This Gardening Year is Challenging | Allotment Update

[@helenagreenwood2305]

You've become one of my favourite KZbin channels alongside Jessie - Kerry (Dog on the plot) - Emma (Allotment Diaries) and Danny (The grow up channel) after watching you lot slogging away it inspires me to get cracking in my gardens - lots of times I've stopped videos half way through to get out and get things done thanks for sharing the ups and downs 🌶️🍅🌿

[@JBNat]

Ahh fantastic channels all! Honoured to be in their company 😊

[@sir.reelcinema]

I too would agree with your comment definitely one of my all-time favorite channels

[@christinebrooks6364]

Hi JB, glad you both had a nice holiday & sorry to hear your hayfever is bad. Lovely plot update. Thanks for sharing and take care 😊

[@jeningle8288]

jB, I laughed, I sympathised and above all thought, 'it's not just me having a nightmare'! Thanks JB, keep it up.

[@JBNat]

I'm so glad these videos make other people feel better about having the same problems

[@helensavery6622]

Love it! 😂 The sometimes miserable side of gardening when you wonder why you bother!!! But...we gardeners pick ourselves up and carry on! I remember once finding my plants and netting dug up/flattened by the foxes with a poo on the top on the netting and a bunch of slugs on that, having a meal! Basically there are never ending challenges ...but food gardening is still just the best! 😊 hayfever has been so bad...sorry that you suffer so badly. Hope the allotment is a bit more under control now!

[@ireneoregan7024]

As someone who also suffered badly from hay fever in my younger days I can empathise with how exhausting it makes you feel. I ended up getting some kind of yearly injection for it. Can’t remember what it was, but I’m in my sixties now and I can’t remember when I last had it badly, so there is hope for the future.

[@JBNat]

I've tried to get that but unfortunately it's not available any more :(

[@magpie1492]

I am using nematodes, wool pellets, beer traps, hand picking and slug pellets. It's a real war, haven't had a year like this for slugs and snails that I can remember. Only way to cope is to keep sowing, so you can keep putting in fresh plants if needed.

[@TheUnconventionalGrower]

I'm finding it is a bit of a hit and miss season. The cucumber and courgette have struggled so far this year but hope is not lost! Fingers crossed we get a bit more settled weather in the next couple of days and they should take off. Keep up the great work, you will get back on top of things in no time.

[@juliehartley3652]

Like er a perfect plot? Ah well at least it's not all doom and gloom. Thank you for showing us around your allotment - it is great to see everything just as it is.

[@stutube3546]

Keep the chin up, pal. I just built a small polytunnel two weeks ago. Filled it with toms, chilli's, cucumbers. A week later I signed a lease for a new workshop (self employed). This week I got struck down with a virus and have been bed bound. So, probably lost all of my crops and I'm not earning. But, life goes on.

[@JBNat]

Oof hope you get well soon mate

[@OrwellsHousecat]

Good luck and godspeede

[@DavidGibb-vo3df]

It's good to see I'm not the only one with so many ups and downs on my plot it's realistic and good to see the reality of growing.

[@traceyingram-vd4ip]

I love your honesty and your positivity. It's nice to know I'm not the only one struggling with slugs and slow growth. Keep it going, you're great for the growing community.👍

[@dogontheplot]

Very entertaining video JB and although I of course only wish good things for people, it is reassuring to see that I'm not the only one struggling. Plenty of good stuff in there to lift your spirits though - those alderman peas!! Ah l love the phacelia! Weird alien plants aee the best. Yup, planting into clay. Ugh. Keep on keeping on - it'll all work out!

[@Dawn_Grows_Veg]

it has definitely been a challenge this year. My beans went out towards end of May one lovely weekend when I though summer had finally arrived then we had a week of single figure temps at night and cold cold winds. Poor things just got wind burned and look so ragged. My saving grace was I purchased some Strulch which I had put all around the beans in the bed as I had them all horrible damaged by snails last year. I have more of an issue with snails than slugs this year and the nematodes don't seem to affect them nearly as much, However the Strulch sees to be doing what it says on the bag and deterring the slimy ones. So although the beans were a bit dry and crispy looking, they have now bounced back and are climbing because the snails aren't getting to them as much. So I am using the Strulch it on most things as a layer. Too late for my carrots which were all mowed down and gone in a night. One bag goes a long way which is good as it is expensive. But has been worth the investment this year on my veg garden.

[@JBNat]

That's great news Dawn! Every single one of my yin yang beans have disappeared now! 😭 I can't tell if it's just slug damage or if rodents have been in there too, a lot of digging and rooting around. But that could just be foxes attracted to my potting mix. I think there's something in my compost mix they like, perhaps the fertiliser or perhaps if I've watered it with seaweed feed? Not sure but I think fox protection will be on the cards for next year!

[@The.kentish.gardener]

I feel your pain with hayfever. I struggle every year and haven’t found much that helps. Remind me why we chose gardening as a hobby again Hope things improve for you

[@JBNat]

I've found the nasal sprays are more effective than anything else but they still have their limits

[@ritahobbs5256]

Lost all my pumpkins… French beans … carrots and even beetroot to slugs … oh man … it’s absolute Armageddon!

[@w.dossett3332]

I thought I was hard done by. Lost squash, tomatoes, chard and lettuces. You lost a lot too. Just replanted some more and fingers crossed

[@ritahobbs5256]

@@w.dossett3332 me too … every year different challenges

[@DanBryanWrites]

Same here. Found a tip of surrounding seedlings with rings of bramble stems. Ugh round 2 and see if it works. Temperature is awful though up in North Yorkshire so god knows.

[@ritahobbs5256]

@@DanBryanWrites I’ve also used copper pan scourers round my runners… so far so good 🤞🏻

[@DanBryanWrites]

@@ritahobbs5256 oh that’s a good idea! My grandad used to slow bake eggshells then grind them up but doesn’t last very long

[@jennyjohnson9012]

We're all suffering with the same conditions here in the UK. All we can do is think of the song "Pick yourself up, dust yourself off and start all over again"! Let's hope for some decent weather soon JB. Some hot sunshine will deter those damn slugs.

[@TerribleTim68]

It's just been a terribly slow year this year. I finally have my first tomato flowers, but last year I was already harvesting tomatoes by this time. I'm just starting to get pea flowers, but last year we already had harvested peas by now. Its just so slow.

[@jenidalby2383]

Have you tried stinging nettle tea for your hayfever? It’s amazing, natural and pretty much everywhere!!

[@Leanne_N]

Some tasks I just wear a mask now for - grass cutting being one of them and cleaning the chicken coop. I don’t know if the rating system is the same 🇨🇦 but an N95 particulate helps me loads. I can get fairly inexpensive ones 3 for about $10 at a big box store. Even if it not perfect it keeps some out and I’ve had less problems (I have hay fever and asthma).

[@englishgreenbackyardsustai6902]

Sorrel plant is epic and I love to see different tomatoes in your polytunnel and hot compost bin is great idea

[@nickiramsay2421]

It’s so galling when something that was doing well gets annihilated, I’ve just lost all 3 of my cucumbers this week, they just wilted one after the other, not sure why except I can only think it is the sudden cold nights and arctic winds we’ve been having all week, it’s supposed to be ‘Flaming June’ for goodness sake! 😫 Hope at least the rain dampens down the pollen for you and you get a bit of respite from your symptoms

[@JBNat]

That's such a shame! I hope some more come good for you soon.

[@uncle870]

Yep as your saying goes "What's the bloody point" but we will keep going barry @2lads at the lotty

[@JBNat]

Hahaha cheers Barry, hope you're having a decent season

[@adamwest4357]

It no consolation but I'm so glad it's not just me 😂temperatures being so low have really put me back this year I think

[@stevekent3991]

I regularly sow loads of dwarf beans for succession which also help fill gaps in the soil whenever things don’t go to plan or I didn’t have a plan for a patch of soil. Germinate and grow fast, so they are a convenient safety net when your beds aren’t full of healthy looking plants. I keep sowing beetroot and spring onions as well to use as fillers as soon as I have exposed soil which I haven’t planned a succession. For me, I can’t have too many beans, beetroot or spring onions. They are the sort of veg which you can plant them and forget them for the whole summer, they look after themselves. I use a dibber to plant my dwarf bean seedlings but if your clay is tough, use the drill bulb augers, they are great for clay. I bought a set of three different size bulb auger bits, love them.

[@clymtc]

my plot is very similar; it's amazing how everything is struggling to grow - except the weeds!

[@NickSBailey]

life's too short to plant french beans one at a time I'm going to try growing them in a gutter seeing as the peas have done so well, lazeeee lol

[@juliewilliams793]

I’m giving up my allotment this year. I’ve had it for three years and it’s the most expensive way to get organic veg. If I was a business I’d have been way in the red every year. I’m lucky and have a big garden at home (which has totally gone to pot because I work full time and I spend my only free day on the allotment) so I can get the joy of gardening from home. I’m a bit sad to give it up, as I’ve worked hard on it, but I just can’t afford the time for so little return (especially this year) 😢

[@Gardenofglory-l6v]

Hope for the best wish you well no hay fever this year JB ❤❤

[@davidheppell4001]

Really enjoying your channel....nice to see your positive mindset even when things aren't going so well... 👍 Regarding the hay-fever, I had the same problem for years and dreaded pollen season. I was advised to modify my diet by cutting out beer and bread completely. I tried it, and It instantly improved the hay-fever and for 5 years now it's completely gone. (I do occasionally cheat with a beer or 2 these days without a problem😀)

[@blumblam4813]

I’m so relieved to see so many of your plants looking like mine - thanks for sharing, warts and all. You are not alone - you are a good gardener, this is just a difficult year for everyone! Those alderman peas look amazing - am checking them out now! X

[@starlight1867]

SLUGS: a friend recently followed her in laws advice and cut up a cucumber in slices then slit it to the centre on one side then put it around the stem of her newly planted seedlings. The following week the slugs had eaten a lot of the cucumber but the plant stems hadn’t been touched (or hardly). I’m going to try it as I get loads in the raised beds with what I’ve tried so far.

[@brianstockton2987]

Second that idea, have been throwing kitchen vegan fruit offcuts around all my stuff FC this year and it does help deflect slug n snail attack.

[@Bexyboo88]

With the purple sprouting broccoli - not sure on the seed size, but as long as they aren't like tiny microscopic size, I would give a go of putting some folded in a dampened paper towel and then put in a plastic tub in a warm place inside / windowsill and check them every day after 2-3 days. I did this with my old Zinnia seeds this year as I was fed up sowing them in cell trays (in the greenhouse) and then literally only get about 2 come up. It worked amazingly (Germination in 3 days!) in the tissue and as soon as I saw the little white root emerging I then put them into compost-filled plastic shot cups (which I drilled a drainage hole in). I think I'm going to do this more often now as it was so quick and easy, especially with older seed and anything that's dodgy with it's germination.

[@Allotment-of-the-Dead]

Grow borage next to the beans, they help to keep the blackflies off.

[@Mrs.TJTaylor]

I use bar soap to scrub the wooden tops of my raised beds. I use Original Scent Irish Spring. It’s cheap and fast and easy. I started doing this to deter the deer, but noticed that slugs won’t cross it. It doesn’t help if the slugs are already in the bed though.

[@sir.reelcinema]

Oh yes, I definitely have to set a timer or my attention deficit gets really really bad. I get sidetracked. Next thing you know it’s tomorrow morning and the water has been on all night every year. It seems like I have to buy a new timer for my water unfortunately it goes missing every spring so I have to buy a new one. I really am enjoying your channel, thank you so much for keeping us up-to-date 13:28

[@amandar7719]

So pleased you and Jessie had a lovely time in Italy. It’s been the most trying veggie garden year in many respects. The list is endless!!! Any successes are few and far between unless we spend 24/7 mollycoddling. What’s more important is our health…..Hope the new medication is working for your hay fever 🤒.

[@TheFarmyardGarden]

Oh man… I really feel for you. I’ve just done some nematodes and will try again next spring with them too. It’s been pretty cold, so I put off doing nematodes at the usual times. I’ve had similar issues with slugs for some of the beans and pretty much all green lettuces. Had to convince myself I love lollo rosso (I don’t love it) because I’ve given up on green lettuces this year ha ! Duncan sympathises with you on the hayfever. It’s tree pollen season and he is ALWAYS worse when the elderflower and poplars are out. Tomatoes Parched…you do have a way of making us all laugh along with you, definitely not at you. Telling the hose to stay, like every good dog dad would. Never mind the incredibly polite bloody hell. LOVE IT. Thanks for a great episode. Hope you had a lovely holiday.

[@JBNat]

Hahaha thanks so much

[@disabilitytoabilitygardening]

i got my first tunnels polytunnel coming this week and am putting on top of a decking with vinyl flooring and wooden supports skirting two foot high as have winds at 126mph gusts here on scottish isles and will use storm strength 35mm tubing too with end caps and also turn into a polyhouse even though im classed disabled i push so hard then get penalised for a week, i bought a 10ft by 15ft and converting it so that the hoops are only 3ft in between instead of 5ft! all doable and using a mitre circular saw to cut poles down etc, am so glad u got steves polytunnel keep up the good work, just do a bit by bit xx

[@JBNat]

Ooof that sounds like no mean feat. Good luck with the build!!

[@Angel-kf4sg]

It’s been overall a cool June so far after a wet autumn, winter and spring. We have really lucked out with the weather for several months overall bar a few warm sunny days, I think it’s finally meant to be getting warmer next week

[@jonquilhawthorne3257]

I've bark chipped all of my paths (we are fortunate to get it free, sadly the horsetail came free with it 🙈) but it does reduce 5he slugs, they Love long grass, been a Slug year !😢

[@JBNat]

I am incorporating more woodchip paths with time! They are really handy, but my foxes do love to dig in them and make a right mess!

[@EnchantedEchoes7435]

This is my very first year growing anything, and what a year i pick 🤣, no sun, no heat, crazy winds, a lot of rain and omg the slugs, slugs and more slugs 😂. Half my crops and flowers, i grew from seed and planted out have all been eaten 😭, i haven't given up just yet though, learning a lot from your video's, thanks

[@JBNat]

Yes that is a very very difficult start!! I remember my first two years were perfect for growing weather wise. It was just me that was the problem!

[@notthecheshirekat2596]

“This Goddamn hose”. 😂😂😂 Had to rewind and watch that mini-meltdown again it was so funny! New sub here, glad I found your channel, very good videos.

[@JBNat]

Thank you!

[@CSaville]

It's my first year where lots of things I've planted have been annihilated...and I've been at home when it happened. I guess I've been lucky until this year😁There are some seriously good things still going on on your plot! As always looking forward to all your new videos. I'm sure people understand as I do that if you're unwell there won't be as many for a while. Definitely well worth waiting for in any case.

[@JBNat]

Thank you Chris! Very kind

[@meapantz1983]

My beans and squash are an absolute joke. I was really looking forward to having a good haul this year too

[@ninemoonplanet]

The weather even on the Pacific Ocean coast has been weird. Hail stones, small but a lot of them today, temperatures up and down l, completely unpredictable. Fortunately I managed to deal with the slugs so much last year I have very few. I used copper tape on the wood sides on the top edge, went out 2 hours after sunset and picked any, threw them in a jar, then tossed them after sunrise for the birds. Almost everyone has been dealing with extreme heat, cold, weird weather. I have replanted some things 3 times!

[@natep755]

In all my years of gardeing this has been the worst it has ever been. Slugs have decimated everything.Even things they never touch have been eaten. The only thing that has done well are raspberries its probably been the best year ever. Greenhouse toms are thriving though first red tomato ripening now :) I feel for you with hayfever, I am allergic to lots of veg plant leaves as well

[@jonquilhawthorne3257]

They're digging for worms that also like bark chip. I hope that means they leave your beds alone !😅

[@jmrandall1958]

Hi JB, I stapled an old mosquito net to the bottom of my cold frame (free on marketplace) and haven’t had any problems with critters eating my plants! Maybe give it a try? 😊 Love your channel! Carol x

[@HeathMaintenanceService]

I’ve had to take a small break.i was heart broken to find rabbits had decimated a lot of what I’d planted out.

[@lynnpurfield9430]

I have sown and planted out several lots of different beans. I think 4 runners are making it. All gone to slugs or snails this year. Usually we have way too many and freeze loads then throw out a lot of those in spring .

[@MeCyla]

My French beans got completely decimated by something, but another variety I’m unsure of, I only remember they’re yellow, were left untouched.

[@ecocentrichomestead6783]

I run on pain killers most days. So you won't be alone with taking those type of meds to keep going 😊

[@MartinWerner-x9l]

Hi JB You recently said you might give nematodes a try for your slug problem. I tried them one year and yes the treatment got rid of a ot of slugs only to give carte blanche to the snail population. They increased 10 fold! snails are not touched by the nematodes (in MY experience!) 3 years on I still have a Mega snail problem Martin Werner West Yorkshire

[@JBNat]

Oh thanks Martin! I thought it worked on them both, I didn't know that! I see many more snails on my plot than slugs too so they might not work very well for me!

[@ritahobbs5256]

Keeping it real 👍🏻😊

[@angeladrummie4461]

Welcome back from your hols. I think the slug damage on some of the beds is partly down to the exposed cardboard, which has attracted the little buggers when it gets damp. Give the French beans and the squash some liquid feed that should help them perk up. Keep away from the pollen ! Take care.

[@JBNat]

Yes that's a good point! It got quite disturbed when planting out into it

[@paulinebyrne1321]

I planted asparagus last year and and was the same as yours, i didnt stake it just let it fall. This year it is a lot taller and was advised to state it has it can pull out plant.

[@alisonhammond1641]

If it helps, I had severe hay fever every year. Like you I had to take every medication under the sun every year for about 2 months with little effect. However, I went whole food plant based 4 years ago and my hay fever is pretty much cured. I probably just need eye drops for a couple of days out of the whole season now. Give it a try 😁

[@JBNat]

Oooooh that's interesting that changing your diet fixed it!

[@shar-g4f]

Lifetime hayfever sufferer here. So sorry you're feeling awful. Have you tried an Air Tamer? It's so helpful to me. It's made spring and summer so much more enjoyable. I can't recommend it highly enough. It's a bit of an investment but costs me no more than boxes and boxes of medication all summer. Hope you feel better soon.

[@JBNat]

I have not! Must look into this

[@quietspacearts]

try a rubber balloon on end of gutter but stretched and gaffer taped it worked for me

[@angelikalove3825]

I can sympathise with you JB. I've lost quite a few plants, not sure if it's too late but I've resown cucumbers, squashes etc. Fingers crossed. I've watched Danny and the Growup channel earlier. I don't know if its to do with Wales having maybe better weather? Totally envious. He's using Nematode?, has brought in hedghogs, uses bark paths - all to help with slug damage. Seems to work. My battle is with slugs and pidgeons and landgulls. All are greedy little critters 🤦‍♀🤦‍♀😏😏 We could also do with slightly warmer weather, don't want to jinks it🍀🍀

[@JBNat]

Danny is an amazingly committed gardener, but he's also created raised beds full of wonderful (expensive!) compost. He seems very talented at filling his beds bit by bit but I've not been able to stomach the idea of buying in literally tonnes to fill mine just yet... I am sure I've had much better weather than he has so it's a testament to his gardening skill

[@angelikalove3825]

@@JBNat yes he puts in way more money and time (and gadges) then I'm willing and able to🐌🐌

[@MrBarneySir]

Oh, JB - I completely sympathise with the hayfever. I've had it every summer for the past 25 years... Even worse when you love being outside in garden, or at the allotment! It has been awful since 1st June this year - like, it just got so bad from one day to the next. I've found Alevia quite effective relief - it takes the edge off enough to not be a sneezing mess! Sometimes, though the best thing is just to limit time outdoors - which is tough when you need to get down the plot! Allotment is looking good, considering it's been such a tricky year for growing!

[@JBNat]

Thank you very much! Fexofenadine is decent stuff! At the moment I'm combining that with a prescription strength nasal spray and it's generally been pretty good.

[@Lynne-plot35b-36b]

JB my sympathy re hayfever. I have all year round Rhinitis, urticaria and angiodema (swelling hands face and mouth) caused by environmental fungus in the air and apparently, gardening, soil etc also trigger it and also chronic allergic sinusitis which I’m waiting for surgery on so I absolutely feel your pain. It is so hard to continue but because you love it you have to soldier on but I completely understand your need to get in and out of the allotment quickly when you can during this season. Look after yourself. Also may I say Tbh given that you’ve been away and human error taken into account, I don’t think your allotment faired too badly. We just go away expecting to return to good growth but our weather has been unseasonably cold and wet while you’ve been away tbh. Chin up chuck. Look after yourself x

[@JBNat]

Oooh so sorry to hear that Lynne, I have a friend with spontaneous urticaria and they've never been able to track down what sets it off. Actual nightmare. Thank you for the encouragement! There's definitely lots to be positive about on the plot

[@suemowat222]

Slug damage in the cold frame - try this. Fill a tray with water, stand two flower pots in the tray and stand the tray of seedlings on the flower pots. Unless the slugs can jump or swim the seedlings are safe.

[@JBNat]

This is such a great idea, I forgot about this one. The moat!

[@helenhawkins4054]

🤞 for the rest of the season. I think you could do with a pond, and a large family of hedgehogs ! Perhaps if this weather continues { it’s more like April than June here in Wales] your hay fever will not be as bad. 🐸🦔

[@monro2159]

It really has been a challenging growing wise this year. The very wet warmish spring has led to an almost science fiction 'Invasion of the killer slugs' nationwide, which has led to one of my plot friends replanting beans three times! June so far has felt like October temperature wise, plus rain and wind which has really hampered growth on the more warm loving veggies. The foxes on our plot seem to have gone mad this year. We have around 5 that live there and now have four new cubs, who although very cute, are rampaging around the plots digging like crazy. Also, it's noticeable that the cooler and rather damp early summer has allowed an abundance of aphids to appear! I tend to smile through gritted teeth and remember why I do this, being outside, mental health, physical health, the joy of nature, and a perhaps a photo of me holding my one surviving championship sized looking parsnip lol !

[@JBNat]

100% exactly

[@Allotment-of-the-Dead]

Get some aquatic silicon for the guttering, it'll give you some time for the water to get to the water butt.

[@JBNat]

Ooh nice!

[@helenhawkins4054]

🤞for the rest of the season. I think you could do with a pond and a big family of hedgehogs. Here in Wales the weather seems more April than June , maybe this will help reduce the hay fever .🦔🐸🥴

[@Mrs.TJTaylor]

I’ve had a veg patch for years and years and years. I’ve NEVER has pest pressure like what I’m seeing this year. It’s shocking.

[@kevinwillis6707]

dont sweat it, thats gardening, 1 year crops do well, next year some are a disaster, you can resow quick crops to fill gaps, you can use barriers to deter wildlife, or try more resilient crops.its not meant to be stressful , im a qualified gardener and we have issues as well.incidentally i worked with a gardener who got bad hay fever every summer😄 enjoy being outdoors in nature, cheers

[@JBNat]

100%!

[@Tamsins_Potager]

Those peas look like a sugar snap 💚

[@JBNat]

I really can't remember what I sowed but they do look like that don't they?

[@Tamsins_Potager]

@@JBNat At least you grew peas 👍🥰

[@archkod]

On 4th go for carrots. Slug damage is horrible this year - lost my pepper seedings so had to go out and buy starts. Toms in polytunnel have been are good but outside (in ground about a month) looks like I might have early blight. bean seedlings were first hit by sliugs (ok) so elevated them in polytunnel - then birds came in and had a go at them. Now still growing as seedlings, elevated in my brassica cage - I dont know when to put them in the ground. Lass at plot found 10 caterpillars on broccoli that was continuously under enviromesh - she is dumbfounded - yes, very challenging year. Don’t apologies for focusing on your health -

[@JBNat]

Sounds like you're up against it!! A lot of difficult ones there. Hope it's not blight!

[@ecocentrichomestead6783]

I'd like someone to experiment with using vetch as a trap plant for black fly. I can't because vetch grows everywhere here.

[@jaynekennedy8469]

My beans and peas have been replanted so many times. I don’t think I’m going to have any success with them this year. My courgette and one of my butternut squash plants have been eaten. The pak Choi almost all went to seed before I could eat them. This year has been really hard work due to the rain and temperatures. I’m sure shop prices will be really high too if farmers have also had a bad time.

[@JBNat]

Pak choi is a nightmare! So tricky.

[@princesspeach729]

My son is really awful with hayfever too. To the point he can't drive when it hits because it's just too dangerous with his eyes streaming and sneezing. Last year he paid to have the injection and he was a new man. He enjoyed the summer and wasn't in the shower trying to rid himself of any pollen whenever he had a spare 5 mins.

[@brigidaodonnell7053]

I love your angry face JB,

[@franceswatts4001]

Oh JB, I feel your pain! However, it definitely is NOT too late for Nematodes, and they do work! I had the huge black and yellow ones right through winter, and hundreds of tiny babies into March (Scotland). I put down nematodes into a bed designated for relocated hostas, as well as my wildflower areas, and veg beds, repeated 3 weeks later, and so far, no damage! I am going to put down another lot next week just to catch any that might have escaped the previous 2 lots. Expensive but worth it, if only for the emotional value 😂

[@LavendaPanda]

Ohhh have only just got my allotment plot 2 weeks ago, can I go and clear weeds? Can I chuff! It is just so awful and I completely sympathise. From June to mid July it is just horrendous every year. Vaseline, eye drops, nasal sprays, you name it. Your channel is so motivating though and I will hopefully be back in good sorts by middle of July!! You will bounce back in no time too :-D Love the channel.

[@MrLaking123]

I'm having the same with the peas expectations don't quite meet up with the size of the pod lmao

[@coletterobertson2035]

Oh I feel for you JB! I get hayfever too - not as bad as you by the sounds of it, but bad enough that I've had some asthma attacks caused by allergens. The day-to-day of it at this time of year is miserable! I hope you find something that helps

[@JBNat]

Yes I can have those if I don't wear a mask when cutting the grass! Had my first one two years ago and it was a very big shock

[@jacquelinewhittaker4651]

We've had an allotment for 20 years. No pleasure at all in it this year. Last year I didn't get the reward of crops, for all the hard work I put in. The question is, whether the climate will be more cooperative 2026. This is a hobby for us, but the poor farmers are really struggling with the perverse weather and it's their livelihood.

[@jacquelinewhittaker4651]

2025. Sorry typing error, not wishing my life away!!

[@GerryDonnelly-qm2nr]

Would love advice on my Garlic after harvesting yesterday,There were small bulbs on some of the roots,Whats the best way store them and can they be used for planting. Regards Gerry

[@JBNat]

They're called corms! I think you only get them with certain varieties but if you Google corms you should get some advice. I think it takes three years to get garlic from them?

[@uschiaala]

I'm having trouble with certain birds, it's an ongoing thing. I planted 40 anemones and TWO have come up because the bed was dug up. It's basically like having chickens living in my garden full time, except I don't even get any eggs out of it. I am beginning to think I have to plant literally everything in sunk pots - they don't dig in pots (grateful for that at least). It's a good thing that I'm not precious about my garden being formal because it has so many cages, cloches, patches of mesh, rocks, bricks, fake animals, flapping tapes, random dodgy looking nets... I even resorted to dumping tree branches and vine prunings on top of my beds and around my perennials to camouflage them. It looks TERRIBLE 😂 I can't net/cage/protect everything, so every day is basically a case of doing an inspection, seeing what they have destroyed today, patching up what I can, feeling disheartened finding things uprooted or just gone entirely... but not really having any choice but to keep going. I try hard to find the bright side in that I am supporting wildlife I GUESS and they are eating pests in the soil I SUPPOSE but mostly it's very disheartening, the amount of work they can undo in the space of an hour when I'm not out there. And day after day after day. It's such a bummer.

[@PacificGardening]

At least you had a fantastic holiday 😂 Question for you since you mentioned the clay - I noticed that your raised beds aren’t actually “raised” so much as they act like borders. Have you ever thought about filling them closer to the top of the wood with compost or soil to give you a third of a meter or so before the clay below?

[@JBNat]

So the plan was to do that with the big board beds on the second plot. But I might end up doing the same with the first plot too eventually. I don't remember ever having such issues with planting out before in previous years. I think it's made extra difficult by trying to have a no dig layer on top of the soil. Back when I didn't care so much about the top layer it was much easier to root around in the beds and dig big holes and just back fill with the soil. Now I have to be really careful that anything I dig out goes into a bucket and not on top of the mulch. Also possible I'm just getting older and it feels harder 😅

[@Carol-oc7mx]

Older ...... you're just a young whipper snapper yet 😂😂😂

[@PreatorRaszagal]

Is the Scallywag a Pubescens? It looks like it, but i can't find any info about it. My Rocoto plants are just spreading out and not as bushy looking as that Scallywag. And no flowers yet either. Really hope i'll have chance to taste at least *one* Rocoto this season! Don't remember if i asked before, but have you tried copper tape against the slugs? Loved the bit with giving away the parched tomato plants haha 🤣 And birds nest in the potato jungle?! That's something new! And those "alien seed pods" look like they could be flesh eating plants hehe. Always that human element! I have a touch of that as well even though I only have a tiny balcony and a 1 x 1 meter tent to grow on/in. Imagine if everything else grew as well as the grass! 😄Hope the medicine works or that the pesky hay fever goes away ASAP 🤞

[@JBNat]

Yes it is! It's a new variety in development at Thompson & Morgan!

[@PreatorRaszagal]

@@JBNat Cool. That plant looks awesome! Like I said, my Rocoto plants are just growing all over the place in any direction hehe

[@martinholden6214]

The weather has been less than ideal. All my stuff is pottes on the patio. My toms are suffering, cucumbers are not happy. I've jst put some peppers out a few days ago. That wasn't the best move 😅 it's been hot then cold hot then cold now thunderstorms 🙃 Hoping the weather will turn next week as they say it will. Its my second year growing, first year was jst a few toms, this year ive toms, cukes, carrots, strawberries, peppers but it won't put me off. Time will tell if my toms and cukes make it. The toms have been ropey since April, i brought them in may as young plants. the leaves have gone very dark on the lower leaves and now purple edges on the tops. I think i over watered, didnt fert soon enough then rushed the hardening in the beginning, mixed with the droo in temps at night and the water water and more water weve had. but they jst keep going. I have no idea what exactly has or is wrong with them but the keep growing and fruiting, pinched the tops out today to try and get concentrate on the fruit ripening before they potentially die. I think everything else will pull through but we all need some warmer weather desperately!

[@stevieb6173]

thinking too much about holiday and rushing rushing rushing ,,,, never mind mate theres always next year and the weather can't be any worse ,,,,, can it ??? !!!!!🤔

[@glassbackdiy3949]

F. Beans will be suffering from the cold temps JB, I've had 5c overnight in the GH while you were sunning yourself, everything seems slow atm with low light levels too.

[@JBNat]

We did pick quite a good week for a holiday 😅

[@gardenheiress1990]

I’m so curious about this scallywag pepper. It looks so soft and fuzzy and I can’t any info on it. Where did you get yours?

[@JBNat]

It's a Thompson and Morgan exclusive! Liz Zorab actually sent me the seed because it's not for sale just yet 😊

[@robmcwill8916]

Jealous of your chillis. My hay-fever been bad this June, one of my secret weapons ontop of tablets of nasal spray is airwaves chewing gum, it's not supposed to be for hay-fever but feel like it really helps calm my nose down and stops itchy throat.

[@JBNat]

Oooh that's an interesting one I've not tried!! Had a really sore throat over the last few days from it so might try that!

[@Plotonthehill]

I've tryed spigarelo 5 times now and not a single one has popped it's head up, new seed aswell 🤔

[@MegaBuckminster]

I know its only been a few weeks, but how have you been getting on with the solar irrigation system? Looking at getting something like this as well.

[@JBNat]

I did an update here! kzbin.info/www/bejne/iJOxhamFe6uWhaMsi=jbZ9icv0tZERuLQK Long story short, it's rubbish for my tunnel and I should have done more research haha

[@christinamoxon]

I have to grow my chillies outside too, and the slugs have even eaten those! Lost majority of the leaves on a good number of my peppers and chillies. They have completely destroyed my spring onions, all my basil, all my chard, most of my cucumbers, all my courgettes, and I've not kept any of my flowers alive either. Dahlias, marigolds, violas, everything! Gone. It's madness!!!

[@JBNat]

Solidarity in the face of slugageddon!

[@Anita6687]

Hi j b if you have any black strawberry plants left it would be great to have another as I lost one or two of mine to an issue. Shrivelled leafy and stunted growth.

[@JBNat]

I can't send them out I'm afraid Anita, whereabouts are you based?

[@patreynolds6974]

Someone may have already mentioned this, but your little thistle leave seedlings in you potato pots look like Borage seedlings.

[@JBNat]

Yes that would make sense, plenty of that around! I always have a few volunteers somewhere on the plot that I've left :)

[@mananddog9884]

Keep your head up mate, it’s been crap year for everyone! And still not too late to plant out some more bits! On a separate note, are you filming these on your iPhone? Thanks

[@JBNat]

Thanks for the encouragement! Here's a video I made which shows off a bit more of how I film :) kzbin.info/www/bejne/e6vIo4xtnNGDrcksi=sVQT-TpXDu9oIC7t

[@GrandadsAllotmentplot25]

i share your pain with hay fever, i suffer bad aswell new subscriber here

[@Carol-oc7mx]

Now where's that Great British stiff upper lip.... Keep on planting 😂😂😂

[@JBNat]

I'm here now cracking on Carol! Making good progress on getting more tomatoes and cucumbers in the ground 😊

[@Brenda-xc7sq]

I know these things are heartbreaking at the time but they all can be replaced and there is only so many beans we can eat. I think the fronds of asparagas should be allowed to stand up if possible.

[@margerycummings8158]

My partner, who is 71 years young, has Hayfever badly for the first time in his life!! What’s that about eh? You have my sympathy ☹️ I am despairing over the weather this year, everything seems miles behind, just sitting in the beds sulking. So much cloud everyday. I’ve gardened all my life and this is one of the weirdest years I’ve known. Anyway enough moaning lol, hope you enjoyed your hols and here’s to sunshine soon 👍