I've recently been noticing that the snails are rummaging about in my mint plant container though admittedly it is housed under the water tap.
I am surprised as I did not think slugs/snails liked mint.
Though organic, I do not want to sprinkle pellets all over the container, so is there anything else I can do that will deter them?
Do they stay away from citrus smells?

@Audreyf
Welcome to the Group Audrey :-)
I hope you enjoy it and do please join in by posting any questions as well as your gardening experiences as, no matter how experienced one is, there is always more to learn and I enjoy experimenting with different ideas.
On my allotment, I have seen how people from different cultures garden in their own ways and I have mixed and matched ideas that felt curious but I always seem to forget, so now trying to keep a written diary of my activities.
Anyway, enjoy the group and I look forward to reading your posts and comments.

I am a NAS member and I thought I'd share the updated guidelines I have just received. Do please be careful as they have already closed down allotments in Ireland and France because of people not obeying the rules.

From NAS:

Covid 19 Emergency Measures

March 31st, 2020

CORONAVIRUS: What the NAS is doing to help members

The National Allotment Society is working to provide clarity for our members on what the virus outbreak and ensuing impacts will mean for Allotment Holders. As more information become available, we will be updating our advice to our members, please read the Q & As below on how the outbreak is affecting Allotment Sites and their use.

UPDATED 16/04/2020

NAS Q & A On Allotments and Social Distancing

Protect yourself and your family

We are all living through a crisis, the likes of which the country has not experienced since war time. The community spirit that exists on allotment sites is now vitally important. Please remember to look out for one another during these very difficult times and take all the steps you can to reduce the risk of contagion from the Covid- 19 virus when you visit the plot.

Covid -19 - The virus that causes COVID 19 is mainly transmitted through droplets generated when an infected person coughs, sneezes or speaks. The droplets are too heavy to hang in the air and they quickly fall and contaminate floors and surfaces.

Smaller airborne particles can remain in the air for some time. You can be infected by breathing in the virus if you are within close proximity of a person who has Convid-19- hence the 2m social distancing requirement, or by touching a contaminated surface and then touching your eyes, nose or mouth before washing your hands.

Can I still work my allotment during the Covid19 lockdown?

Yes, allotments are a great way of both getting exercise and obtaining food during this crisis.

Can I visit the allotment with my family?

Yes, government guidelines state that you can exercise with members of your household

Why then is the NAS suggesting that we consider going alone to the plot?

This is just a suggestion and plot-holders can decide for themselves but we are looking at the bigger picture and concerned about the risk of sites being shut – as they have been in Ireland and France. If some plot-holders are happy to visit alone or stay away for a few weeks that reduces this risk.

How long can I stay at the plot?

Government Ministers have suggested that an hour’s walk is reasonable and asked us all to limit time spent outside the home. The Society believes that if you are using your plot for daily exercise it would be reasonable to spend an hour or two doing the jobs that need doing for that day and then to return home.

How can I ensure my family’s and everyone else’s safety at the plot?

Do not attend the plot if you have coronavirus symptoms or a family member is self-isolating

Take a flask of hot water, soap and paper towels to the plot with you (cold water will work too).

Use hand sanitiser (should be 60% alcohol content) before entering the site and opening any gate locks

Wash hands for at least 20 seconds after closing the lock, dry with a paper towel

The most effective part of hand washing is the drying using preferably paper towel to remove the layer of dead skin scales - on which virus and bacteria sit. Paper towel to compost heap.

DO NOT touch your face after using anything that has been touched by other people- use an elbow to work the push taps.

Wash your hands again for 20 seconds, dry with a paper towel before opening and closing the lock to leave the site

Use hand sanitiser after closing the lock

Wash hands when you get home

DO NOT gather together for a chat even if you are 2 metres apart

Observe “Social Distancing” with each other 2-3 metres

If you take your children to the plot, ensure that they stay within its confines and do not run around on communal paths and spaces.

Do not share tools

Do not wash your hands in water troughs

Can I drive to my allotment?

We do not have an overall answer to this question. Police forces are clamping down on non-essential travel, some have said that a short drive to the plot is permitted if there is no other choice, others are still enforcing the prohibition on driving to exercise. Check with your local force. Walk to the plot if at all possible and do not take public transport.

What about if I have hens or other livestock to care for at the plot?

Animal welfare considerations mean that this would be seen as essential travel even if further movement restrictions are put in place.

What changes should Allotment Associations make to site management?

Pin up information about social distancing and hygiene on a notice board or the gate, there is a QR code at the bottom of this page that links to our updating page.

Undertake risk assessments and take appropriate action to reduce hazards around any areas of the site that could cause contagion e.g. communal water troughs, taps, and gate locks. The NAS does have further detailed information on risk assessments and the duty of care for Self-Managed Associations please email natsoc@nsalg.org.uk if this is required.

All communal facilities including toilets should be closed

contd.

Welcome to the Allotment and Edible Gardening Group Diana @DianaD2 :-)
It is lovely to have you join us.

Has anyone tried to give salad and herb leaves a jump start by sowing indoors (or in a greenhouse) in trays before planting them out?

If so, I wonder what kind of success you enjoyed.

Last summer, I saw supermarkets selling lettuce, chives, etc. in small module trays and was surprised but thought I'd give it a go as an experiment.

I'm about to sow them and will let you know how I get on; in the meantime, if anyone has already been there and got the T-shirt, please share your experience.

Well last Sunday, I sowed lots of seeds and I was not expecting them to germinate for at least another week or 2 but I have been pleasantly surprised - they have germinated in less than 7 days!

Unfortunately, I deprived them of air (not noticing they had germinated) and some have become leggy (that's because they were growing towards the light in the window).

This means I have to pot them on but, as I have no room indoors, I will have to transfer them to outdoors.

Does anyone know if the weather forecast predicts snow or frost in the next few days? I was under the impression we were going to get snow or frost at the start of April but the weather is actually lovely - gardener's delight.

I've got a large strawberry bed on my plot and I've noticed there is some green leaves but most of them have dried into a brownie red colour.

I did not manage to take runners to make new babies in the autumn.

Should I just take out the lot and start again - it seems difficult to know how to remove just the dead parts which I assume are the red/brown dried leaves which do not look they are going to go anywhere.

...start sowing the seeds for summer's harvest to delight your palette :-)

https://www-euronews-com.cdn.ampproject.org/v/s/www.euronews.com/amp/2020/04/02/why-gardening-should-be-your-go-to-quarantine-activity?amp_js_v=a3&_gsa=1&usqp=mq331AQFKAGwASA%3D#referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com&_tf=From%20%251%24s&share=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.euronews.com%2F2020%2F04%2F02%2Fwhy-gardening-should-be-your-go-to-quarantine-activity

I shall be at my allotment and garden (small) all weekend.

Enjoy folks and keep your spirits up :-)

@Anya
Welcome to the group Anya and thanks for joining.
Do please post and share your experience, knowledge and thoughts.
Join existing discussions, always good to have many perspectives.

I ask this because I've been discouraged by an Aunt to go to my allotment during this Coronavirus crisis.
I will go but I'm not feeling 100% relaxed about it because, I guess, it does not feel entirely normal and such a battle to get essentials.

I'm trying to locate somewhere in North London who stocks this compost (see image) and is open for trade.
I use this for bringing on my seeds because I find (having tried several ones) this to be the one that works for me.
If anyone can set me on the right track, it'll be much appreciated.

Hi All
I went to get my car window repaired today and whilst I was waiting in Morrison's car park, I went shopping and came out with lots of summer blooming flower bulbs which I found was having a good calming effect.
I had planned and wanted to purchase them from The Clockhouse Nursery; alas, they are now all closed and I just thought better to have the hope of some colour than not at all this summer.
I plan to sow some vegetable and some flower seeds tomorrow; it is giving me the motivation and focus now to focus on my work at home.
The gardening/allotment season has finally come round for me!
I hope those of you who have not got started will follow suite and enjoy the wonderfully calming, distracting and positive effect getting involved with nature has on one's mental health and emotional wellbeing.
Enjoy but keep safe, keep well and keep sane in these extremely challenging and uncertain times.
With all my good wishes,
Niche x
P.S. I will try to post something regularly in this group to help keep morale and spirit up and promote a constructive subliminal activity from our current preoccupations.

I just received a copy of an email sent to my allotment committee; earlier I had received one changing the rules of the allotment in that there will be no communal tea breaks, shop open, etc.
The one I copy below shows that allotment societies and activities are being monitored by neighbours in the nearby vicinity.

Email:

Dear ....,

thank you for your email regarding my concerns about your members being allowed by the committee to use XYZ Allotments without adhering to the social distancing rules in place at this time.

I have sent photo evidence to the police and the allotment society showing 9 members of your society, including Committee or ex committee members, sitting around the benches drinking tea and chatting.

I believe that they were not adhering to social distancing and will be finding out who else I need to send these to, to stop you allowing the using the allotment as a leisure park.

I witnessed and photographed YOUR MEMBERS and COMMITTEE who were SUNBATHING down to their T shirts, sitting together well within the 2 metre recommended distancing.

When I questioned this I was told to F*** OFF.

I will be monitoring your idiotic behaviour, you will all be locked down in a few days and I am making sure that the 7 days of self isolation that I am going through is not negating because you guys want to party behind my garden fence.

STAY AT HOME

Kind Regards,

.....

Good on him is all I can say! I was not in the guilty club as I have not been lately to my plot!!

I just wondered what people's thoughts are about this one as there is no guidance.
I'm just pondering whether to forget working my plot this year....hmm...shame though but I do not want to put anybody at risk.

Is anyone managing to get out to their plot in these changing times?
I would love to hear how you are getting on?
Has your allotment society made any changes?

We've had no instructions or advice telling us not to come to the site so hoping to be able to get down there more now that the spring has arrived and especially if we have a lockdown. I'm hoping that enforced isolation may have productive results. Has anyone had any advice from their association?

https://thrivingyard.com/cardboard-box-composting/

Using unwanted cardboard boxes as composting; just googled to see whether google had any thoughts about this as I was just about to experiment with a few, so pleased to see my idea had some merit.

What a wonderful way to recycle!

Has anyone else tried using cardboard boxes to decompose your organic garden matter?

The garden season has begun and I hope you are all planning ahead! ;-)
For those of you who prefer natural organic edible gardening, here is an article I came across that will help you naturally to keep pesky pests at bay as well as weeds by using cloves.
My research was motivated by having a lot of spare cloves to use up; I am delighted I have found a good home for them in more ways than I had anticipated.
Here is a link to the source:
https://balconygardenweb.com/amazing-clove-uses-in-the-garden/
Also, please do help make this group more useful and interesting by sharing your experiences and gardening/allotment processes here.

I've allowed myself to the end of January for saying HNY to all and one and one and all.

It's good to see many more members on this group.

Has anyone started edible garden preparation yet for this year?

I made a little attempt to see what I could grow from my collection of seeds and I was pleasantly surprised that I could do something in January if only indoors.

I have broad beans that can be put in the ground outdoors but it is too cold and wet, so I've decided to skip over it.

It'll lovely to hear what people are doing and I wonder if we perhaps swap seedlings and seeds and baby plants if people are living locally.

My allotment is in a bit of a state at the moment but I would be happy to share seeds, etc. (subject to growing success!) if people are able to travel to the North London area.

This year, I've decided to install a few bird boxes and a dedicated bird feeding and drinking (not alcohol) station on my allotment and more bee friendly flowers. I'm delighted to state I discovered frogs on my patch in the most unexpected places, so hopefully that will take care of the slugs and snails with the aid of the slow worms.

Oh, if you need any motivation, you can get started on sowing the following seeds, albeit indoors - shallot, onion, some tomatoes, aubergines and sweet peas.

Happy Gardening :-)

This might be a stupid question but my knowledge on garden-related stuff is close to zero, please excuse me.

So, what are the downsides of using compost bin? I want to buy one for my parents. Wouldn't it produce some side effects? Like smell or warms all around?

Again, I might be talking total nonsense.

My dog has a strobe tail

I just changed my type of garden lamp, and this is the first time I use it with my dog.

It is a small dog and its tail goes in all directions ... and well its tail has a strobe effect with the Leds .... in my opinion this means that the Leds are pulsed lighting and not continuous ...

It’s pretty quiet, but when you see it, it’s fun ...

I hope I have the right terminology there?(setting+the flowers aren`t producing fruit?) Loads of flowers on the runners but clearly not much pollination because when the flowers drop there`s either nothing or very few little beans! Climbing beans that were prolific last year aren`t even flowering! Yet the French beans not far away are doing fine-I just picked enough for 3 of us to have a generous helping! It doesn`t make sense.

https://www.spacehive.com/growtotteridge#.XUxzf947zlY

If you get too many runner beans all in one go, wet the inside of a plastic bag, pop them in, then tie up with an elastic band. They'll keep in the fridge for at least a week that way.

Have any of you used a soil-testing kit? If so, can you recommend one? I see they vary in price but does that mean they vary in efficiency?

Hi All
Just wondering what you are all growing and how it is going?
What are you harvesting?
I've been harvesting my strawberries and recently planted a second variety which has already formed flowers, so might get a few strawberries in late summer.

The last of my raised beds at the bottom of the garden doesn't get a lot of sun being shaded by a tall hedge and next door's tree.

I read that salad crops can tolerate shade so I tried them (but the slugs got there first) and also peas. I tried peas last year but with little success. I then read that purple sprouting broccoli grows in shade so I tried that this year and it seems to be thriving.

Any other suggestions for things that don't mind shade for next year since I don't want to grow the same thing twice in the same place ?

Is algae that forms on water good for the compost heap?

I found this an interesting resource and admittedly a little surprising but rationale makes sense and I am glad I have not been harming anyone or anything in the process!

https://homeguides.sfgate.com/put-moldy-food-compost-71014.html

Hope you may find it of some use.

This is how I make my heaps so I was rather pleased to stumble upon it being used elsewhere. But I must try insulating mine. I don`t do that bit & I think I`m missing a trick! 😕
https://www.allotment-garden.org/composts-fertilisers/composting-making-compost/how-to-build-compost-bins-from-pallets/
It looks like it`s a thoroughly interesting website!

https://www.allotment-garden.org/comfrey/comfrey-compost-feed-tea/

I'm sharing this link I found whilst researching how I can make the most of the comfrey growing on my allotment.

I was specifically looking at if I could use a fabric bag instead of a hessian bag to make the juice/tea and it turns out I can which is very handy for me.

I discovered today that the slugs & snails have mostly demolished my newly germinated edibles.
How on earth did they find their way into my mini greenhouse?!
I've been informed they do not like to crawl on gravel but that did not stop them acting like juveniles.
Is there anything else I can do?
My organic slug pellets are at my allotment but I am usually reluctant to use them and doesn't seem right that I would need them in a mini greenhouse.

...tomatoes, cauliflower, brussel sprouts, onion sets, chillies and red peppers?

If anyone has tried with some success, I'd love to hear about your experiences...I'm sure it will inspire me to chance it.

I'm chancing sowing artichoke seeds for harvesting in 2020!

Any body nearby want them to fill any gaps? One has had the top of it`s stem knocked off but it`s got enough roots to recover from that.Need planting out yesterday!

I used some horticultural fleece when I sowed my pea seeds, not that it made any difference; however, it is now rapidly breaking into a million fragmented pieces. My question is whether I need to put it in the rubbish or whether it can be added to my compost heap. I tried googling it but I can't seem to find an answer, so any thoughts would be appreciated.

I should have taken a photo but found a plant in my garden that looks like the borage family; it has yellow flowers - is that the wrong colour for borage?

Maybe members would like to add their name to this petition about a housing Association`s proposal to turf-over a pensioners vege patch;in the name of "environmental improvement" !! I smell Greenwashing! How is another bit of monoculture grass more environmental than a vege patch? They just want to tidy it up and ruin this poor guy`s life & health.

https://www.gopetition.com/petitions/save-john-hughes-garden.html

Is it just me or are everybody`s veges slow to grow/develop this years? Especially beans. It`s June tomorrow and runners that I sowed directly into the soil (rather than planted in pots and then planted out) are only just up. The first sowing never even appeared!. Other beans (french etc.)are not even peeping through! I`m sure they climbing the canes usually by now. Even the ones that started in pots are not even knee-high!

Hello All
Thank you for signing up to the Allotment and Edible Gardening group.
I welcome you warmly and look forward to sharing inspiring ideas, useful tips and much more.
I have an allotment in Barnet but also try to grow things in my garden.
I think wildlife forms an important part of edible gardening.
Here's a short video clip of the bees happily playing with Clover on my allotment - Mother Nature is amazing and truly an inspiration. I made the clip in a hurry, spontaneously without thought to its professional quality, so please forgive its unprofessional quality but I do hope you enjoy it.
I would love to hear what you are hoping to get out of this group and learn about anything you feel you would like to share.
Feel free to post freely and let's make this group a joint activity.
Once again welcome all and thank you for signing up.
Niche :-)