Hi Emma, I also have an allotment and its also been about four years now since my start. Borage, marigolds and comfrey are my top 3 essential helpers. Borage and strawberries go well together, borage improves their taste. It is good to deadhead it.
Bit of a tip. You say about putting your winter greens where your summer ones are, crop rotation is something you need to learn .Sowing Brassicas in the same plot will lead to club root which will affect any brassicas planted in there for years. Planting Potatoes in the same plot will lead to scab and other soil born diseases, you realy need to learn about crop rotation. Your Leeks would fair better if removed from the soil they came in and planted as bare root the roots prefer to find there own hold and stretch out can’t do if in a bundle of compost .Good luck with the Potatoes and hope for a mild autumn, I do mine in tubs and place out of the way of frost in the greenhouse.
Hi Emma. I've just watched your latest video and I had to let you know what I've discovered about cleaning pond water. You may already know, and if you do, I apologise. My compost bit tipped into my pond 😮 and as you can imagine, the water went black. I have tadpoles, so I couldn't drain it. I tried alsorts... different plants, liquid cleaner, but nothing worked. Then my sister in law told me she'd heard that if you tip a bag of watercress in there, it clears the water. After we'd had a good laugh, I decided in desperation to give it a go. It was a-maz-ing. By the next morning, it was so much better...and it's continued to improve. Apparently, it can be invasive, so I only put half a bag in each week and clear the previous week's out. It seems to make the biggest improvement in the first couple of days. I'd recommend anyone to give it a go, but, once again...sorry if you already knew this. Love your vlogs xx
Hiya Emma, I think little robin should be called lottie because of the allotment......anyway look forward to your choice. Love your vlogs and just carry on being yourself, you are a ray of sunshine. Love Sue Melbourne Australia. Xxxx000
At 18:22 you cover your carrot seeds with soil. Your hand movement reminds me of Thing in The Addams Family. When Thing moved, since he was only a hand, he moved on his fingertips. Your hand covering carrot seeds reminded me of him. You performed ‘The Thing.’ 😂 Yes, I am easily amused. Thanks for the video Emma!
Yes Emma, you're spot on regarding your leeks. I always soak the ground first, so that the soil doesn't cave back in once you make the hole 15cm deep (6 inches). Trim the roots, and the stems once they are in the hole. Don't back fill, just puddle them in. The idea is that the hole will fill itself as you water and hoe, also it allows the leek room to row. And by trimming the stem, it encourages it to grow stronger.
I'm so glad I read all these comments. So much good advice and tips. Thank you Everyone and especially Emma for these brilliant easy, take it as you go videos.
I ate green potatoes for years not knowing it was bad for you. I sometimes had a mystery tummy ache after eating green potatoes but yeah I don't think it kills you. Since I stopped eating them I don't get the mystery tummy aches anymore lol
Hi Emma I love your allotment , mine is a mess I have mares tail awful weed you can't get rid off. I have nitbmuch in the allotment going to start growing potatoes and carrots for Xmas Thanks all your blogs are really informative Karen
My first carrots ever just sprouted, I put some leeks in and also some celery. It’ll probably all die when I go camping for a week or so… but I had some fun sowing and planting anyway… Thank you!
I live in beautiful Antigua. I started leeks from seed. I will use your method when I plant them out. I have blueberries & blackberries growing, also. I was blown away when I got my first berries.
Just got my first overgrown allotment a few weeks back. I’ve put a few potato’s in, it’s all a learning curve. Enjoying your videos, just ordered some shed paint, gone for forget me not blue 😊
If you watered the hole first where your leeks were going in since the soil was very dry and fluffy it would work better. Place leek in dampened soil hole, then water and let the water cover the leeks with remaining soil. That way no floating leeks in the beginning with your fluffy soil.. Hope this helps
You are right about potatoes don't eat if green i had some one on Facebook a few years back saying i was wrong about not eating them if green old wives trail he said sent him the information never reard anything again for him
I've seen some people water carrots REALLY well, then cover with a board for a few days to prevent drying out. Check often and keep wet until they germinate.
Hi Emma, I love watching your videos, makes me laugh sometimes but also teaches me few things. About eating green potatoes, I have eaten quite a few green potatoes along the years and never had any reaction to it. I didn't even knew that they were considered poison, till started to hear in TH-cam videos that they are bad for you. Honestly I don't mind the green in my potatoes at all. But that's only me 😂!!!
Hi you can just cut the green bit of the potatoes and use the rest of it luck as it I've not had any problems with the potatoes popping up this year enjoy the rest of your week
I dug my potato trench cadaver deep and shoved the seed pots in and back filled. Instead of hilling/earthing up i just added spare grass and other plot cuttings as a mulch to keep the sun out and the moisture in.
It sure does look like duckweed. It's an aquarists worst nightmare. If it ends up in an aquarium you can never get rid of it. It smothers the light and prevents other plants underneath growing. I hate the stuff. As for ponds, I wouldn't have a clue if good or bad if honest as I've never kept ponds. But one thing i know for sure is you wont be short of it. 🙂
I hadn't heard of trimming the roots on leeks but I've recently been researching about bonsais and how to make a stronger, thicker tree and when their roots are trimmed they grow more little roots so there's more of them to uptake even more water and nutrients. They also use sharp grit to make the roots split which also causes more small roots. This encourages a thicker trunk so perhaps the same applies and you'll get a thicker leek 😀 I've already planted mine but I'll give it a go myself next time, thanks Emma 👍
We finally cleared the greenhouse and a bed. Managed to fill the greenhouse with tomatoes and cucumber plants, and put some runner beans and peas outside :)
I have found that carrots seeds need a lot more watering than you would think to get a good germination. And to continue watering well untill the leaves are at least 5 cm long, with a fine rose on the watering can. Or else you wash them out of the ground.
Lovely video Emma, I have a bed I call my nemesis bed ss nothing has ever grown in it so have finally given up on it. Good luck with your Xmas spuds. Keep them cosy over winter as some people say to bring them inside in the winter.😊
Your plot is looking great. My pumpkins have still not attempted to climb my arch, they look healthy sitting there either side. Hoping they will get the idea soon!
Hi Emma, thank you for your video, they are very helpful and fun whaching you.. I've started gardening 2020. But I didn't do much 2022. How ever I have started again, I wanted asked who helped you to assemble your green houses.
I recall in 1979 a London school served up green potatoes and posioned half the school. I don't recall anyone dying, or perhaps they didn't report it...
Thanks Emma, I have a good feeling about your carrots too! I’ve only just put my sweetcorn, pumpkins and squash in but have everything crossed that they’ll pick up as they look a bit sad atm. Also courgettes looking a bit meh but we have rain tonight and that always perks things up x
I’ve never overwintered anything or grown Christmas veg, but I’m trying it for the first time this year! I sowed some leek seeds a few weeks ago and of the eight(-ish?) seeds I sowed, I got 6 sprouts! They’re just growing away in a terracotta pot on my patio now. Not big enough to plant out into a bigger space yet, which is fine… because I need to figure out where to put them. Either directly in the ground or in a big pot, and then maybe moving it to my little side yard for winter? My neighbor’s shrubs and my house might be effective at blocking the wind a bit? I don’t know. Growing something new is never not an experiment.
I’ve sown 2 lots of carrots so far and they seem to be growing quite slow going to sow some more in a few spots in the hopes they get really big like you mine have not amounted to a lot past few years
Saw in a previous video of yours your sunflower blew over and snapped I thought to myself I better stake mine well I had not done it yet and was todays job unfortunately one of mine too snapped I have staked it in the hopes it may heal itself fingers crossed any way
I've found potatoes from the grocery store with bits of green on one end and I just cut off the green parts skin and any part of the potato with green and cook as usual. Didn't bother me at all ...
Can you just cut the beans off at the bottom of the stem and leave the roots in? Something to do with nitrogen-fixing? Beans & peas leave little white blobs on their roots - nitrogen? - I thought they were fungus when I saw them first.
I heard of a lady called Ruth Stout who had a fantastic way of growing potatoes. No work. No digging - just put the spuds on top of the soil and cover with straw. Sounds easier than earthing up and risking green potato death!
Unnecessary digging there. Your soil is quite loose. Just stick your spade in, push it forward amd plop the potato in. No need to hill up at this time of year. Farmers dont hill up potatoes.
Your little robin was a angel from heaven for you 💜🥰
Hi Emma, I also have an allotment and its also been about four years now since my start. Borage, marigolds and comfrey are my top 3 essential helpers. Borage and strawberries go well together, borage improves their taste. It is good to deadhead it.
Bit of a tip. You say about putting your winter greens where your summer ones are, crop rotation is something you need to learn .Sowing Brassicas in the same plot will lead to club root which will affect any brassicas planted in there for years. Planting Potatoes in the same plot will lead to scab and other soil born diseases, you realy need to learn about crop rotation. Your Leeks would fair better if removed from the soil they came in and planted as bare root the roots prefer to find there own hold and stretch out can’t do if in a bundle of compost .Good luck with the Potatoes and hope for a mild autumn, I do mine in tubs and place out of the way of frost in the greenhouse.
Hi Emma. I've just watched your latest video and I had to let you know what I've discovered about cleaning pond water. You may already know, and if you do, I apologise. My compost bit tipped into my pond 😮 and as you can imagine, the water went black. I have tadpoles, so I couldn't drain it. I tried alsorts... different plants, liquid cleaner, but nothing worked. Then my sister in law told me she'd heard that if you tip a bag of watercress in there, it clears the water. After we'd had a good laugh, I decided in desperation to give it a go. It was a-maz-ing. By the next morning, it was so much better...and it's continued to improve. Apparently, it can be invasive, so I only put half a bag in each week and clear the previous week's out. It seems to make the biggest improvement in the first couple of days. I'd recommend anyone to give it a go, but, once again...sorry if you already knew this. Love your vlogs xx
Hiya Emma,
I think little robin should be called lottie because of the allotment......anyway look forward to your choice.
Love your vlogs and just carry on being yourself, you are a ray of sunshine. Love Sue Melbourne Australia. Xxxx000
At 18:22 you cover your carrot seeds with soil. Your hand movement reminds me of Thing in The Addams Family. When Thing moved, since he was only a hand, he moved on his fingertips. Your hand covering carrot seeds reminded me of him. You performed ‘The Thing.’ 😂 Yes, I am easily amused. Thanks for the video Emma!
Ha I thought the same too 😂
TIME TO GROW YOUR XMAS VEG / ALLOTMENT GARDENING FOR BEGINNERS
Yes Emma, you're spot on regarding your leeks. I always soak the ground first, so that the soil doesn't cave back in once you make the hole 15cm deep (6 inches). Trim the roots, and the stems once they are in the hole. Don't back fill, just puddle them in. The idea is that the hole will fill itself as you water and hoe, also it allows the leek room to row. And by trimming the stem, it encourages it to grow stronger.
I'm so glad I read all these comments. So much good advice and tips. Thank you Everyone and especially Emma for these brilliant easy, take it as you go videos.
Love your vlogs Emma, keep doing what you do, it makes us all smile xx 😊
Well done Emma. Everything comes to those who wait !! x
I ate green potatoes for years not knowing it was bad for you. I sometimes had a mystery tummy ache after eating green potatoes but yeah I don't think it kills you. Since I stopped eating them I don't get the mystery tummy aches anymore lol
broad beans are so good cooked cooled pealed and in salads
Hi Emma I love your allotment , mine is a mess I have mares tail awful weed you can't get rid off.
I have nitbmuch in the allotment going to start growing potatoes and carrots for Xmas
Thanks all your blogs are really informative
Karen
Hi Emma you are on the ball fantastic lv Irene 😘 xx
My first carrots ever just sprouted, I put some leeks in and also some celery. It’ll probably all die when I go camping for a week or so… but I had some fun sowing and planting anyway… Thank you!
Superbe vidéo bravo 👍👏👍
I got a lot of potatoes in pots never done it be for .i stil have some in the gard to
Love your total delight with the raspberries and blueberries. Things are comng along well. All the best. Mags
I’m glad you found a Raspberry Emma😊
Hope the potatoes, leeks and carrots grow well.😊
Love your rection to finding veg/fruit, plots looking fab as is the pumkin arch, fab vlog Emma have a great week 🥰
I live in beautiful Antigua. I started leeks from seed. I will use your method when I plant them out.
I have blueberries & blackberries growing, also. I was blown away when I got my first berries.
Just got my first overgrown allotment a few weeks back. I’ve put a few potato’s in, it’s all a learning curve. Enjoying your videos, just ordered some shed paint, gone for forget me not blue 😊
I thought you were no dig Emma .....re potatoes 😮
If you watered the hole first where your leeks were going in since the soil was very dry and fluffy it would work better. Place leek in dampened soil hole, then water and let the water cover the leeks with remaining soil. That way no floating leeks in the beginning with your fluffy soil.. Hope this helps
im doing some kings in the ground and some in pots
You are right about potatoes don't eat if green i had some one on Facebook a few years back saying i was wrong about not eating them if green old wives trail he said sent him the information never reard anything again for him
I've seen some people water carrots REALLY well, then cover with a board for a few days to prevent drying out. Check often and keep wet until they germinate.
Hi Emma, I love watching your videos, makes me laugh sometimes but also teaches me few things.
About eating green potatoes, I have eaten quite a few green potatoes along the years and never had any reaction to it.
I didn't even knew that they were considered poison, till started to hear in TH-cam videos that they are bad for you.
Honestly I don't mind the green in my potatoes at all. But that's only me 😂!!!
I've eaten green potatoes as well, but I peel them, don't know if matters. No issues, though.
Hi you can just cut the green bit of the potatoes and use the rest of it luck as it I've not had any problems with the potatoes popping up this year enjoy the rest of your week
I dug my potato trench cadaver deep and shoved the seed pots in and back filled. Instead of hilling/earthing up i just added spare grass and other plot cuttings as a mulch to keep the sun out and the moisture in.
Thank you Emma enjoyed your Vlog x
The pond “oxygenator” you poured in looks like it might be duckweed. Which can help reduce algae growth, filter debris and clarify water.
It sure does look like duckweed. It's an aquarists worst nightmare. If it ends up in an aquarium you can never get rid of it. It smothers the light and prevents other plants underneath growing. I hate the stuff. As for ponds, I wouldn't have a clue if good or bad if honest as I've never kept ponds. But one thing i know for sure is you wont be short of it. 🙂
I hadn't heard of trimming the roots on leeks but I've recently been researching about bonsais and how to make a stronger, thicker tree and when their roots are trimmed they grow more little roots so there's more of them to uptake even more water and nutrients. They also use sharp grit to make the roots split which also causes more small roots. This encourages a thicker trunk so perhaps the same applies and you'll get a thicker leek 😀 I've already planted mine but I'll give it a go myself next time, thanks Emma 👍
You’ve inspired me to order some late main crop seed potatoes 😊
Another good video, I enjoy them. Keep it up and hope you have a good harvest.
Earthing up potatoes will encourage more tubers,spuds, protect from frost and prevent them going green
Thank you Emma your brilliant and l love your response to your crops it's so lovely xxx
We finally cleared the greenhouse and a bed. Managed to fill the greenhouse with tomatoes and cucumber plants, and put some runner beans and peas outside :)
'SPUD' .. that's the resident Robins name .. my first thought when I saw him 😊
I have found that carrots seeds need a lot more watering than you would think to get a good germination. And to continue watering well untill the leaves are at least 5 cm long, with a fine rose on the watering can. Or else you wash them out of the ground.
Lovely video Emma, I have a bed I call my nemesis bed ss nothing has ever grown in it so have finally given up on it. Good luck with your Xmas spuds. Keep them cosy over winter as some people say to bring them inside in the winter.😊
I learned a lot to your videos
Very interesting video today!
i just sewed my king carrots and the wheeler cabbage , fennel and yellow canary chard
Thought it was a bit early for planting Christmas spuds. Grew some in pots last year and lost them in the Oct frosts.
In gardening, the ditch is called a furrow.
I'm gonna go with mountain and ravine cos it sounds so masculine and extreme-sport-bravery-gardening!
Your plot is looking great. My pumpkins have still not attempted to climb my arch, they look healthy sitting there either side. Hoping they will get the idea soon!
mine are exactly the same. Glad it's not just mine!
You might need to put the long stems around the arch carefully or they will continue to grow along the ground.
Hi Emma, thank you for your video, they are very helpful and fun whaching you.. I've started gardening 2020. But I didn't do much 2022. How ever I have started again, I wanted asked who helped you to assemble your green houses.
A similar thing happened to my onions as did your leeks... They came back to life 🤞🤞🤞
Once Your blueberries are established and producing you may need to net them so the birds don't have them all.
I recall in 1979 a London school served up green potatoes and posioned half the school. I don't recall anyone dying, or perhaps they didn't report it...
How interesting. It's bizarre what snippets of information we retain isn't it haha. Thanks for sharing
Thanks Emma, I have a good feeling about your carrots too!
I’ve only just put my sweetcorn, pumpkins and squash in but have everything crossed that they’ll pick up as they look a bit sad atm. Also courgettes looking a bit meh but we have rain tonight and that always perks things up x
I’ve never overwintered anything or grown Christmas veg, but I’m trying it for the first time this year! I sowed some leek seeds a few weeks ago and of the eight(-ish?) seeds I sowed, I got 6 sprouts! They’re just growing away in a terracotta pot on my patio now. Not big enough to plant out into a bigger space yet, which is fine… because I need to figure out where to put them. Either directly in the ground or in a big pot, and then maybe moving it to my little side yard for winter? My neighbor’s shrubs and my house might be effective at blocking the wind a bit? I don’t know. Growing something new is never not an experiment.
Treat yourself do a dibber it will make your hole making easier when planting leeks .
I’ve sown 2 lots of carrots so far and they seem to be growing quite slow going to sow some more in a few spots in the hopes they get really big like you mine have not amounted to a lot past few years
Do you share any meal dishes you make with all your allotment treats?
Saw in a previous video of yours your sunflower blew over and snapped I thought to myself I better stake mine well I had not done it yet and was todays job unfortunately one of mine too snapped I have staked it in the hopes it may heal itself fingers crossed any way
I’ve got loads of leek seedling and nowhere to plant them as run out of space so sadly they will have to go to the compost heap!!
Send me the brod beans , lol 😂
I've found potatoes from the grocery store with bits of green on one end and I just cut off the green parts skin and any part of the potato with green and cook as usual. Didn't bother me at all ...
Can you just cut the beans off at the bottom of the stem and leave the roots in? Something to do with nitrogen-fixing? Beans & peas leave little white blobs on their roots - nitrogen? - I thought they were fungus when I saw them first.
Do you get to choose the seeds they send you?
Is there a beetroot growing in your pond or has my insomnia got the better of me
Can anybody tell me why my potatoes break up and turn to mush when I boil them tried different varieties but still the same result-cheers steve
I have eating a green potato just gave me a head ache 😩
Net your fruit or the birds will strip them !!!
Best to grow your leeks in used toilet rolls
That’s a great idea!!
I heard of a lady called Ruth Stout who had a fantastic way of growing potatoes. No work. No digging - just put the spuds on top of the soil and cover with straw. Sounds easier than earthing up and risking green potato death!
She heard you ha
How about robinhood since he steals from the garden.
Duckweed.
I’m sorry but the robin’s name is 1000% Seraphina
Re green potatoes no you need to eat a lot to die!
A trench
Unnecessary digging there. Your soil is quite loose. Just stick your spade in, push it forward amd plop the potato in. No need to hill up at this time of year. Farmers dont hill up potatoes.
Twetty
You should have removed the soil first 😂
Won't rats get the potatoes