Allotments 4 All

I am now confused, all the swedes I grew had fibrous centers, infact lots were completely hollow, and my celeriac just was completely hopeless, they had to go straight to compost,  I think i should test my soil for the ph , i saw a kit in the garden centre it was £14. does that sound expensive or is it just me?
sam

I hope I'm not instilling plant hypochondria! By all means do a pH test (you should do one from the outset, follow the instructions to get an accurate result) but lack of water, at a critical time, is the most likely cause of hollow heart. If water is adequate then it is highly likely boron will be available in sufficent quantities too.
Someone else will have to tell you if 14 pounds is a reasonable price for a kit.

- right or wrong, we use a pH, moisture and light  (as if one couldn't see how light it is!) probe. V simple and probably about that price. - Tim

If the kit was a collection of little coloured test tubes don`t buy it - it`s almost impossible to get a really accurate reading from matching the colours. A simple electronic probe just for pH should be around a tenner - (that`s what I paid two months ago) but if you`ve got to travel miles to find one you might as well pay a bit extra in your local garden shop

Thanks,  It is lots of little tubes so ill find a probe like you said, there are a few of garden shops round here, i just tend to goto the one as they let the dog in and the others don,t.   Then I can go round and measure my lotty friends plots as well, maybe in return for some yummy free veg.
sam

- so why not get the moisture facility in the same unit for little more? - if you grow in pots or bags, I reckon it's indispensable. - Tim

Sorry Tim, I did not mean to downcry your moisture meter (I have a separate one because my better half looks after the pots indoors while I probe outdoors). The only problem with a combined one is twice as many things to go wrong, or it might wear out twice as quickly.

-  no huff - just the way  I put it?

 Have you struck gold yet!! - Tim

just lifting the last of my golden wonder here in aberdeen. they are only fit for the tip as they are too dry and when cooked have the texture of a ball of string.all the plotters here have the same problem this year due to the drought. the reason for growing them was due to their resistance to blight as last year was a disaster as most of my spuds turned to mush in the ground. next year i will go back to red dukes and desiree and will spray against blight. it might be an idea to plant several varieties as an insurance against some types failing due to desease etc. has anyone tried growing them under a cloche so as not to let the blight spores land on the leaves but still managed to keep them watered?

            the plotter ???

I have been hoping someone from Aberdeen would make themselves known. I would like to get in touch with the Director of Duffy Park but the city web site doesn't give any information (I believe that it is a city maintained park?) such as an address. Do you have an address for it or could give me some ideas about where I could find it, on the web preferably, as I am in the US.

Hi John - would it be the Director of Duthie Park you want?  Couldn't find an address for the Park itself, but this might help

Colin Stuart, Principal Officer, Parks and Countryside, Arts & Recreation Department, Aberdeen City Council, tel. 01224 522984, email:colins@arts-rec.aberdeen.net.uk

All best - Gavin

Ooops - missed this one

"Aberdeen’s Winter Garden located at the Duthie Park is the UK’s most visited tourist attraction. It houses a beautiful floral paradise from January to

Address: Polmuir Road, Aberdeen, AB11 7TH, Contact: Douglas Davidson, Chargehand Gardener, Phone: Tel: 01224 583155, Fax: Tel: 01224 210532,"

All best - Gavin

Thanks Gavin. As I have just signed up for a really cheap telephone rate to the UK that number is really useful!

A pleasure, John!

It's thirty years since I've been in them - and I enjoyed searching through all sorts of photos of the park and the winter gardens.  Seem to be as magical today as my memory suggests!

And VERY different from the sad decrepitude of some of the parks in Leeds!  But maybe people only post photos of the nice bits!!!!!

All best - Gavin