think that most people have felt like that this year which has been simply terrible for growing your own.  It's been too cold, too wet, too little sunshine and as for the slugs... It really has been the worst year that even long time gardeners can remember. 

Imagine if this year had been your first as allotmenteers rather than last year. I think that if it had you'd have given up, as I'm sure that I would have! 

Gardeners have to be optimists, and say to ourselves that it will be better next year. 

Comment by Mr Sparkles on August 30, 2012 at 12:22

the only things that have done well this year are slugs and weeds!! i cannot believe how the weeds can thrive and yet my carefully nurtured plants not. It has been an awful year for everyone, having said that some crops have done well. We all get despondant but like flighty says we have to be optomists !! I for one have thrown the rule book out the window, i just sow/plant whatever i like whenever i think it will do well. We will never tame the British weather so we just have to try and live with it, make allowances and plod on. Stick with it, believe me it can only get better!! Chin Up !

Comment by Malagrowther on August 30, 2012 at 13:21

This is my twentieth year on the plot. Despite greater efforts on my part this has been a truly horrible year. Let's hope it is a one off (although I remember saying that in the previous two wet years!) 

 

Having four children I know that generating lasting enthusiasm is a real problem. Instant results are required!  We tried to get them to adopt a crop,  or an area on the plot. With little success. Harvesting is always a favourite activity.  We would do the weeding while they dug potatoes or picked courgettes.  Some flowers add appeal for youngsters.  Innevitably, whatever you do they will lose interest completely in their teens.  Having said that they all remember with affection their early days at the plot. Any suggestion that I give it up has been met with complete disapproval. Perhaps they want to keep me out of mischief?

Without liitle or no help it has been a struggle to keep the plot going on my own, but now the taxi driving to dancing orchestra etc are over nearly (Three out of four have sat their driving test) I am glad I kept up the effort to do the job half well if only because it meant I could keep the plot when I have more time to devote to it  -  which should be in a few years time now (or less if the job goes).

My two top tips for managing a plot.  Compartmentalise it to help with crop rotation and to add variation.  Grow a good sized potato patch as this is one crop that looks after the weeds itself (except  for this year when everyone got blight). 

 

Whatever your children learn young they will remember for good.  I know because most of my knowlege goes back to what I remember my Dad telling me!

Comment by Colin Robinson on August 30, 2012 at 21:46

Don't give up. I can't add much to what others have said except to say that the very act of having a garden/allotment means that you believe in the future and that things can get better. I've been doing it for donkeys years and it has taken all my knowledge and ingenuity to get worthwhile crops of anything this year. Some have been disasters and some have been fairly successful but it really has been a struggle. I'm in the position of being able to just walk out the back door and into the garden so I can take advantage of any five minutes of fair weather when it comes. It must be very difficult for anyone who's plot is away from the house.

Comment by John Martin on August 30, 2012 at 22:53

Yes it has been a struggle this year, but like Colin and everybody else has said, don't give up.  I have my crops in small areas 1.2 mtrs by 4.5 mtrs and you can weed one of them in about 10 mins so even if the your little one gets bored after 20 mins you will have tobeds clear of weeds.  Stick at it you won't regret it

Comment by Darren Blick on August 31, 2012 at 7:29

This year has been bad for everyone but if you need some encouragement and some proof that it will get better, see if you can get a copy of the Garden News of 2 weeks ago. There is a 2 page spread on the inside cover of how I was just about to give up my plot due to frustrations much as yourself, then with the right teachings and knowledge passed on, within a year I become a National Show Champion

Yes, it can happen that fast, you just need people to share tips and there is no better place then right here

Comment by Flighty on September 1, 2012 at 7:30

Gardening weather: how this year's extreme conditions affected Brit...

Comment by Sarah Smith on September 4, 2012 at 20:13

When my children were were younger and we had an allotment, I found that an area set aside for them to dig in, a small spade each and some water kept them occupied for some time.  They would go home filthy, but at least I'd get some work done!  They enjoyed helping with harvesting too - especially anything they could eat straight away.  Don't give up, things will get better!

Comment by Geoff Wilson on September 5, 2012 at 16:53

Basically I agree with everyone else, this year has been an extremely challenging year, low light levels, low temperatures, rain by the tonne (in some areas).  Blight on every potato I grew (in the ground and in bags) which meant cutting the top growth off 6 weeks earlier than I would normally, and considering they were already weeks behind it's enough to get anyone down - I personally haven't experienced Blight on potatoes for over 20 yrs. Yet the weeds seem to have had a bumper year especially the Horses tail (Mares tail) on my plot. But there's one thing to bear in mind there's always next year!

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