On 21/3/07 10:34, in article
, "Dave Poole"
wrote:

snip On his way home one night, confidence boosted by more than a few
pints
of Bank's mild, Alf took a slightly wobbly detour. He clambered over
the fence and snipped a single immature pod from the row of prize
beans. He carefully dried it off and managed get 3 small seeds to
store properly without shrivelling. Just one germinated the following
spring. This was grown on at Webb's trial grounds; his employers
being totally unaware of the source. Seeds were collected from the
best pods and after a few years, 'Droitwich Champion' was ready to be
launched onto the market with considerable applause. It remained a
well respected variety well into the 1970's and I suspect that old
Colonel Webb was never aware of the source.

Lovely story! Those 'old boys' really knew their stuff when it came to veg.
growing and it's a shame that a lot of that first-hand knowledge has been
lost to us. OTOH, interest in it is obviously returning - the Suttons rep
told us the other day that people are now buying 70% veg. seeds as opposed
to 30% flower seeds. I remember a couple of years ago reading that veg.
seed sales had overtaken flower seed sales and obviously it's on the
increase. Whether this is because people are concerned more about what they
feed into their bodies, whether it's economics or whether it's the sheer
pleasure of doing the growing, I don't know but it would be interesting to
find out one day when someone does a survey. ;-)

--
Sacha
http://www.hillhousenursery.co.uk
South Devon
http://www.discoverdartmoor.co.uk/
(remove weeds from address)

"La Puce" wrote in message
oups.com...
On 25 Mar, 13:05, "shazzbat"
wrote:

Incidentally, you can see our allotment here. Although it hasn't been
updated for yonks, it won't let me in for some reason.
http://mysite.wanadoo-members.co.uk/steveandmaggiesplot

Melon?! You grew melons, twice? I'm just about to sow Charentais, my
frist melons. I see yours were outdoors. Were they good? Any tips? I
will grow mine on the lotty - I don't have a green house, just a
veranda with only morning sun.

Sadly the melons on the site never fully ripened. I can't remember now what
type they were. We have had some success in the last couple of years with
Sugarbaby, but only one melon from one plant grown as a straggly mess in a
cold frame. I'm also going to try Charentais this year, watch this space.

Steve

On 27 Mar, 22:39, "shazzbat"
wrote:
Sadly the melons on the site never fully ripened. I can't remember now what
type they were. We have had some success in the last couple of years with
Sugarbaby, but only one melon from one plant grown as a straggly mess in a
cold frame. I'm also going to try Charentais this year, watch this space.

Really?! Brilliant. I've concluded that without a greenhouse or tunnel
there's little chance for the melons to reach maturity. So I thought
I'll do a glass box (or cold frame but with light all around) on the
lotty, perhaps 4 or 5ft long, and keep them in there. Good luck Steve!

K wrote:

On 19 Mar, 11:56, "Amethyst Deceiver"
wrote:
Should I replant last week's peas, broad beans and onion sets or is
there still a chance they'll survive?


Snip


Well, you'll have seen the majority verdict on here is that you are OK
:-)
And no need to replant since I imagine they haven't even burst
through the surface of the soil yet. I always used to plant my broad
beans in March (Feb when I was in Kent).

Well, a month on and I'm pleased to say that my pessimism was indeed
unfounded. I have a range of broad beans, peas, mangetout and onions all
growing strongly. My spinach, carrots, spring onions, salad leaves,
brassicas and chard are showing nicely too. And I even found some fleece to
go over teh beds last night in case of frost.
--
Linz
Wet Yorks

On 18 Apr, 10:46, "Amethyst Deceiver"
wrote:
Well, a month on and I'm pleased to say that my pessimism was indeed
unfounded. I have a range of broad beans, peas, mangetout and onions all
growing strongly. My spinach, carrots, spring onions, salad leaves,
brassicas and chard are showing nicely too. And I even found some fleece to
go over teh beds last night in case of frost.

Wahey!! Wait and see is what I said. Now you know your soil, your
climate, what it does - experimenting is very much part of it. Our
city gardens have their own micro climate - I would have lost broad
and peas if sown in feb - it has hardly rained and the lotty ground
looks like the Sahara!! Last year peas/broad's bed was soggy until mid
April at least. Rotating is good but I've given up on a clay bed -
I've put some willow sticks there and will experiment with coppicing.
Eventually ;o)

I haven't done my carrots yet - was far too busy putting in taties and
sowing broad and peas. Potting on toms, cabbage sticks, sprouts,
cucumbers and courgettes. Spinash, sorrell and salads transplanted and
need watering lots allready. We need some rain! Leeks poking their
heads ! Doing carrots and parnsip as soon as it rains - got promised
some in the next couple of days.

Do send us some will yer .. ....!!!!