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Allotment Stuff => The Basics => Topic started by: Stripeybea on April 02, 2011, 14:17:52

Title: Flowers on the plot?
Post by: Stripeybea on April 02, 2011, 14:17:52
Hi all,

I've got some flower seeds from a job of seeds lot I'd sent off for.......(forget-me-not, poached egg plant, cornflowers, things like that).   
I just wondered is it OK planting stuff like this on the allotment?   I thought perhaps around the outside of raised beds. 
Didn't want to incur the wrath of everyone else on the site by making a big newbie boob!  ;D

Bea
Title: Re: Flowers on the plot?
Post by: macmac on April 02, 2011, 14:22:25
Welcome stripeybea.
I've got poached egg plant on our lottie the OH hates it but the bees love it.
We put lots of flowers in gaps and edges,always grow marigolds and sweet peas.
We've got little daffs and snowdrops and there's still plenty of room for veg. :)
Title: Re: Flowers on the plot?
Post by: aj on April 02, 2011, 14:39:02
They draw the bees in - so it helps everyone.

Gawd help anyone if they told me not to grow flowers on my plot! I'd hit them with a plethora of info about pollination and companion planting so fast...... :o
Title: Re: Flowers on the plot?
Post by: kymrob on April 02, 2011, 15:02:32
i grow cornflower, cosmos and sweetpea ect love taking them home for vase
Title: Re: Flowers on the plot?
Post by: Stripeybea on April 02, 2011, 15:07:48
Thanks!  :)
 
Flowers there shall be then!

How could I forget Sweet peas D'oh!
Another packet of seeds to add to the evergrowing collection  ;D

Bea
Title: Re: Flowers on the plot?
Post by: 1066 on April 02, 2011, 15:32:45
Yes to flowers! I also have things like Lavender and Borage, the bees and bugs love them  :)
Title: Re: Flowers on the plot?
Post by: Squash64 on April 02, 2011, 15:39:43
Another yes to flowers!  I've got a carpet of Phacelia seedlings at the moment, covering the area where the pumpkin will go later.  I put flowers among the veg wherever there is a gap.

We have a Flower Garden competition on our site, nobody objects (well if they do, tough!)
Title: Re: Flowers on the plot?
Post by: kNOTWEED on April 02, 2011, 15:56:21
Yes to flowers on the plots, on our site it is mandatory and every plot has to provide a patch of bee and insect friendly flowers at least. Anything to help the bee and butterfly  population we also have patches of stinging nestles again for the one species of butterfly that needs them   
Title: Re: Flowers on the plot?
Post by: macmac on April 02, 2011, 16:37:47
Forgot sunflowers the bigger the better,the bees love 'em and I dry the heads and hang them up for the birds  :)
Title: Re: Flowers on the plot?
Post by: Flighty on April 02, 2011, 16:43:44
Yes, there's always room for flowers and the more the better!
Title: Re: Flowers on the plot?
Post by: bridgehouse on April 02, 2011, 17:09:39


Oh yes plant some flowers, I had a lovely show of sweetpeas, and cosmos,  dahlias last year, this year the daffs are all out around the edge of my plot.
         June.
Title: Re: Flowers on the plot?
Post by: BoardStupid on April 02, 2011, 19:18:29
We have a small raised bed just for flowers. My view is that if it attracts bees and benefitial insects then all the better
Our plot at the moment has many lovely comments from neighbours as we have plenty of anenomes full flower, daffodils, crocuses and plenty simmering below surface.

 Marigold I believe detract from whitefly so I'm giving them a go this year around spuds too :-)

Allotments whilst nice can IMHO look a little too green  ;)
Title: Re: Flowers on the plot?
Post by: saddad on April 02, 2011, 19:49:32
Poached egg plant is great as a green manure... as well. I planted a row over 15 years ago and some still come up every year, because we let some flower for the bees..  :)
Title: Re: Flowers on the plot?
Post by: goodlife on April 02, 2011, 19:55:56
OH YES..for flowers..self seeded ones..err..everywhere..happily messy sort of way.. ;)
Title: Re: Flowers on the plot?
Post by: Digeroo on April 02, 2011, 20:46:23
I have lots of phacelia, the bees adore it and it is also great as a green manure and it also seeds everywhere.  Good Aminop detector comes up quicker and earlier than beans.
Title: Re: Flowers on the plot?
Post by: Alex133 on April 03, 2011, 07:16:56
Oregano is good for edging - bees love the flowers and great herb anyway - self seeds well here.
Title: Re: Flowers on the plot?
Post by: Good Gourd 2 on April 03, 2011, 08:17:37
We grow, sunflowers, foxgloves, holyhocks, cosmos, a honeysuckle climbs over my shed. Also I grow dahlias for cut flowers, I give loads of dahlia`s away for people to take to the cemetery just across the  lane. We still have  loads of room for veg. etc.
Title: Re: Flowers on the plot?
Post by: Stripeybea on April 03, 2011, 11:54:46
That's brilliant, I love the idea of it looking good as well as functional.  The more insects and wild life the merrier!

Happily messy I can do  ;D

Hi there Goodlife! *waves* I'm in Sutton-in-Ashfield too but our allotment is in Kirkby  :)

Bea
Title: Re: Flowers on the plot?
Post by: antipodes on April 04, 2011, 10:50:32
Yay to flowers although I find them hard to grow - marigolds in between the tomatoes and aubergines and along the edges, nasturtiums and zinneas along the edges of rows, cornflowers around the rhubarb, a few rose bushes, a clump of irises that I haven't seen flowers from yet, daffs and tulips here and there in the spring.
This year I got some free seeds, "meadow of flowers" for bees and butterflies. I think I will plant a few strips near the beans and tomatoes.
Title: Re: Flowers on the plot?
Post by: woppa30 on April 04, 2011, 11:10:18
Agree, but I would use the back of my spade.
Currentlky growing daffs (nearly finished) sweet williams, tulips, honeysuckle + a couplem I can't name. Helps make the palce look so nice when they are all out in flower. My 2p worth....

They draw the bees in - so it helps everyone.

Gawd help anyone if they told me not to grow flowers on my plot! I'd hit them with a plethora of info about pollination and companion planting so fast...... :o
Title: Re: Flowers on the plot?
Post by: picman on April 04, 2011, 22:01:19
What would a lotty be without flowers . a field.
Title: Re: Flowers on the plot?
Post by: elvis2003 on April 04, 2011, 22:08:19
i wouldnt be without our flowers..sweet peas,sweet william,foxgloves,gladis,sunflowers,aubretia,cornflowers,stock,dahlia,rudbekia,dogrose amongst others.besides anything else i enjoy them cos they not planted in straight neat lines,like most of the veg are,so gives the plot a nicer feel
Title: Re: Flowers on the plot?
Post by: 1066 on April 04, 2011, 22:43:39
and how could I forget Poppies, I love to see bright red poppies on allotments  :)
Title: Re: Flowers on the plot?
Post by: cornykev on April 05, 2011, 17:13:57
I'm not really a flower person, but I have some marigolds on the go, someone on the plot gave me some eggplant which I stuck in and my littleun has put in Sunfowers and a few lines of a mixture called butterfly and bee flowers.   8)
Title: Re: Flowers on the plot?
Post by: Borlotti on April 05, 2011, 17:21:32
Men don't seem to like flowers on allotments, but just think of all the money you can save, by growing them and giving them to your wife/girlfriend.  I have a lovely bunch of daffodils that I grew, and can't wait for the sweet peas.  My flowers seem to grow better than my veg.
Title: Re: Flowers on the plot?
Post by: manicscousers on April 05, 2011, 17:27:22
yes, loads  ;D
Title: Re: Flowers on the plot?
Post by: markfield rover on April 05, 2011, 18:39:46
I just can not do house plants so love plenty of fresh flowers I aim to grow plenty starting with daffs and finishing with dahlias in the Autumn -and the alstroemerias  easily cover the plot rent alone.
Title: Re: Flowers on the plot?
Post by: tonybloke on April 05, 2011, 21:13:46
marigolds everywhere, some Glads for the house, evening primrose for the late pollen
Title: Re: Flowers on the plot?
Post by: pumkinlover on April 05, 2011, 21:28:17
Marigolds, sunflowers, lavender, chrysanthemum, cornflowers. Lily's and alstroemeria. Lost me dahlias ???
Flowers are food for the soul ;D
Title: Re: Flowers on the plot?
Post by: tonybloke on April 05, 2011, 21:34:28
sunflowers, globe artichokes, and few foxgloves for the bumbles
Title: Re: Flowers on the plot?
Post by: Weed-Digga on April 05, 2011, 22:44:31
We grow Calendula, California poppies, Chrysanths, Pansies, Violas, Lavender, Sunflowers, Sweet peas and Dahlias.

Weed-Digga
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