Is it too late for my cucumber

[bag lady]

I've 3 cucumber plants in a cold frame on a south facing balcony, they keep flowering but no fruit, any one want to rehome them? If they have any chance?

[maestro]

Bag lady do control yourself, having been posted at 10:29pm my imagination was running wild as to what this thread was actually going to be about. (I hear poor Mr Orton is currently in intensive care).

[Tim Lund]

This year Sydenham has been spared various smug posts about what's I've harvested from my allotment and garden, but I have been wondering about a blog along the lines of "The Value Added Gardener", in which I'd write about what is actually worth growing, comparing the cost of inputs with the price you'd otherwise have to pay at the point of consumption.

Cucumbers would not figure.

If you have just a cold frame on a south facing balcony, I'd go for herbs; basil and chives are both good value.

[Robin Orton]

(I hear poor Mr Orton is currently in intensive care).

I assume you don't mean me. I am in rude health, thank you.

[bag lady]

no takers then?

Tim I'd be interested in your vag thread, i have an allotment too. Although by no means up to your standards, i'm a face book friend of yours so have seen some of your produce, I'm a beginner and any tips are great.

Maybe we could have another thread on double entendre's........

[Tim Lund]

no takers then?

Tim I'd be interested in your vag thread, i have an allotment too. Although by no means up to your standards, i'm a face book friend of yours so have seen some of your produce, I'm a beginner and any tips are great.

I know, but I don't use Facebook much.

I wasn't thinking so much of tips, but just an all trials disclosure of what I try to grow, and a costed assessment of whether they work out. Obviously there's rather more benefit to gardening than the possible financial returns, but I feel ideas of self-sufficiency need such a reality check.

[bag lady]

you can't buy or cost the feel good factor / smugness.

[maestro]

. Obviously there's rather more benefit to gardening than the possible financial returns, but I feel ideas of self-sufficiency need such a reality check.

Indeed. Hence why I have had the large allotment patches turned over ready for levelling off and turfing at the property I have recently bought (the picture was taken this morning, this is one of three plots I have, the second is a patch of lawn to the front of the property and the third (off to the left of the photos) is totally overgrown with trees and bushes, it's a nesting haven for birds so I'll leave it that way. I had no idea the gardens were so extensive as I bought it at auction back in February and the details provided were rather scant.

I'm informed that the soil quality is fabulous and the previous elderly occupants used to grow an abundance of quality produce for sixty odd years (they had lived there all their married lives) but as it had been uninhabited for some time the veg plots had become overgrown with weeds and anything else growing had bolted. My neighbours have had everything in their veg plots devastated by rabbits for the last two seasons, they had also erected a greenhouse but it was demolished by the first gale last winter.

So a large patch of lawn and a patio area for barbecues in the far corner,where all the raspberry and blackberry bushes are also going to be removed, seems far more appealing to me. There is a sizeable herb patch to the right next to my garage, that will suffice for my edible gardening needs.

[Tim Lund]

Maestro - I can't help it feeling sad to me, but I have to recognise that you are describing a trend. One of my themes, as you probably know, is how we adjust to a world where people still want well cared for and interesting gardens, but don't have the time, skills or inclinations to do the necessary work themselves.

Although it will mean smaller gardens, especially private gardens, it should also be the emergence of careers for people specialising in maintaining what gardens remain. Unfortunately, gardening is still seen as something for the less able or retired, so not warranting being well paid.

I was talking to a landscape architect employed by a large architectural practice recently about the challenge of the ongoing maintenance of the spaces he designed as part of his job. He's about to move to Sydenham, so more thoughts on the matter will emerge ...

[Annie.]

Smaller gardens will mean nearer neighbours, do we really want that?

[Tim Lund]

Smaller gardens will mean nearer neighbours, do we really want that?

Depends on how well you manage to get on with them. I have no problems with mine, here in edgy Sydenham, but I've heard there are strange folk out into Kent.

[Annie.]

Tim, there are strange smells out here that's for sure as for strange folk, well all I have met so far make me feel like I am on holiday daily!
As to space, most people want their own space, neighbours come and go, can be good or bad. I'd rather have space enough not to worry about the goings on next door!

[chicklet]

I would love to read any thread on allotments. I have had my plot for a 2 years and what would really interest me is how to make it as easy to maintain as possible and to get the best possible return. (Dandelions would be my far most profitable crop if there was a market for them).
My successes and enjoyment so far stems to Onions, Garlic and Broad beans - and I really need to broaden my horizons.
I invested in Asparagus crowns - I read these gave a good £ return year on year and yet they seem to sadly disappear.
I have also invested in raspberry plants - hoping this would be a good investment for a few years also.
I would also like to dedicate some space to allotment friendly flowers to pick and fill vases for the home.
Any suggestions would be extremely appreciated.

[Tim Lund]

I would love to read any thread on allotments. I have had my plot for a 2 years and what would really interest me is how to make it as easy to maintain as possible and to get the best possible return. (Dandelions would be my far most profitable crop if there was a market for them).

Sounds like my exact audience, but before I get carried away, perhaps I should put in a link to the best person writing about allotments, IMHO. He's called John Harison, and this is his web site, where there is also a Forum. If I was to invest serious amounts of time in writing about what I grow, I'd need to feel I could add something to what he manages.

My successes and enjoyment so far stems to Onions, Garlic and Broad beans - and I really need to broaden my horizons.

I find I end up with a handful of crops which I can grow well enough for my satisfaction, which includes these, although only autumn sown broad beans (aqua dulce). But it also includes beetroot (bolthardy or cylindra), runner beans, parnips, dwarf french beans and potatoes. On which last, the catering department has provided some useful feedback this year; the new variety I tried this year, Picasso, can be grown again - as also Pink Fir Apple.

I invested in Asparagus crowns - I read these gave a good £ return year on year and yet they seem to sadly disappear

My experience too. I suspect it's a matter of staying on top of the weeding. This is one of the areas where realism is needed; if you're retired, and really will get down to the plot every other day and deal with anything unwanted which comes up, then fine, but if not, don't kid yourself.

I have also invested in raspberry plants - hoping this would be a good investment for a few years also.

Yes, but I'd suggest going for autumn varieties. The fruiting season lasts longer, and they require less care. In fact, I'm probably doing better from the ones invading from my neighbours' garden than the summer fruiting varieties I paid for.

I would also like to dedicate some space to allotment friendly flowers to pick and fill vases for the home.
Any suggestions would be extremely appreciated.

I've thought of this too, and most years I try growing something new from seed to see how I get on, although I do this more in my garden than allotment. Some work, some don't. Delphiniums are nice, but their new shoots are like crack for slugs. Last year I grew dahlias from seed, and lifted the tubers for storage over winter. This has definitely worked, although in the first year they needed protection from slugs. I also grow sweet peas every year, sowing them in September / October. This year I tried chrysanthemumns, which are ok.

There are also other flowers which just grow, e.g. Love in a mist (Nigella) and marigolds (Calendula), and all you need to do is let them seed, and grow any where you're using for anywhere else. Stocks, Sweet Williams & pinks are also good, but more for giving a cottage garden feel than cut flowers. I also have irises; I once saw some growing wild in the Pyrenees, and just thought they looked fantastic.