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Allotment Stuff => The Basics => Topic started by: student madwife on April 30, 2006, 19:38:27

Title: Hello from a newbie
Post by: student madwife on April 30, 2006, 19:38:27
Hello everyone

I've been lurking on here for a while and I thought it was time to join and start posting.  Anything to avoid getting on with the dissertation I'm supposed to be writing at the moment!

I'm totally new to gardening and growing anything, so this is all a bit scary for me.  I can't really believe that I have managed to get some seedlings going.  I've currently got runner beans, borlotti beans, tomatoes, sweet peppers, courgettes, chard, kale, sunflowers, and calendula happy growing away.  I'm still waiting for parsley, dill, chives and nasturtiums to sprout, but I was excited to see this morning that the aramanth that I have sown has just germinated.  Anyone else grown/growning this?

My allotment is in Southampton.  I haven't got very far with it yet, but I'm hoping to get the spuds in (finally!!) tomorrow.  I'm planning to try various no-dig methods, mainly because I am so short of time.   :-\

Anyway, I'm sure I shall be pestering you all with lots of questions!!   :)

Emma x
Title: Re: Hello from a newbie
Post by: tim on April 30, 2006, 19:43:51
Another lovely face!

You have a lot of shoulders to cry on here! But it sounds as though you don't need them at the moment?

A worthy profession - not without previous experience!!
Title: Re: Hello from a newbie
Post by: MrsKP on April 30, 2006, 19:44:50
Welcome Emma, you will of course spend half the time you should be on the lottie on here instead. ;D

ask away (and then i can nab all your answers).

from your list, you don't sound like a newbie at all.

;D
Title: Re: Hello from a newbie
Post by: sally_cinnamon on April 30, 2006, 19:52:06
Hi Emma,
I'm quite new to this game too, and have also been overcome with enthusiasm - I currently have tomatoes (Alicante and Costoluto Fiorentino Beefsteak), sweet peppers, chillies, carrots, courgettes (green and yellow), beetroot, radish, sunflowers, sweet peas and a selection of pretty flowery things all on the go and am loving it!  Am also loving this forum, everyone is sooo helpful!  Good luck with all your veggies, keep updating!

Love peace and jelly babies...x    8)
Title: Re: Hello from a newbie
Post by: MrsKP on April 30, 2006, 19:53:34
you into Roses as well Sally ?   :P
Title: Re: Hello from a newbie
Post by: supersprout on April 30, 2006, 20:26:54
Hello and welcome Emma, sounds as if you are well stuck in, that's a very impressive list!
You could start a new post on amaranth to attract comments, or send people who have grown it a private message (pm) if you want to compare notes. To find them, do a search (third button from the top) on 'amaranth', you'll see who's grown/growing it from their posts.

Don't worry, all that pottering in the fresh air should oxygenate the little grey cells ;) very good luck with your dissertation.

I'm a no-digger too, shhh 8) - hope to see more of you soon :)
Title: Re: Hello from a newbie
Post by: GREENWIZARD on April 30, 2006, 20:54:12
(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y31/GREENWIZARD/7io.jpg)
Title: Re: Hello from a newbie
Post by: tilts on April 30, 2006, 21:09:11
Greenwizard ~ I think you post some lovely logos, well done.
Title: Re: Hello from a newbie
Post by: grotbag on April 30, 2006, 22:26:03
HI and welcome to the site,im not far from you in dorset
Title: Re: Hello from a newbie
Post by: sally_cinnamon on April 30, 2006, 22:36:13
Quote from: MrsKP on April 30, 2006, 19:53:34
you into Roses as well Sally ?   :P
Only the chocolate variety!!    ;D
Title: Re: Hello from a newbie
Post by: MrsKP on April 30, 2006, 22:38:03
it's one of my OH's fave Stone Roses toons too  ;D
Title: Re: Hello from a newbie
Post by: student madwife on April 30, 2006, 22:54:57
Thank you for your welcoming replies!  I will try to keep you updated on what I am up to - oh and I'll try to post some photos too.

I am really excited by all this but so nervous too as I really haven't ever grown as much as a sunflower before! 

Supersprout - thank you for the advice.  I have done a search for AMARANTH (not aramanth as I wrote before! And I'm an English student  ::)) but I might post a new topic about it.   :)

Emma x
Title: Re: Hello from a newbie
Post by: sally_cinnamon on April 30, 2006, 23:04:20
Quote from: MrsKP on April 30, 2006, 22:38:03
it's one of my OH's fave Stone Roses toons too  ;D

Aaaah!  I'm with you there... bit slow on the uptake with that one.  ::)   Have been spending BH weekend at parents house, tends to reduce my brain to a withering cabbage-like state.  Yes also into Roses of the Stone variety, although I think Waterfall is my fave...

Emma - would love to see some pics, if I ever get round to getting a digi camera I might take some pics myself and we could compare - we have some similar plants, no?

Good luck with your uni work too, your plants will bring you some welcome respite from the never ending coursework and revision!    ;D
Title: Re: Hello from a newbie
Post by: ThomsonAS on April 30, 2006, 23:05:04
Cor,

I'm envious about the borlotti beans. Would love to have a go with them - which suppier did you use? (With me it depends upon what catches my eye in garden centres or even supermarkets. Perhaps others who  trial from different sources or monitor crops more carefully could give some tips?

(Or just point us to the good mail threads on this board!)

cheers

Alastair
Title: Re: Hello from a newbie
Post by: MrsKP on April 30, 2006, 23:08:15
Quote from: sally_cinnamon on April 30, 2006, 23:04:20
Quote from: MrsKP on April 30, 2006, 22:38:03
it's one of my OH's fave Stone Roses toons too  ;D

Aaaah!  I'm with you there... bit slow on the uptake with that one.  ::)   Have been spending BH weekend at parents house, tends to reduce my brain to a withering cabbage-like state.  Yes also into Roses of the Stone variety, although I think Waterfall is my fave...



Mine's Made of Stone ................. and parents have a habit of doing that to your head !!!!

;D
Title: Re: Hello from a newbie
Post by: supersprout on May 01, 2006, 08:51:50
Quote from: ThomsonAS on April 30, 2006, 23:05:04
I'm envious about the borlotti beans. Would love to have a go with them - which suppier did you use? (Or just point us to the good mail threads on this board!)
Alastair

Here you go alastair ;D
http://www.allotments4all.co.uk/joomla/component/option,com_smf/Itemid,57/topic,16006.0
Title: Re: Hello from a newbie
Post by: tim on May 01, 2006, 08:55:18
Emma - I must say that, as a 'first-timer, to arrive with avatar & profile in place is pretty slick!
Title: Re: Hello from a newbie
Post by: STHLMgreen on May 01, 2006, 09:22:35
Yes welcome!  ;D

I'm pretty new myself but everyone has made me feel so welcome.

I'm also growing tomatoes, parsley (two types), dill and chives but in containers and its my first time growing anything. You have an impressive start, so I'm looking forward to pictures/stories and learning from you as well!
Title: Re: Hello from a newbie
Post by: ellkebe on May 01, 2006, 09:59:30
Hi Emma - look forward to seeing some pictures of your plot.
Title: Re: Hello from a newbie
Post by: timnsal on May 01, 2006, 12:00:30
Hi Emma,

Welcome from yet another newbie :)

Actually, that's one thing that's really encouraged me here - knowing how many other people are just starting out too.

And, being able to pinch the answers when they ask the questions before I get around to it ;)


Sally
Title: Re: Hello from a newbie
Post by: Hyacinth on May 01, 2006, 12:04:40
Hello all :D  Happy gardening ;D ;D ;D

Lishka
Title: Re: Hello from a newbie
Post by: student madwife on May 01, 2006, 12:16:55
Sally - yes we are growing similar things aren't we!   I forgot I've got  a few radishes too, growing in a long tub in the garden - not sure how they will do!  The tomatoes that I'm growing are Gardener's Delight and Urbikany (a bush type).  I keep smelling my seedlings coz they remind me of my granddad's greenhouse.   :)

Alistair - I'm sorry but I got it wrong.  It isn't borlotti that I've got started off on my kitchen window sill.  I went to look at the packet to see where I had got them from for you (they are Lingua di Fuocco from Thompson and Morgan btw when I do get round to sowing them).  The beans I have sown are French beans (Cherokee Trail of Tears).  I thought that was what I had sown, then they came up with the first leaves being a speckled red so I thought 'I must have sown the borlotti ...'   ::)

Tim - it only took a couple of clicks of the mouse to get my profile sorted so not that slick.  My life generally is the antithesis of slick - I'm currently knee-deep in toys and surrounded by general mess created by my 3 boys (hubby and 2 boys, one aged 2 and the other 4 months) and I'm STILL not getting on with my dissertation .....

;)

Off soon to buy more seeds.  I'm after dahlias, poached egg plants and probably more herbs.  ;D

Emma x
Title: Re: Hello from a newbie
Post by: ann hunter on May 01, 2006, 12:45:17
Hi and wellcome - glad to hear I am not the only one finding any excuse I can to avoid writing an assignment. Oh look the sun has come out I simply MUST go down the lotty and hoe the weeds. And then there is that pile of ironing I simply have to reduce by at least half before back to work tomorrow! And perhaps another visit to A4A before bedtime.
 ;D :D ;D :D ;D :D ;D
Title: Re: Hello from a newbie
Post by: spacehopper on May 01, 2006, 20:25:56
Hi Emma and welcome :D
Title: Re: Hello from a newbie
Post by: MutantHobbit on May 01, 2006, 22:23:10
Hi Emma and welcome

I'm a first season veggie grower as well, and I'm sure you'll fit in well on A4A! ;D

So much physical work had to be done on our allotment, that we haven't done much sowing, so I'm trying not to lose my head and panic...  :-[  Remain calm and composed, the seeds will catch up. I hope! 8)

Dave
Title: Re: Hello from a newbie
Post by: vee on May 01, 2006, 23:49:43
Hi Emma - welcome and hope you have fun :)