A few weeks ago I received advice from an old timer at the allotments to cut the side shoots off my sweetcorn – I did so warily and then subsequently found advice that contradicted this practice. Apparently it is a dated method, used when sweetcorn varieties weren't adapted to our shorter growing season as it helped the plant concentrate its efforts. This is apparently no longer necessary. so when the side shoots re-grew I didn't remove them. This caused great concern on my allotments amongst the 'elders' and I patiently explained my reasons.
However....on arriving one night last week to water the allotment, I was greeted at the gate by a particular elder who had offered his advice and received my explanation of why I wasn't removing side shoots. He simply told me that he had cut all my side shoots off.....Ummm...aaarrrggghhhh! I was furious but so utterly shocked at the time that I just looked at him and walked off. I stood looking at my sweetcorn patch,hands on hips, aghast at the devastation. All side shoots cut to the ground and left lying on my plot. Hubby came and gave me a hug and the culprit slunk into his van and away.
Shortly after that a member of the committee arrived so I told them what had happened and pointed out that even if I was doing every wrong – I had the right to do so without intruders on my plot, taking my growing methods into their own hands! I also pointed out that it does state quite clearly in the rules that one must not enter another person's allotment without their express permission. It turned out that the culprit is also a member of the committee – but I was promised that it would be mentioned at the coming meeting this weekend.
Yesterday afternoon the culprit arrived and came down to us for a chat – he spent 15 minutes talking to my husband about cricket, Jamaica and ever other subject but sweetcorn. I stayed out of the way! I couldn't trust myself not to cause a right row. A short time later, the member of the committee I had spoken to arrived and asked if I had said anything to him?.....ummm I thought she was going to?! I don't have the will or the energy to have some sort of confrontation over this. I am sure he did it with the best intentions and just has particularly poor listening skills. Bloody interfering old sod!
rant over!
I think we would all be the same, imagine if you went and did something like that to some of his plants?
He would be outraged..as you say, silly old sod, maybe he'll keep his hands off next year
when you've cooled down, explain he has ruined your 'experiment' to see if it makes any difference..chin up, you still have your sweetcorn :)
You deserve to rant after what he did! That is totally out of order. Hopefully he'll get the point - stay off my plot and leave my veggies alone!
But as Manics says chin up :)
1066
People are crackers, aren't they? What a nutter that old guy is. ::) Never mind, you still have your sweetcorn. The guy has waaaaay too much time on his hands!
I was wondering if perhaps he might like to stop by and do our weeding next?..... ;)
Quote from: skyblu on July 13, 2009, 12:49:53
I was wondering if perhaps he might like to stop by and do our weeding next?..... ;)
;D ;D ;D
Maybe he could do the mowing and then neatly trim the edges round the beds as well ;D
sorry for the pun but
- he was laterally patronising you -
even if they don't work out - in the end everyone must be allowed to try things
I am so sorry for your obvious frustration
but i am sure that there was good intent here
there is embarrassment on the part of the old boy(s) - I bet he was just looking out for you.
but you have drawn the line and that's good its tough on both sides
do you have the strength to let him make it up to you.
tomorrow is another day
dax
I'm afraid I couldn't have kept my cool. It's bad enough when vandals get on to your plot and do things without having other plot holders doing it.
Commiserations skyblu. I've got vandals and thieves as plot neighbours so I'm no longer inclined to turn the other cheek. I'd get on his plot and cut the hearts out of his cabbages or the curds off his caulis and tell him sweetly that the latest research shows that this is how to get the best crops and you didn't want him to miss out.
Quote from: daxzen on July 13, 2009, 13:34:29
sorry for the pun but
- he was laterally patronising you -
even if they don't work out - in the end everyone must be allowed to try things
I am so sorry for your obvious frustration
but i am sure that there was good intent here
there is embarrassment on the part of the old boy(s) - I bet he was just looking out for you.
but you have drawn the line and that's good its tough on both sides
do you have the strength to let him make it up to you.
tomorrow is another day
dax
aww heck - it was only sweetcorn! I'm not about to hold a life-long grudge about it. As I said - I am sure it was done with the best of intentions - it just shouldn't have been..... ::)
Quote from: ceres on July 13, 2009, 14:23:21
Commiserations skyblu. I've got vandals and thieves as plot neighbours so I'm no longer inclined to turn the other cheek. I'd get on his plot and cut the hearts out of his cabbages or the curds off his caulis and tell him sweetly that the latest research shows that this is how to get the best crops and you didn't want him to miss out.
LOL! I wasn't planning anything quite so destructive but if he tries it again... ;)
I'm with Ceres I'd have taken my shears out and chopped his sweetcorn straight in half, others may not agree but sometimes its the only way people learn, and he's on the committee god knows what the rest are like. :( :( :( ;D ;D ;D