Topic: Getting my allotment mojo going again.....

[Deb P]

I've neglected my allotment terribly in the last few months (long story), but have just finished planning the layout for this year and having a good sort out of my seeds, something I usually have done by the end of the growing season.

Unbelievably I have a carrier bag full of seeds that have sow by dates on or before 2009, so my little filing cabinet that was full of seeds is looking a shadow of its former self!

I have had a good look at my previous sowing lists and have tried to get a balance between trying new varieties (usually obtained from either swapsies or Wyvale bargain packets) and keeping established favourites, but now feel a little spending spree coming on.......yeehar!
 

[aj]

You haven't thrown them out just because the packet says so?

Seeds are good for years after the packet says. Apart from parsnip - all you get is less germination with some of them.

[Deb P]

No I've had increasingly poor germination rates with most of them, a lot are just dreg ends of packets when I have saved my own seeds more recently so don't need to keep them. Some are pre 2006! Just an excuse to look through more veggy porn catalogues really......I'm going to take my discards to the lottie and leave them for folk to ferret through so they won't get chucked out!

[macmac]

Oh Deb I'm a real squirrel with seeds.One tip I read was to scatter your old seed on spare ground at the end of the season and anything that germinates dig in like green manure.
It takes a strong will to scatter what could be viable seed but I agree with you germation does suffer.
Re gardening mojo I think mine's been hiding for months.We finally went down this morning and offered our site rep some i.d. lol he just gave me a hug
We did some digging,weeding and put muck on the asparagus Aaah all's right with the world

[manicscousers]

Glad you're getting back into it, Deb. Fresh air, light exercise , a laugh with your mates and a nice cuppa, can't beat it. I feel I  'hibernate' during winter and am now waking up 

[Deb P]

Yes, its taken me about half a year to get over my dads death, everything I used to enjoy went for a burton along with the lottie which is usually my escape, and the rotten weather we had didn't help! Still, I feel strangely better for my mad planning session, I have a week off work next week so now I just have to pluck up courage to actually get down the plot.....I know there will be plenty for me to do!!!!

[Digeroo]

I woke up briefly this week, but this weekend the wind has been so cold that I have gone back to hibernating again.

I have some area planned out.   But I have some really weedy areas which need sorting.    I have loads of seeds so I have been sorting them by month to make sure I sow them.

Quite a lot of seeds are viable well after their sell by dates.  Courgettes last for ages.   

[caroline7758]

I was feeling pretty unenthusiastic about getting back to mine after all the rubbish weather and last year's disappointing crops, but a bit of sunshine yesterday, a couple of hours digging and a few garlic shoots sprouting made me feel ready to get going again. Just need the soil to dry out now!