Gardening

[melted welly]

Pick them green, wash in 'grey' water and gas them when you put them on their plastic trays?

Then put in the fridge for a month prior to consumption

 

[anzani]

Subsequent to posting the above, I have emailed the Garden Centre Association asking what they are doing towards having GCs opened. The source of food production is an essential service.

On their website was an item to the effect they are asking government for a hand out. I have told them that such whining is not the answer. They will not like it, but that is the wrong attitude. Very reminiscent of a TFFer who is always moaning about subsidies not being high enough.

You can help by doing something similar. Very slightly before my time, but it should be renewed "Dig for Victory".
Any suggestions for who else I can email?

The garden centre industry could not survive on the sales of merchandise for growing food. I doubt whether it would survive on the sales of horticultural merchandise of any nature. As it appears that 90% of the product offered is "not essential" in any way,and arguably, not even within the planning use category, they are unlikely to pursue this at all.
Seeds are best sourced online. I received this email yesterday from the SEED CO-OPERATIVE

"Starting today we are going to open our checkout from 7-9pm on weekday evenings.

We disabled our checkout a week ago to allow us to catch up with an unprecedented number of orders over the previous weekend. Our capacity is reduced due to coronavirus restrictions which clearly adds to the challenge.

This is always a busy time of year as we try and juggle sales and the establishment of this years seed crops. Please accept our apologies if deliveries do not arrive as quickly as usual, and that we are not answering the phone, except to take orders from those without internet access between 11am and 1pm, weekdays. We will be sending all orders on 24 hour delivery, but it might take more than a day for us to dispatch and Royal Mail and the couriers are all very stretched, so please be patient.

Please be assured that if you place an order we will do everything that we can to get it to you as quickly as we can.

If you are a commercial grower needing seed for your livelihood, and the checkout times make it difficult please email us your order. Order forms are on the Downloads page of the web site and should be sent to [email protected].

Thank you to all our customers for your patience, understanding and support.
Visit our web site (https://seedcooperative.org.uk/?mc_cid=3d6637abc0&mc_eid=[UNIQID])

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[Kidds]

Makes me smile when folk start to try and 'feed themselves' by planting peppers, melons, asparagus etc. How many hot meals does that make? The easiest veg to grow, and which will make a meal in itself, is potatoes, and they can be grown in tubs if nec. We maximise the area of spuds and then look to fill in with beans, peas, cabbage, squash etc.

Hunting through the cupboard I found a pack of Charlotte that were a bit rampant. Bugger! I forgot about those, well they'll do for planting. They are certainly well sprit.

 

[Old Boar]

Most seeds will last for at least 2 seasons, with the exception of Parsnip. All peas and beans are good for 2 years, and all the cabbage family good for at least 3 years. Marrows, courgettes and cucumber seeds are good for at least 6 years.
They all of course must have been kept in a dry dark place, preferably in the packet.

Ground is too cold here at the moment to sew, but the polytunnel is filling with seed trays.

 

[Old McDonald]

The garden centre industry could not survive on the sales of merchandise for growing food. I doubt whether it would survive on the sales of horticultural merchandise of any nature. As it appears that 90% of the product offered is "not essential" in any way,and arguably, not even within the planning use category, they are unlikely to pursue this at all.
Seeds are best sourced online. I received this email yesterday from the SEED CO-OPERATIVE

The survival or otherwise of businesses was not the purpose of my post. If they are open, then in a few weeks' time those who grow for short-term feeding of themselvers will need to make less trips to the supermarket. I am not talking about long-term crops like maincrop potatoes, next winter's leeks, or next spring's sprouting broccolli, although obviously sensible people will be ensuring those crops too.

What percentage of goods in hardware shops are "essential"? Or supermarkets? These places are not restricted to selling only "essentials" yet they are operating. I normally use Moles Seeds for my seed order - expensive carriage but I use varieties I know and like. Not everyone has internet connection you know, especially old gardeners - a bit like an NZ person a few days ago saying NZGov. uses text messages to inform its inhabitants. I have several relatives who do not have computers or fancy mobile phones. I do not use such phones myself.

 

[Wombat]

Makes me smile when folk start to try and 'feed themselves' by planting peppers, melons, asparagus etc. How many hot meals does that make? The easiest veg to grow, and which will make a meal in itself, is potatoes, and they can be grown in tubs if nec. We maximise the area of spuds and then look to fill in with beans, peas, cabbage, squash etc.

There are only so many spuds i can take so would rather grow peppers, chilllis and salad

 

[anzani]

The survival or otherwise of businesses was not the purpose of my post. If they are open, then in a few weeks' time those who grow for short-term feeding of themselvers will need to make less trips to the supermarket. I am not talking about long-term crops like maincrop potatoes, next winter's leeks, or next spring's sprouting broccolli, although obviously sensible people will be ensuring those crops too.

What percentage of goods in hardware shops are "essential"? Or supermarkets? These places are not restricted to selling only "essentials" yet they are operating. I normally use Moles Seeds for my seed order - expensive carriage but I use varieties I know and like. Not everyone has internet connection you know, especially old gardeners - a bit like an NZ person a few days ago saying NZGov. uses text messages to inform its inhabitants. I have several relatives who do not have computers or fancy mobile phones. I do not use such phones myself.

I agree but thats not within the narrative. So many of the businesses have taken the decision to close rather than attempt to work within the restrictions. Caretaker staffs would need to be paid and will not get the 80% Govt support.
It is assumed that the 'mass merchandiser' format cannot work although food stores are making some attempt to open with 2mtre isolation . I suspect that the potential for public liability claims due to infection thought to have been contracted may have had more impact than the Govt. guidance. Stay safe.

 

[Lincs Lass]

Hunting through the cupboard I found a pack of Charlotte that were a bit rampant. Bugger! I forgot about those, well they'll do for planting. They are certainly well sprit.

Once grown often does better than scotch certified first.

 

[Old McDonald]

I agree but thats not within the narrative. So many of the businesses have taken the decision to close rather than attempt to work within the restrictions. Caretaker staffs would need to be paid and will not get the 80% Govt support.
It is assumed that the 'mass merchandiser' format cannot work although food stores are making some attempt to open with 2mtre isolation . I suspect that the potential for public liability claims due to infection thought to have been contracted may have had more impact than the Govt. guidance. Stay safe.

You write as if you are involved in a GC. Staff always need to be paid by somebody. Is it not better to be in operation rather than seek a taxpayers' handout? Ways around isolation distances are being operated by numerous businesses as many posts on this forum are showing. Where there is a will, there is a way and where there is an easy way there is often the will to take that.

 

[ollie989898]

I have had emails from two companies from which I have ordered items this week and they are both dispatching orders as necessary but their premises are closed to the public I understand.

Amazon are still going strong I guess?

 

[anzani]

You write as if you are involved in a GC. Staff always need to be paid by somebody. Is it not better to be in operation rather than seek a taxpayers' handout? Ways around isolation distances are being operated by numerous businesses as many posts on this forum are showing. Where there is a will, there is a way and where there is an easy way there is often the will to take that.

No longer, I have retired from my directorship in distribution. However, I agree with you. I notice that the nearest garden centre chain have opened a 'click & collect' facility today for a limited range of their merchandise. Its obviously a 'work in progress' for them.
www.bluediamond.gg/garden-centres

 

[Martin Holden]

Hmm... B & Q are still open, as are other DIY shops. They sell gardening stuff, so it seems unreasonable that garden centres shouldn't be allowed to open - provided that they keep social distancing rules.

Yes, there are some real anomalies out there alright. Not sure how you socially distance in a garden centre but should be possible. One observation I have made. The youngsters especially teenagers don’t seem to comprehend social distancing. They are the worst offenders I’ve noticed so far.

 

[HolzKopf]

Pick them green, wash in 'grey' water and gas them when you put them on their plastic trays?

Is that why most supermarket tomatoes from southern europe are tasteless? - I just avoid them at all costs tbh

I can assure you , that my home grown cherry tomatoes are far superior in taste to anything that comes out of the supermarket!

We grow 3 tubs of F1 hybrid tumbler cherries outside and 3 gardeners delight and 3 alicante in the greenhouse. The alicantes are Mrs HK's favourite but I don't think they're that special

 

[farmboy]

That made me laugh; f^cking hell, you know life's changed when you read sentences like that!

How you know you’ve become middle aged

 

[n.w]

Just put this up, had it for 3 yrs but not had the time before, planting potatoes, carrots, turnips/swedes and sugar snap peas up the Machair. Got seeds for the tunnel.. enjoying it...

 

[neilo]

I passed @Kevtherev ’s place the other day and spied him busy in the garden:

Always one step ahead of the game is Kev.?

 

[Kidds]

Just put this up, had it for 3 yrs but not had the time before, planting potatoes, carrots, turnips/swedes and sugar snap peas up the Machair. Got seeds for the tunnel.. enjoying it...

Rebuilt mine this week too. Just waiting for a chance to get the polythene on.

 

[applejack]

Garden centre/nursery not too far away took in a couple of artic loads of plants from Holland just recently. Police (yes them again) came in at the weekend told them they could continue selling pet food but nothing else, what a complete load of trollope!!
As someone else said gardening is a pretty therapeutic pastime if nothing else it's got to be beneficial to people's mental health.
There's some stupid people dreaming up some stupid rules somewhere, sorry starting to sound like GUTH now.

 

[Kidds]

Garden centre/nursery not too far away took in a couple of artic loads of plants from Holland just recently. Police (yes them again) came in at the weekend told them they could continue selling pet food but nothing else, what a complete load of trollope!!
As someone else said gardening is a pretty therapeutic pastime if nothing else it's got to be beneficial to people's mental health.
There's some stupid people dreaming up some stupid rules somewhere, sorry starting to sound like GUTH now.

I think that provided everyone can keep their distances garden centres should be open. One issue they have is the care of their staff and not exposing them to risk, in which case I can understand them deciding to close. Should be their choice though not that of the police, unless of course current rules are being broken.
That's where the difficulty is, complete absence of common sense and self preservation.

 

[Lincs Lass]

One of our garden centers has now started with home deliveries which is very handy as Ive done some work for one of the guys that works there and he lives 300yrds away ,,he could drop stuff of on his way home ,,job sorted