Allotments 4 All
Produce => Edible Plants => Topic started by: Gardenantics on March 31, 2006, 22:17:31
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Tonight on BBC Gardeners World the big chief was doing a Chit/No chit trial. and said to chit potato's in a warm sunny spot. Have I been wrong all these years in doing it in a light frost free cool position?
Brian
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Forget it. It's television. You're in the real world.
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I dont like him at all , boring posh kid, and such an untidy gardener, you can tell that !!!!! bring back Bob flowerdue.
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...yes he had me confused with that comment too!
Q: Why does Sarah Raven always wear a skirt for gardening ???
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I don't know, Why does Sarah Raven Wear a skirt for gardening?
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You leave SR out of it, weird but nice
Montys spuds will be OK, warm & light, he'll need to plant them out soon though
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I don't know, Why does Sarah Raven Wear a skirt for gardening?
So you can tell the boys from the girls ;D
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Hi Roy,
Or maybe something about two in the bush.
Brian
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:o :o :o
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SR dresses like a bag lady because the other female garden presenters have done everything else (mane of hair, masculine scruff-bag, two bags of jelly in a t-shirt, etc etc) and telly thrives on who's-got-the-latest-gimmick. Monty Don is a jewellery designer, nuff said. Personally, I'm still mourning the loss of Geoff Hamilton (and still refer to his books when I need a question answered sensibly).
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All I can say is, thank goodness I don't watch television ! I used to be glued to the thing, my life would revolve around it. I am not trying to wind people up here, I genuinely enjoy not having to be directed by a programme planners ideas. Good gardening does get a look in.
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I think you're being a tad unfair but can see maybe what you're getting at. For us newbies, well me anyway, I haven't got a clue what I'm doing so my only education has come from experience (precious little) mags and the occasion book, you very kind and wonderful people on here who i take a lot of notice of, and the tele. now this is my first year, i'm bounding with enthusiasm, a total novice and anything and everything is wonderful.
i've looked forward to tonight's prog since the allotment one, cos i'd rather sit and watch GW than Footballers Wives or whateverelsedross is on.
i did raise an eyebrow about the chitting conditions though but apart from that i was quite please with my spuds but devastated that my last year's hungarian hot wax was so tiny in comparison with the guys on the farm.
sarah thingy, like me, needs a haircut, but i'm sure she's a very nice woman.
;D
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I just like watching someone else doing the work. And seeing nicer gardens than mine. ;) It's the first time I've watched Gardener's World for a couple of years, so I'm pleased I bought the magazine last month and watched the dvd that came with it, or I might have got a bit lost on his whirlwind tour at the beginning.
I think all these gardening programmes pontificate a bit. But I suppose we wouldn't watch them if they were saying "Well, we think this, but of course we might be wrong".
Were they right about sweetpea seeds not needing soaking or chipping? I'm just getting around to sowing some this weekend.
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i've soaked mine and planted them whether they swelled or not. i think it was 10% didn't swell, so we'll see what happens. will get my @r$e into gear and sow the rest though.
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I missed it as I feel asleep.....
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I miss Geoff Hamilton as well, good sensible advise.
When watching these TV programmes you can always seem to tell the plantsman/woman from the TV presenter type.
Maybe that is why Chris Beardshaw made a quick exit.
Chris I think GW will be all yours one day ;)
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someone once said to me
"what, you don't have a tv? what do you do with your life?"
poor lady, i couldn't help laughing as she realised what she had said.
(perhaps i should have answered that i go on the internet until 2.45am to read other peoples comments on vegetables!)
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When it comes to gardening advice, I find it more convincing coming from an old geezer than some young whippersnapper like C Beardshaw. Mind you, I can remember Percy Thrower, see.
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Monty to me means 'Yehhhhhh weekend is here!' and not much more....
HOWEVER...the bit of fluff (6'7'' scouser....city boy grew his first thing - tomatoes in a pot last year...and he's 36 not a small child...) Thinks the progs marvelous and it fires him up to go dig my allotment for me... Please don't ruin his rural myth ideas, I get a lot done for me thanks to Monty!
;D ;D ;D
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So with people hanging on his every word he should be very careful to give the right advice. Chitting potatos in sunny warm conditions will give you weak shoots that will be easily damaged in the planting process.
I can't remember ever thinking "That's wrong" when listening to Geoff Hamilton or Alan Titchmarsh. Bring back trained dyed in t' wool gardeners!
Brian
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He's good eye-candy though. I can't imagine Percy or Alan in boxer shorts .. whereas Monty .... ;)
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Oh no Trix, I don't think I can ever forgive you for implanting that mental image!!!
Brian
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I bet she's worn out that bit on the Gardener's World dvd where he falls into the lake and gets all wet. ;)
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MWUAHAHAAAA ;D
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I love GW too as it is the start of the weekend for me too. BUT I do get frustrated by the - here is one we made earlier - where they disappear off to some "experts garden" who waffles on for an age and I totally switch off!! I want practical advice, I can read the magazine for the inspirational stories.
AND what about the chilli trial?? totally brushed over it. Are we meant to plant them today/ next week? 2 weeks ago in different types of compost and no one told us???? Confused ???
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Eye Candy??????? Monty Don in his y-fronts, errgghh my dear, ive got this picture in my head that i dont want there!!!!
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I just tried looking in google images for "Monty Don underwear" for a picture to confirm our imaginings.
Unluckily (luckily?) I couldn't find one. ;)
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Alan Titchmarsh has always been my favourite gardener.
I remember when he first appeared on BBC's Breakfast Time in a gardening slot. He was very shy and appealed to many of the viewers especially the women who liked his coy unassuming manner. The presenters Frank Bough and Selina Scott were always amazed by the volume of mail he got and they would joke about it and he became embarrassed.
Someone obviously saw his potential and very suddenly he became a star overnight. He presented Pebble Mill and other programmes unconnected with gardening. In the end though it was back to gardening and after all, this was his background having been to Agricultural college and worked at Kew. He then became a horticultural journalist and was deputy editor of Amateur Gardening magazine.
For me then Alan Titchmarsh remains my favourite. He still has a certain innocence, has no airs and graces and doesn't seem to have changed by having fame and fortune. He knows his onions too. ;D ;D ;D
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My all-time favorate garden presenter was the late Harry Dodson from the Victorian Kitchen Garden, now he had earned his stripes! I wish they would repeat the series.
Brian
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Tonight on BBC Gardeners World the big chief was doing a Chit/No chit trial. and said to chit potato's in a warm sunny spot. Have I been wrong all these years in doing it in a light frost free cool position?
Brian
our lass thinks he is great and i am a waste of time and space,...i hate the guy,..
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My all-time favorate garden presenter was the late Harry Dodson from the Victorian Kitchen Garden, now he had earned his stripes! I wish they would repeat the series.
Brian
Totally agree!! I have this series on DVD and just continually watch it back to back!. :)
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I notice nobody's mentioned Carol Klein or Joe Swift- I like Carol, she really knows her stuff, although I don't think she's that comfortable as a presenter.Same goes for Joe, but as someone said above- bring back Chris Beardshaw- goodlooking AND knowledgeable!
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Well I'm with Molly Bloom on this one....way back on page one of this thread. I miss Geoff Hamilton too. Just got one of his old vids out from the library to watch on a miserable wet windy non gardening day off. Remember Paradise gardens? this series showed him creating two cottage gardens a 'gentlemans' garden and an 'artisans' garden.. He also visited lots of cottage gardens to see how is is done.. fab series FAB gardener and such a nice guy too. Sighhhhhhhhhhhh
Me too Gardenantics... Proper gardeners not that many of them around on telly now.
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I liked Geoff Hamilton too. I actually found "paradise gardens" quite inspirational and still use both the book and the video.
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Me too Grawc... I just loved the two old dears in the series too. I remember saying to OH that I wanted to grow old like the 93 year old lady who was still sowing seeds with arthritic crippled hands and tootling around the garden with a walking stick to help her... bless.
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Monty Don is a jewellery designer, nuff said. Personally, I'm still mourning the loss of Geoff Hamilton
Absolutely right
He's good eye-candy though. I can't imagine Percy or Alan in boxer shorts .. whereas Monty ....
That's just weird/questionable taste
I always get the feeling that Monty would have to consult a book when asked difficult questions....................................................... Geoff wrote the book
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With a name like Monty Don, you can bet he went to public school, and was more than likely the producers f*g in his school days, It's not what you know, it's who you know, and in television it's What you know about who you know, if you know what I mean????? I think I just went off on one there. Anyway, underpants or not, I can't take to him.
Brian
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Or dictated it to someone else while he was planting.. (Geoff Hamilton that is). Very much in touch with the soil.
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With a name like Monty Don, you can bet he went to public school, and was more than likely the producers f*g in his school days, It's not what you know, it's who you know, and in television it's What you know about who you know, if you know what I mean????? I think I just went off on one there. Anyway, underpants or not, I can't take to him.
Brian
Well that's not very charitable IS it Brian ;D
Anyway. All that is left for me to do on this thread is to mention the words "BOTTLE OF BABY OIL" and my visual imagery suggestion work here is done ;D
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P.S. I've got the Victorian Kitchen Garden series on DVD and Harry is my absolute FAVE bloke! Didn't know he'd died. Very sad :-[
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The advice on chitting was confusing, but MD did seem to acknowledge that the trials last year were flawed. GW isn't perfect by any means, but it is all we have got at the moment. I have recently been watching old editions with Alan Titchmarsh and Geoff Hamilton and I have to admit it was better then. Agree with Trixiebelle though, Monty in his boxers Cor!!! :o busy_lizzie
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I still watch GW but not as avidly as the previous presenters series'
Yes, it tells me the weekend is here & I tend to video it so I can watch it on Saturday morning over breakfast & see what it inspires me to do over the weekend. I always believed Geoff & Alan, now I trust me own judgement first ( mostly gleaned from Geoff & Alan as well as experience & advice from real gardeners)
I love Monty's writings & am impressed by how passionate he is about real fruit & veg & living in harmony with the land & nature, but he's not a source of gardening knowledge.
Yesterday I walked around a daffodil farm with the retired owner & I learned more in that hour than I've done in the last three years of GW. Truly humbling to be around someone who knows so much and is so modest about it. He said the BBC wanted to come & film him talking about the heritage varieties he has & some of the crosses he's still working on, but when they said it would be Monty, he said stuff it. I had to agree.
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missed GW don't think they repeat it. watched the worst gardening prog in the world the other day on uk style called garden rivels a female and a
um male fighting and arguing over whose design was chosen to be poked in the ground in a day makes GW look very good
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True the instant makeover stuff is pretty far out.
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Baby Oil! I didn't think the mental image could get worse, but it has. I suppose it's my fault for being uncharitable. I'll stop if you will Trixabelle.
But before I do;
I am a blokey sort of bloke, not very in touch with my female side, and found Brokeback Mountain a very deeply cringeworthy film, but I think if you put Chris Beardshaw and Monty Don side by side, and handed out baby oil to the invited women, then surely Chris would end up slippier than Monty. They could then have a wrestle to see who should present Gardeners World. And I thought the mental image couldn't get worse. I'm so so sorry I started this.
Brian
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I think if you put Chris Beardshaw and Monty Don side by side, and handed out baby oil the invited women, then surely Chris would end up slippier than Monty. They could then have a wrestle to see who should present Gardeners World. And I thought the mental image couldn't get worse. I'm so so sorry I started this.
Brian
SEE! YOU'RE GETTING THE HANG OF IT ALREADY! ;D
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This may end up in the watershed ... ;D
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Not baby oil though, maybe Swarfega the green alterative.
Brian
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weeeeeell....if i may drag this back to the soil! ;D
getcha minds back on gardening perlease!brian!less of the baby oil!
now...i am not a monty don fan-way past using baby oil-even on babies ;D ;D...but-i am 3/4's of the way thru' the jewel garden-'and i have a grudging respect fer the bloke now-he's been thru some tough times-and i would say (even tho he spends FAR too much money in the programme)that he is passionate about gardening,and has learnt the hard way-and he got inyto telly presenting by accidentand,as he admits-being in the right place at the right time....
i still want to see more progs about how i garden-with tuppence hapenny and ingenuity not loads of cash!
kitty
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To be fair, it wasn't me that introduced baby oil, but as we are on the subject, did you know that it's great for cleaning stainless steel. Rub it on with a cloth, and wipe off in a flowing action in one direction, Sorry that makes things worse mental image wise!
Brian
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Thank goodness it's not just me, I have given up watching MD as I used to get so annoyed I would throw things at the telly and scare the cat.
He's a failed jewellery designer who had to resort to growing veg to feed his family - my heart bleeds as I doubt he's ever known what it's like to be REALLY hard up.
I always recon Monty Don is, personality wise, like Delia Smith, if you were doing something (followinh one of her recipes or his advice on veg growing) and you dared to deviate one little bit from 'their way' they would slap you.
Not my cupof tea at all. Bring back a proper time-served gardener, preferably someone with a little sense of humour, and a little less sense of their own importance.
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he is passionate about gardening,and has learnt the hard way-and he got inyto telly presenting by accidentand,as he admits-being in the right place at the right time....
absolutely kitty and he's particularly passionate about allotments. he has been VERY supportive of fat larry and my fight to save some allotments locally.
and as for chitting, well I know someone who always saves some spuds from the previous year and leaves them in his greenhouse. on nice spring days they will certainly be in a warm and light enviroment.
I like him and I couldn't care less what school he went to.
MM
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My chetties are chitting on my conservatory windowsill. Seem to be doing pretty well in what can be a pretty warm environment. :)
I like any enthusiast, whatever their subject, and that's what I've always liked about Gardener's World, no matter who the presenter. You can see that they love what they are doing.
I think Geoff Hamilton is the one who I think of as THE GW presenter, because he was doing it when I started watching. I don't think I would have liked to have been taught how to garden by him, though, because he seemed more than a little headmasterly - very strict in his way.
Alan Titchmarsh, again very enthusiastic, but for me a bit too much of the gardening woman's crumpet image. And I've read one of his novels. ;)
Monty Don seems quite approachable, and I'm not sure he doesn't kind of cultivate his amateur gardener aura, as a way of not intimidating the novice punters. Of course that will annoy the more experienced a bit.
I must admit I watch GW to enjoy the pretty pictures and design ideas as much as for the advice, which really you can get elsewhere. :) There seems to be a bottomless fountain of it on here. :D
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Finally, DenBee said it! Alan Titchmarsh acts about 50 years older than he actually is. I can't even stand to read his column in GW magazine....his writing is so flowery and just...old fashioned. As a young gardener, Monty definately speaks to my generation way better than Titchmarsh. And I think his ideas are pretty good. Plus, yeah, he's pretty cute.
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Kitty, I agree, my opinion of MD went up after reading "The Jewel garden"- he's been very honest about his depression and how gardening has been therapy for him and he's passionate about gardening as a community and pro-environment activity. I know this thread started as a discussion of whether his advice was correct, but as an advocate of gardening as a positive thing in lots of different ways, I think he's one of the best.
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I doubt he's ever known what it's like to be REALLY hard up.
Oh I bet he's been hard up in his time! Haven't we all at some point? ;)
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[He's a failed jewellery designer who had to resort to growing veg to feed his family - my heart bleeds as I doubt he's ever known what it's like to be REALLY hard up.
/quote]
actually-he's not exactly that :)....his business failed during one of our many recessions as a lot of peoples did..but instead of whingeing about it he worked his backside off.....and as caroline said-he hit the nail on the head about depression and how gardening helped him..he seems to me to have been very honest in his book about being poor-
i think the way gw is produced is more to do with todays lack of concentration powers judging by the rest of tv i dont think a mere presenter can be blamed
i still prefer to chit me taters tho! ;D
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Deeds,
He really was on the edge at one point, but he got off his arse and did something about his situation!
He may have got the plot wrong on Chittin' but we all have opinions about how we grow things?
Monty Don is an organic enthusiast, we should applaud that - shouldn't we?
Give the bloke his due.
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This is just getting silly now
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no its not! ;D ya gotta stand up and be counted-he's not here to do it for himself so someone has to!
as merlins mum said-he was right behind them with their allotment fight-andf hes an organics fan too- ;)
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Agree completely kitty.
what I don't understand is why he's getting sl***ed off for speaking well, good god it's a bonus when you can understand a presenter.
MM
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Ok, someone start "The sexiest gardening presenters thread", we can all have a laugh, y-fronts, babyoil and any other fetishes included.
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Suprised no-ones mentioned Hugh Fearley-Whittingstall yet, oiled up with babyoil, wearing a leather g-string, with those grubby features!!!!LOL.
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Actually I don't want to stand up and be counted. Is this a television poll or a growing forum ???
I don't care who the presenter is: some of us like one some another. I don't watch current gardening programmes any more. Mainly because they bore me to death irrespective of who the presenter is.
I used to enjoy Geoff Hamilton and Alan Titchmarsh. So what.
Grawrc is getting grumpy.
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I'm feeling a bit guilty for knocking old Monty now. I think I will apply my view of gardens to him. I don't think there is such a thing as a bad garden. Just different gardens, and I like being in gardens. So, no such thing as a bad TV gardener, just different ones. It was a bit of a laugh though.
Brian
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It's that scary avator Grawrc. What/who is under there.? ??? :D busy_lizzie
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Love gardeners world and all that goes with, unfortunately, I am a horti student :-[ Potatoes are seeds just like any other, stick 'em in the ground, watch the wonder of nature! ;D no need for fuss just enjoy! I love the way Monty and Sarah gets everyone going though! ::)
Fae
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i think the way gw is produced is more to do with todays lack of concentration powers judging by the rest of tv i dont think a mere presenter can be blamed
Kitty has put her finger right on my problem with GW. They cram too many topics in and don't tell you enough about any of them. I'm always left thinking "Yes, but when/what/how..." It's like a butterfly flitting about. TV producers today think we have the attention span of a gnat.
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Perhaps somebody should pitch a new reality gardening idea to the producers.
BIG BORDER
Day one in the Big Border garden and the garden mates have been given the task of planting spring bedding, will they get the brown bit in the ground and the green bit in the air, stay watching after we return from the commercial break.
Royalty cheques to gardenantics.co.uk
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ROFL! although actually the thought of any more reality shows >:( >:( >:(
BL the avatar is a Harry Potter Dementor. The ones that chill your brain and make you so sad you can go mad. :o
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Yeh! Big boarder......
Hugh is lovely too.....more so than Monty!
What is actually wrong with gardening in a skirt?
Also, agreed on the accent thing...I got several beatings way back in my school days for my accent, do we really need to continue such petty predjuduces in so called adulthood?
Interest in organic gardening, growing our own food and cutting down those food miles in the most direct way possible can only be a good thing. ;)
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Day Two in the BIG BORDER garden, and a dispute has taken place between Alan Bigswamp, and Derment Gravel as they were making up this weeks shopping list. Derment complained that Alan has crossed off his request for 24,000 stainless steel balls, and put down 24 bags of 'muck' instead, Alan has been called into the Potting Shed to speak to THE HEAD GARDENER.
Head Gardener;
Well Alan, explain why you cancelled Derments order?
Alan;
Ney, i'nt it obvious, the lads a barmpot.
Head Gardener;
But you are all equal in the BIG BORDER garden Alan.
Alan;
It's just a load of balls! I only came on the show to get material for another saucey book.
Join us again after this commercial break.
Brian
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brian-you arent sposed to drink that baby oil y'know! ;)
deeeaaaaaaay 3 in the big border house..
sarah craven is called into the potting shed-she has been overheard talking to her seedlings-this is expressly forbidden in the big border shed and could result in our sarah being made to wear trousers!
montague is being snubbed by the other gardeners for his posh accent
and derment is 'balling'his eyes out in the corner-sad because alan cancelled his order.....
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Well I'm with Trixibelle here ;) Monty, in his boxers :D
I happen to like Monty, but my favourite will always be the wonderful Geoff Hamilton.
Bob Flowerdew is another one I'd like to see more of....but this brings us back to the boxers and baby oil ;D ;D
Take no notice, I got drenched out there in the pouring rain this afternoon and water must've addled my brain.
Taraven
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Love it!! Brian get that idea sent into channel 4 immediately. I for one want to watch that. ;) busy_lizzie
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Day 4 in the BIG BORDER garden, and security guards have made a sweep of the bothy to remove bottles of baby oil smuggled into the house by Carnel Kline, she is unrepentant, and says "If chip fat works back ome in Bolton, it will do here" All the men seem to be hiding in the back of the border. Except Derment, who is still upset about his balls!
Brian
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;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
Love it.