GENIUS ALLOTMENT HACK FOR HOLIDAYS! / ALLOTMENT GARDENING FOR BEGINNERS

[@peterl.wagstaff8247]

Better yet, drill holes in the bottom (and sides) of the bottle, bury it the right way up, then you can top up the water without removing the bottle by simply unscrewing the cap and pouring water in with the watering can. Drilling holes in the sides of the bottle also helps get water to shallower roots. Also, I think it works best when targeted to specific (thirsty) plants, eg. put one next to each tomato plant

[@basilbaby7678]

A crushed clove of garlic with half to one full teaspoon of red chili flakes brought to a boil in two cups of water. Allow to cool, then apply to affected plant with a spray bottle. The garlic and chili mixture will deter most sucking/chewing bugs. Totally organic, and cost effective.

[@sarawalker8479]

I couldn’t keep up with my allotment, I loved it but it was a good 20 min walk and in the end I just dreaded going. Then we moved and I put in 2 raised beds and did square foot gardening in those and everything else in pots. Even spuds in bags. And it was so much easier. A 15/20 min potter in the garden each day meant it was so easy. Now I have a bigger garden and have a plotted at the bottom. This is my second growing season here and I’ve never been more content! So I hope you get to do the same!

[@alanphillips2700]

So so sorry to hear that news, he was such a great person i have learned so much from him i will really miss him, even now i can harley believe he has gone my condolences to his family, he will be sadly missed but always remembered by us all near and faraway.

[@rickarcher7497]

Hi Emma. You ask about ants and blackfly. Ants farm them and move them about your plants as we do cattle about fields. They protect them from predators and in return "milk" them for the sugary stuff they exude. When the ladybirds appear, you will quite likely see the ants attack them when the ladybirds go after the blackfly. Really dog eat dog down in that micro world

[@justinez6857]

Yes exactly, they usually pick a crop that black-fly or aphids really enjoy, in my garden it's the blackcurrant bush. I just smush them in between my fingers, but I hear soapy water works too ;)

[@rickarcher7497]

@@justinez6857 Emma doesn't like swatting things though. See how she deals with snails. A lot less drastic than me

[@hazelmayho332]

Hi Emma, just discovered your channel, been an allotment holder for 4 years and the last year I have lost my mojo and feeling a bit overwhelmed. But watching you is giving me motivation to carry on and get back on top of it. I hope you are ok after your previous video. Keep doing what you do and inspiring us all 😊

[@emmasallotmentdiaries]

Amazing!! So pleased to hear this! Keep whacking stuff in, something always grows ☺️

[@paulmastre8202]

An allotment garden and a home garden will work. My hero's all do that. Feed your babies and live happily ever after.

[@beverley1539]

Hiya Emma Thankyou for a visit. Enjoy your holiday. Blessings luv Ontario Canada 🇨🇦🐝

[@mppc2001]

Have a great holiday Emma. Radish is a cold weather crop so the ones on your tunnel are too warm and if you notice have a long pronounced stem above the radish. That's because they are stressed and trying to bolt or go to seed rather than growing a larger radish. You can start in the tunnel in cells but best sown direct outside. Kohlrabi should be about the size of a grapefruit when ready, if they don't start to swell you can always use the leaves like cabbage removing the centre stem is tough. Lastly the upside down bottle system is tried and tested method just the way you did it.

[@christinaward161]

Emma , another fab watering idea is the water bottle wick method, and that means one bottle can water several plants at a time. We have just adopted this method for our polytunnel and so far, it has been brilliant and cut our water by over half!!

[@jesusflores7323]

Emma, Ants actually act like herders for aphids. It's a symbiotic relationship between them where ants move aphids to new parts of the plant and protect them, while the aphids provide the ants with a sugary sap/syrup which is basically their waste from eating the plant. So aphids get free transportation and protection while ants get free food.

[@sherlockstu]

Exactly what I was going to say 🙏

[@Daisy-pk4zk]

Ending the week with Emma's allotment diaries what could be better ❤xx

[@Lynne-plot35b-36b]

Emma invest in a battery operated strimmer. I have one it cost me about £70 and I bought an extra battery as one only does 20 mins of strimming. A good idea for a birthday pressie or get the kids to buy one for Dad for Father’s Day that you can share 😂

[@neilharrison7422]

Ladybirds are the best for aphids, they munch through tons of the things.

[@angelikalove3825]

I think the Kohlrabi in your polytunnel is out of season. Did it grow over the winter months? Usually they get a round "ball" quite early on and it sits close to the ground and the leaves grow out of the "ball". So now it's just a long, slim "ball". I've grown them a few years running and it looks as though yours are suitable for compost 🙂

[@musicalmarion]

I remember reading that ants "milk" aphids for honey by tickling them. They kind of have a little honey farm going there. Great video Emma and have a lovely camping trip ! ❤🌱

[@carolwhite6979]

The only thing I would suggest is to mulch all your beds like crazy to keep moisture in the soil especially as it will be very warm and no rain. Have a wonderful week away! It is exciting to think about moving to a new home!! hmmmm. priority #1... big garden! small house! You can always renovate in a year or two but you cant make the garden bigger! 😃❤️❤️❤️

[@gardenofglory8275]

Hi Emma your holes should be very small if not the water is going to leak out very fast I tried it before and I had to get smaller holes so I use a piece of hot wire, enjoy your gardening

[@lyndaturner6686]

I hope you enjoy your holiday and the dream of moving to a house with a large garden comes true, I grow in my garden at home and it’s wonderful because you can nip out in your PJ’s to open the greenhouse doors in hot weather 😂my radishes are a bit small maybe it’s the dry weather.

[@erniewhitfield6454]

i agree my polytunnel is best thing i put up on my Allotment to Emma

[@lucybarnard3954]

No how will I survive next week without you? Have a great holiday, it will be wonderful to spend time with your family. At least I’ve so much to do on my plot take my mind of missing yours xx

[@VIVA4EVER2001]

Sweet corn pollination, Emma, yes it is in a song, well remembered " Any way the wind blows! Queen, Bohemian Rapsody The last verse. ❤x

[@sharonbownes5170]

Have a lovely break x

[@jillbeck6531]

Ladybugs ( ladybirds to you ) eat aphids. Some of the gardening stores near us sell little bags of them to turn loose in the garden. If they find food they stay for a while.

[@__Shellspace__]

glad to see you back was a lil worried bout you the other day when you was a bit spooked at the allotment , exciting things going on for us gardeners right now , ove your blogs

[@GardenerGray]

Have a great holiday Emma. Lovely update. "Each Time the wind blows" MJ 😊

[@bhalliwell2191]

That advice against growing corn (any type of corn: sweet, dent, field, ornamental Indian corn) in a row refers to planting one long row, say 100 feet, in a single line, or multiple rows widely separated. Commercial corn farmers, whether they grow sweet corn, field corn, popcorn, or ornamental corn, sow their fields using big, automated machines which drop one seed in each of many lines/rows, as the machine drives across the field. And corn pollen is very, very light, which is why different types or varieties within types of corn must be widely separated, in order to avoid ruining either or any of two or more types or varieties of corn. You're absolutely right about corn being pollinated by the wind. The home gardener growing sweet corn or popcorn needs to sow the corn seed in a block in order to get good pollination. So, a 100-foot line or row of corn must be broken down into, say, ten rows, one behind the other, each 10 feet long, which will give the gardener a tidy block equal to a 100-foot row. What you're doing is *fine.* Another commenter suggested you look into the Native American cultural practice of the Three Sisters companion planting, which offers the advantages of cornstalks for the beans to climb, and squash plants to shade out the weeds: if you plant your corn closely, say 12" to 15" apart in both directions, you won't find weeding easy or comfortable, even if you're using a hoe to do it. Note: various Native American tribes planted different corns, some very tall, others not so much. They matched the beans they grew to the corn they grew so the beans didn't fail to use the cornstalks fully while not overrunning the stalks, either.

[@briwaxman]

yes move Emma, i moved and now my gardens huge its 126 feet long, i got loads growing :)

[@lynnpurfield9430]

Excited for a move to a house with a big garden Emma. You could get a huge garden here in Wales and have lots of money left from the sale of a London house.

[@R1chiesART]

Hi Emma. Have a great holiday and you have the weather too. Whilst away, check out the 3-sisters method of planting, you will be enthralled to try it out. It's like companion planting. I won't spoil it all though because the story is truly inspiring. Good look. Try terracotta pots in the ground also as water reservoirs. And keep those marigolds going as well as nasturtiums!.

[@lindapoynton9420]

Hi Emma, the other week I was watching another KZbinr by the name of ..Old Mc darbys Farm. He had another watering idea that he used while he was at home then last week was away all week without a problem. He filled a milk bottle full of water screwed the lid on and drilled a hole in the top and put a wick into the water leading to each plant. I'm doing it at the moment as I have a long garden and no hose pipe. Lasts about 7 days!! Give him a watch. Have a lovely holiday xx

[@woodentops1394]

Boil up some garlic cloves in water. Put into a spray bottle. Will get rid of aphids x

[@fergusdangerfield156]

As said, the antsfarm the aphids for the sweet secretion the produce. But notice they are only on the top tender part of the bean plants, so you should prune off the top leaves!

[@limop20]

18:56 this made me laugh more than it should but it is just so relatable haha

[@beejackson1893]

Have a great holiday Emma. I'm putting a few more beds in our little garden to grow veg etc and am going to give up the allotment. I have had it for about four years but it's a real effort to go there now. Plus we get no water, wood chips, manure, nothing, so everything has to be hauled there. I'd rather pop outside and potter in the garden for a few minutes - much more enjoyable. I meant to ask had you ever tried Nematodes against slugs and snails? I've heard others talk about them but not used them myself as yet.

[@rjb6919]

Been watching your channel for a while now and it's great -thanks for sharing your growing progress. just saw the one where the guys were freaking you out on the plot, hope that's settled down - how come the comments are turned off?

[@w.dossett3332]

Put sticks around your bottles, the bottles can fall over. Also I give each plant or pot their own bottle of water

[@Lynne-plot35b-36b]

Happy holiday xx

[@patstephenso7206]

Hi Emma l love the idea that you have a home allotment l wish you well for your holiday and looking for a new home xxxx

[@patstephenso7206]

Love the water hacks

[@sandye9029]

Once the flowers are on the broad beans pinch out the growing tips to lessen aphids. Use a hose on the beans if you can have one on your plot, otherwise a soapy water spray.

[@virgindeel1424]

It's very nice and peaceful to have your allotment at home. I have my allotment at home and It gives me rest and peace. And you have less pressure.

[@neeway1620]

As Rick Archer said below the ants farm the sap from blackfly and protect them from predators. The usual thing to do is to pinch out the growing tip from the broad beans. Apparently it removes their landing site. I left them to it last year and my plants really suffered. This year I will be on the attck if I get them.

[@mollvandiepenbrugge9817]

The soil in your poly tunnel looks nice and soft i suppose you use a lot of compost?

[@evepilcher2366]

Hello Emma, I’m lucky enough to have a home allotment, unfortunately I don’t have the space for a poly tunnel , but I love that I can just step outside my door and see/ sit with my vegetables. Have a happy time camping.

[@helenstewart2085]

Use the broadbean tips for salad.

[@sharon1615]

Have a time time away hope the plots ok I guess Rockies incharge 🥰

[@bobwilliams5506]

Your kohlrabi should get the size of a large turnip. Loved the vid.

[@cindytennessee]

Good to see you Emma! Please enjoy your camping trip! Take care ❤

[@francesdavey1337]

Thank you Emma have a lovely holiday with your family x

[@joopybritannia9119]

If you do change your mind about using something on the aphids use cold pressed neem oil and horticultural soap, not dish soap. You can either use it as a spray, or a root drench. Use it once a week for a few weeks. If you're doing a root drench, then use a hose or sprayer as well with clean water to blast them off the plants. After a few weeks they should be gone. Kate and Eli have a few good vids about it with lots more info. Good luck!

[@ebxo269]

Harvest kolrabi when the stem swells and is the size of a tennis ball.

[@dorothyrouse1647]

The khol rabi will take a few more weeks, it’s ready when about the size of a tennis ball, if that helps you

[@rebeccazody1278]

That sweet corn looks great!

[@rickthelian2215]

Give it a good water and when you return give it another good water, I think 5 days won’t grow to many ends let alone grow long. Enjoy your camping trip, will be fun...😊

[@tonik9724]

You're thinking of olla (oi-ya). Can be done with terra cotta pots, wicks water out of the pot into the ground.

[@yvonnechassar9662]

I've always grown in my garden and would hate a plot. Hopefully you'll get that chance someday.

[@timcarpenter2893]

Emma u can buy anti drips fittings for the bottles for plants and vegetables

[@jennyjohnson9012]

I use all the old tree and bush sticks too Emma. You cant keep buying canes. I've just come back from a week in Mallorca and the weeds were sky high lol. Hope you have a lovely week off with your family xx

[@MrSoppysod]

pinch out the growing tips when you see aphids and try and get as many aphids with the tip as possible.

[@CharlieGardening]

You definitely keep yourself busy on the plot!

[@katiekat6768]

Have a lovely holiday 🤗 when you are able to move it will be much better if you can grow all your crops at home.. especially when you have kids and busy.. you can just pop out in your pj’s for 10 mins and no one would see 👍🏻 I was watching someone the other day who strongly advised getting rid of any ants and nests… they used hot water method but do use powder if need be. She said ants can actually carry an aphid to a plant, they eat only their eggs an they protect the aphids for this reason and keep insects that would eat them away! Loving the bottled water idea. I have some fruit bushes in pots that are constantly dry in summer, I’m going to give it a go on them x

[@medwards5337]

Have a lovely holiday Emma.

[@stuartallen8310]

It's exactly what I did my own garden

[@melvyn2946]

Your a breath of fresh air Emma love your gardening story s 👍

[@Lynne-plot35b-36b]

Take out the tender growing tip From the broad bean that is what the aphids are after Emma.

[@FlavourlessLife]

Ants are farming the aphids. They will help the aphids take over the tips of broad beans, defending them from other predators.

[@z1smoke420]

💯🙏🏾💚

[@rickyhand5735]

Was just about to type this 🤣 I’ve been told a trick to avoid ants by an old boy is to put Vaseline around the base of the plant

[@jpennturner]

Just give the ants an alternative food, such as jam, and they stop protecting the aphids who die out by natural predators

[@nitelite78]

Interested to know how the plastic bottle went. I've used glass wine bottles before with some success. Just ram it in the soil so there's an inch of soil in the neck and it slowly wicks out. I did think about freezing a huge bucket of ice with a hole in the bottom (plugged up during freezing of course) and then just leaving it to thaw out next to plant. The water would slowly drip out as the ice melts. Would probably last 2 or 3 days. But then you'd need a massive freezer with space for the ice so it's a bit impractical. Also not sure the plants would appreciate ice cold water. Have also been thinking there must be some cheap battery operated valve that you could connect to a big bucket/tub full of water and have the valve on a timer that opens once a day. Bit too complex though I guess.

[@debgormley557]

Morning Emma...I went away for 2 weeks in April and couldn't believe my eyes when I came back 😂 Have a great holiday x

[@laitae]

Might be a good idea to leave a window open in the poly tunnel so the plants don't boil;)

[@lindabuchan5855]

Enjoy your camping Emma, we used to go away camping a lot when the children were small, loved it. Exciting news about the house, good luck 👍

[@shaunandsarahjanetravel]

Noooo you can’t go away we really look forward to your videos. You do the garden videos and we do the holiday reviews lol. Great videos

[@grandadsallotmentgarden8295]

Kohl Rhabi needs to be the size of a cricket ball or small turnip they will bulb out probably harvest August time

[@bobwilliams5506]

The 'Florida Weave' would work well for broad beans. It actually works for most single stemmed crops.

[@lindatoms1209]

You’ll miss the hacking and wacking - so will I! Enjoy your break and see you soon 🎉

[@seanbradley3759]

I finally got my polytunnel up!! I trenched in all the sides and then realised there were no other entrances or vents!! I ended up cutting a flap in the opposite end to cool it down as the heat was ridiculous Have a look at how to add a gutter for rainwater it works really well.

[@emmagudge6052]

“Anyway the wind blows” lyric from a Queen song. 😊

[@adrianwood4661]

Hi have a fantastic holiday

[@clareoliver628]

Love, love, love your videos. Thanks for making great content x. Would you mind if I asked how successful the water bottles were? We are going away in August and although someone helping with watering if this method was good might mean we could reduce down the amount of time we have to ask them to pop over! Thanks, Clare

[@irenesmith5676]

Hi Emma have a lovely Holiday lv Irene 😘 xx

[@Leonard_Smith]

Good luck with your camping 👍 Rather you than me 😂 Keep whacking 'em in 😎

[@jackparton3198]

Amazing garden hacks let us know how it turns out. Enjoy your vacation!

[@solveigludviksdottir4787]

Hi, what kind of plants do you have in the pond?

[@wharfedalelocksmiths5430]

Sweet cherry pie hun keep your self and family safe better having your land didn't like that last week to do it hope you and family safe !! 🍒❤

[@elf5250]

I highly recommend a kitchen garden. That’s what I have. Much prefer it to an allotment!

[@dragonmaddie]

this year iam trying out the three sisters system with corn, it is similar to what you are doing, but i am using barlotti climbing beans that can be left to dry on the vine and patti pan, will be really exciting to see if either method comes out a winner, as i am in london too.

[@notforwantoftrying1]

Agree with the thought of getting out of London, I get bothered by the same sorts of social issues you're talking about. If you're looking for somewhere a bit more rural, I can vouch for the Surrey hills area being absolutely gorgeous and with great soil for growing pretty much anything. The houses aren't cheap though, the rent/mortgage will be about the same as it is in London, perhaps slighly less if you pick a less desirable area.

[@TraceUK]

That bottle trick has worked a treat for me before. I put one smaller bottle into each tomato trough and they stayed moist for a week :)

[@janebolton8971]

Enjoy your family time x

[@stewartw7302]

Just nip the tips of your broad beans out. That will stop the aphids taking over your beans. This is a recognised method of control. I remove m the tips of my beans before the aphids attack and steam them as a spinach substitute… delicious.

[@sundays9143]

i grow in my back garden as the allotment waiting list here is crazy long. i have a pretty small garden and its awkward facing but im managing to grow loads! Much easier too, just pop out back door and do 10 mins, even if having a busy day or little energy, to get my zen gardening moments in. i've seen the bottle drip method before but i wonder do u need a hole in top to let air in as will create a vacuum? look forward to seeing how it works out! hope u have a lovely time away

[@nrod9638]

Emma are your shears blunt, they defo sound so. The nut in the middle on some shears is adjustable, you may get a sharper cut. Probably needs bit of wd40 to loosen ..or a cheapo strimmer Keep it up

[@qpruleok5798]

Your Khol Rabi has had it Emma that is not going to bulb out as it is supposed now, top growth has gone wild but bottom half that supposed to grow has not, think I t is too hot in a poly tunnel to grow Khol Rabi as they prefer cool damp weather to flourish another reason yours have not got a bulb

[@ebxo269]

Aphids expel drops of sugary liquid, and that is what the ants are after, as its a food for them.

[@emmaschoolderman1038]

How are you finding the Strulch? I have read mixed reviews some people saying it killed their plants and other raving about it. It’s hard to know what to believe. We have had our allotment for 3 years too like you. Hope you are feeling more comfortable on your plot now

[@emmasallotmentdiaries]

Mine seems to do a good job at keeping slugs away but also, it keeps in a lot of the moisture. The soil underneath doesn't dry out in the sun as much as unprotected areas x

[@kittacrafts]

EMMA! I was worried about you, are you okay after leaving your plot the other day?

[@AnikaL0vesCotton]

You need to add food to your soil. Can't wait to watch you grow!

[@samandbencolliesurbex577]

Sitting in my allotment watching this, what do I win ?

[@TheSpottedBoot]

I hit the aphids with a jet stream water blast from the hose. It seems to work and they dont return.

[@johntooth4095]

Ants farm aphids for the honeydew they secrete