Comments on: Milestone Passed, Swedes, Beetroot & Strawberries

By: John

John — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 18:56:34 +0000

Phil – well I see what you’re asking but I can’t see a way to really give you what you want. For a start, it depends what you like and will eat. I dislike beetroot – but you might love it.
Even then, what yields will you get? Oh there are theoretical yields but everything from weather to pestilence and plague not to mention variety affects yield.
You do get a feel for what is probably right for you and I’m addressing your question to a small degree in book 2 in a general way.
Julia – answering your question in my next entry

By: John

John — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 18:42:18 +0000

Jacqueline – yes it is.. my Merry Tiller is red as well!

Tony – Trail of Tears – heard of those, what are they like?

By: Phil

Phil — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 15:43:48 +0000

One thing I was hoping for in the book, but didn’t get, was an indication of what you might grow, when you’d sow it etc, and how much of it you’d grow, to feed a family of four all year round.

Now, I appreciate that one man’s broccoli is another man’s goji berry, but I’ve yet to find any book or site that does this other than a reproduction of 1944′s Dig for Victory leaflets. Once I had an idea of a perfect year on the allotment, I could then tweak it to suit my tastes.

However – it’s still a great book and I’m glad you’re doing well.

By: Tony

Tony — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 22:48:49 +0000

Hi John,
Nice to hear not only me has failures on the allotment.
My failures this year have been as follows
Carrots – Don’t know what went wrong but had 6 carrots!!
Peas – reasonable crop but nothing to right home about
Potatoes – wire worm in three varieties

successes –
Borlotti beans –WOW!!!
‘Trail of tears’ beans from the Cherokee indians – buckets and still picking.
Onions – no complaints.
Sweet corn – Just goin to pick ‘em
Shallots – three types – n three successes
We got some pumkins growin – but still a little small ( Shallots might be bigger) Oh well beter luck withem next year!!

By: MrsNibs

MrsNibs — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 21:49:34 +0000

So, are you re-doing your barrel then? This is my year 1, do I need to repot the strawberries for year 2? I have them in a sack but might get something prettier for year 2.

By: button1

button1 — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 18:38:52 +0000

Dear John, Hi just to let you know I purchased a copy of your book (through your site)a couple of weeks ago and it’s fair throbbing with knowledge and practical common-sense advice. I’ve just got the key to my allotement today – Hoorah! Your book will now be my constant companion…and yes I must agree it is a nice red tractor…

By: jacqueline and alan

jacqueline and alan — Sun, 21 Sep 2008 18:47:59 +0000

Dear John,
It is a nice RED tractor though, don’t you think?
JW

By: Julia Lawson

Julia Lawson — Sun, 21 Sep 2008 14:04:19 +0000

Hi John,
Oh the caterpillars what can I do apart from flicking every one into a pot and doing what they deserve? They have trashed my sprouts and seem to be munching thier way through everything with a green leaf.
I love to recycle and the netting that goes around the big round bales you see in the fields is a cheap (free) alternative for netting fuit and brassicas.
Love to read your diary often makes me chortle to myself especially when a head cold is getting me down like today. Cheers John.