Allotments 4 All

Quote from: JanG on March 26, 2025, 07:07:50Did the couch grass diminish the vigour of the autumn raspberries? Apart from neatness I'd be thinking that couch grass and raspberries might happily co-exist?

It decimated the raspberry canes. Raspberries have shallow roots and the couch entwined with it so badly it sucked all the moisture out of the soil to the detriment of the raspberries. I tried clearing it as best I could and heavily manured the soil but it was also infiltrated by more couch grass!

Congrats on the new plot, sounds like a great one! What's the soil like over there?

I'd be a little wary of putting bagged watercress straight in the pond, I've never tried it but without a root system I presume it wouldn't live and would rot down and cause oxygenation issues.

Remarkable longevity! Congrats on the harvest 

From observing overgrown allotments I don't think raspberries or any small fruit plants co-exist well with grass. And as it is alleopathic I think couch grass in particular would be the worst offender. I've seen its victims!

Thanks for the replies! I'll email the contacts suggested by Galina and Paulh

JanG, thank you for the offer. If I can't find any elsewhere at the end of the year I may take you up on the offer.

Will let you know how the search goes 

They do want to grow Jeannine, but I am really impressed.  I have seen ten year old squash seeds germinate but these are well beyond that.  Glad there are now signs of life in the younger seeds too. 

Yes it is sad to lose contact with old gardening friends and sometimes without any reason.  Sometimes they take up a new hobby with the same enthusiasm they once had for seed saving. We remember them well and the times we could enjoy together and think of them when we grow the seeds that originated from their gardens.  Especially thinking of the gardener who started our seed circle all those years ago. 

Good luck for these little Mayoral Blue seedlings.  And more green power and many more happy gardening years for you too, Jeannine.     

Quote from: Jeannine on March 31, 2025, 18:51:06

Quote from: JanG on March 31, 2025, 06:50:58What a great story. Thank you, Jeannine, and congratulations!
The entry in Tatiana's tomato base has 2011. Were the seeds really that old or is that the last year the Mayor grew them? Amazing!
I'd also like to hear more about Tatiana if possible. Her tomato base is a wonderful resource, so great thanks to her too.

Hi I got them in 2010 but had no idea how old they were when they came to me. I do know the old man hadn't  died  very long before that  so I presume they  may have been  2009 seeds  but they  could have been older ,but I call them my 2010 seeds. Tania and I both grew them in 2011.
farm
I am no longer able to visit Tania as she sold her place a couple of miles from me and bought a farm  a long way away.
 She has since dropped out of seeds and is into fancy chickens and she paints but we are no longer in touch, I know sh e lost her Mum and her own health was not so good for a while but I am not up to date now. She is a lovely lady and did amazing things on her property.She gave me yoghurt cultures which I used for a long time.I remember she had problems in 2009 and lost most  her crop of tomatoes earlyish in the season ,John and I were growing dozens of plants for seed in large pots that year on a community garden in their huge greenhouse ,all  different varieties and we packed some in the car and took them to her..It was so funny to see  a large heap of 5 foot plants packed into a small Honda car but we made it and the plants did well. Later that year she came and gave the our community garden a wonderful talk on tomato growing  and there was standing room only.

XX Jeannine

Thanks Jeannine. It's good to be able to put some mental pictures to the name Tatiana. I've come across her base quite frequently when searching for information about tomatoes. It's a great resource.
It's difficult to imagine being so into seeds and then not into them at all, but I guess it happens.

Just noticed this...

Great to hear that Deb..good luck, I envy you XX Jeannine

Quote from: galina on March 31, 2025, 18:21:123 seedlings up.  Green fingers rule.  Fabulous Jeannine.  Interesting that the older seeds are more viable than those a year younger.  But maybe they will still want to germinate also.

Hope they continue to thrive.  It would be fabulous if this variety could be made known more widely.  With the story of course.

 

Galina, I now have 4 in that pot and the second pot with the the 2011 seeds in is showing a touch of green too so they seem determined  to stay with us. Hopefully they will make strong plants and not pop off on me before harvest, I guess that goes for me too LOL. It would feel good to be able to share them.XX Jeannine

Quote from: JanG on March 31, 2025, 06:50:58What a great story. Thank you, Jeannine, and congratulations!
The entry in Tatiana's tomato base has 2011. Were the seeds really that old or is that the last year the Mayor grew them? Amazing!
I'd also like to hear more about Tatiana if possible. Her tomato base is a wonderful resource, so great thanks to her too.

Hi I got them in 2010 but had no idea how old they were when they came to me. I do know the old man hadn't  died  very long before that  so I presume they  may have been  2009 seeds  but they  could have been older ,but I call them my 2010 seeds. Tania and I both grew them in 2011.
farm
I am no longer able to visit Tania as she sold her place a couple of miles from me and bought a farm  a long way away.
 She has since dropped out of seeds and is into fancy chickens and she paints but we are no longer in touch, I know sh e lost her Mum and her own health was not so good for a while but I am not up to date now. She is a lovely lady and did amazing things on her property.She gave me yoghurt cultures which I used for a long time.I remember she had problems in 2009 and lost most  her crop of tomatoes earlyish in the season ,John and I were growing dozens of plants for seed in large pots that year on a community garden in their huge greenhouse ,all  different varieties and we packed some in the car and took them to her..It was so funny to see  a large heap of 5 foot plants packed into a small Honda car but we made it and the plants did well. Later that year she came and gave the our community garden a wonderful talk on tomato growing  and there was standing room only.

XX Jeannine