Why & How I'm 'Giving Up' This Year | Plot Tour | Massive Harvest | New Tomatoes to Taste!

[@theordinaryjournaler]

JB, i dont know how you have managed to give so much time and effort to the allotment with a full-time job, a relationship, filming and editing AND all the usual life admin - you have done an amazing job and i am so glad you are being pragmatic and sensible by winding down and looking ahead to your winter infrastructure. Loved your harvests and keep focussing on all your positives. Enjoy your hol now 👍😢

[@JBNat]

Ahhh thank you so much Debbie!

[@helenagreenwood2305]

Close the plot down for winter - book a winter holiday for you and Jess and come back in springtime 🌿

[@Gemsurbangarden]

JB, I’ve loved watching your videos over the last year but I think this is my fave because it’s so relatable. Burnout from work is a real problem, I know because I’m in it and am now out of work because of it. But my kitchen garden has kept me going. However, I agree with you, when we’re feeling that burnout creeping in we MUST stop and rest, even when it comes to the garden/allotment. It’s also really good to hear someone with so much experience having the same challenges in the garden. This is my first growing season and it wasn’t the best to start with 😂 but I’ve learnt a lot and like you, as the growth and produce begins to stop I’ll be putting the garden to bed for winter and preparing for next year which will be better for us all I’m sure. I hope you enjoy your time off and advice from me is to not put any pressure on yourself to do anything unless it sets your soul alive. Take care

[@JBNat]

So glad it helped!! 💚

[@vicky1804]

I have decided to do the same. Tomato and cucumbers in the compost bin, half my beds are already covered. Started on some winter jobs/repairs

[@shirleyn4677]

Didn’t know if I’d like this video but I came to it in a foul mood from dealing with my insignificant other. Tomato harvest lifted my mood just enough. Thanks, JB.😊

[@chriseverest4380]

Love the expression "insignificant other" ...the tone😂 equates with my occasional use of slug pellets😂❤ good luck lass

[@shirleyn4677]

@@chriseverest4380 I was trying for the word unsignificant but predictive text gave me insignificant and I thought I’ll take that!

[@Carol-oc7mx]

At one point in the video as you were in the poly tunnel talking about the tomatoes and showing us long shots down the row and I was thinking Steve would be impressed with what you have done with your first year growing in the polytunnel and then there it was, Steve's favourite tune. It brought a lump to my throat, it gets me every time 😊😊

[@JBNat]

💚💚💚

[@christinebrooks6364]

Hi JB, definitely the right decision to take time out and relax, prioritise what is right for you and Jess too. When you feel ready to get going, plan for what you feel is the right amount of growing for you both. Enjoy your time off it's so good for your mental health & stress levels, too. I don't know how you do it, including videoing & editing. I work 4 night shifts only 4 hours each shift, but it is hard to manage time with family & your plot. I find I go twice a week to my plot, good 5 hours,each day and that's it, it's 120ft by 13ft and keeps me busy. My hubby goes twice a week too, but we do different days, although one day is spent together on our plots. He works full time, too. It's working out what works for you. Hope it may give you an idea of how it could work for you both. Wow! Your tomatoes are amazing! Well done! Playing Steves music is just so lovely, bringing back all the memories of him ❤ all those tomatoes are amazing! Be very proud of all the hard work you have put in, and Steve will have a big fat smile on his face, looking down on you ❤ I love your videos, always true to being an honest grower and with lots if useful info too. Enjoy your well-deserved time off. Thanks for sharing and take care 😊

[@thatgirlthatgrows]

I don’t think this season has been kind to anyone but the amount in your greenhouses is amazing! You should be so proud of everything!

[@juliehartley3652]

Those tomatoes look really lovely. Lithium Sunset looks delicious. - Well done on such great harvests. Take it easy and just enjoy the things you've already grown.

[@TraceyTwilightteaserDowell]

Good for you JB, you cant pour from an empty cup. You matter, the garden can wait xx

[@JBNat]

Ohhh that's a lovely turn of phrase isn't it

[@Zoeybeau_1]

I'm doing the same JB closing down the garden for veg and moving stuff and putting in a polytunnel. Take a break you've been at it for 9months for very little reward..

[@JBNat]

Ahh thank you!!

[@FHRider-o1m]

A tent peg and line can help with droopy hoops 👍 Thanks for sharing the honest burnout. My beds are over run, so many flowers that I haven’t the heart to cut back yet. Have a great holiday 👍

[@jasonhughes726]

What a crappie Summer for us all in UK this year 😭

[@Feelgoodgardens]

Fab update JB, enjoy your well deserved holiday ❤

[@JBNat]

Thank you!

[@JoyoftheGardenandHome]

I'm a sahm of 3 and we're about neck-neck on garden neglect and burn-out. Enjoy your holidays with Jess💚

[@moorsidegardener]

This year has been pants for allotments, just do what you need to do for now and start again when you're ready. You made me laugh about those cucumbers, snozzcumbers from the BFG came to mind. 😂

[@spudsandroses]

I feel your pain, JB 💚 it can get overwhelming......the only advice I could offer (it has worked for me)...take time off camera, just garden💚 as setting up the camera gear and talking for the videos takes up so much time plus the editing etc Just garden and enjoy your allotment without having to worry about the filming aspect of it, it will also speed up the actual task at hand. Your viewers will wait for your return 😊 Mind yourself and best wishes, Maiju 💚 🌿

[@hikerlindacanadianrockies8478]

I honestly don't know how people garden year round. Our season is basically May to late Sept/early Oct, and I'm glad when it's over! I need a break by then.

[@sevecc939]

I feel allotment fatigue too. It has been a difficult year for growing and I have felt burnt out too from other things. You will probably feel better after some time away. I've got some brassicas on the go, but will be growing some pak choi and lettuce in the polytunnel. I have only had two growing seasons on the allotment but as a family we have achieved a lot and are learning as we go. It's a marathon and not a sprint as they say. Plus it's a lifelong journey, so I try to view it from that perspective.

[@Tamsins_Potager]

The same thing happened to Seren @Seren's Garden youtube...she thought she sowed black russian toms and ended up with a black cherry tom too! Coincidence? Re re-setting...i was totally overwhelmed at the end of last summer (Australia) and decided to not grow much at all over winter but instead did a total re-set of my beds...chopped and dropped all the foliage, added shredded paper, cardboard, covered with manure, added lots of amendments, mulched and kept them well watered...now I'm ready to hit the ground running. It's a good opportunity to enjoy your space and take the pressure off.

[@JBNat]

Ahh I love seren's channel that's great to hear it's not just me. Sounds like you made a great choice, things are just starting over there now aren't they so I hope you have a fantastic start to your season 😁

[@Tamsins_Potager]

@@JBNat Yes, things are kicking off here. Tomato and chilli babies living their best life in our sunny loungeroom 😁 Waiting for the frosts to finish...

[@glassbackdiy3949]

I'm dialing back for winter too JB, put my back out again made the decision, plus it'll give me time to do the remineralizing, just had a week off in sunny Skegness rereading all the mineral balancing stuff so keen to get going. They do 10mm rebar in 3M lengths for ~£7 each at various builders merchants Jewsons have them, hacksaw or angle grinder to length should hold up those hoops. Your toms are looking splendid, my Berkely Tie die toms went HUGE and the most amazing taste of any tom I've ever eaten, the wife has not stopped going on about them for weeks to anyone who will listen lol

[@Dawn_Grows_Veg]

I think you are doing the right thing for sure. It has been a difficult growing year anyway, throw in you doing two jobs and house maintenance and a back garden and trying to get quality time with Jess and your family, yep it’s only a garden at the end of the day and a hobby not life of death. I have to keep reminding myself of that too. But then the tomatoes arrive and the joy that brings lifts everything away. I have heard good things about Ithium Sunset and now watching you taste yours has meant I need that tomato in my greenhouse next year. You influencer you haha😂 Black Beauty is still my fav and my Rebel Starfighter Primes are beautiful, colour and size wise and the flavour is ok too. The Black Moon (another one that your reviews introduced me too) has been fab too prolific and tasty and that outdoors! I think poor compacted soil is your enemy JB on your plot and I think you are doing the right thing thinking about digging and working in the compost and your manure. Don’t feel bad about not keeping to no dig methods, once your base soil is sorted you can continue to add mulch as a top layer each year and your worms will appear and thank you. Even worms cannot aerated compacted clay soli. All the best 💚

[@TerribleTim68]

I'm kind of in that same mode where I'm just trying to get stuff to the end and wrap up this season. It hasn't been great, but it has been okay-ish. I think I'm just ready to move on from the struggle this year. I need to get ready to replant garlic at the end of this month, which means the current plants need to get finished.

[@angeladrummie4461]

I have harvested some of my Brad's Atomic grape they are delicious, they are decieving being green you expect them to taste ' green ' but they are super yummy , 8 ball are a black tomato which are growing well outdoors and also have a great flavour not acidic. Take a break JB and enjoy a well earned rest. Xx

[@chilliing]

I ate my first ever home grown tomato today.oh boy,tasty 🍅.

[@JBNat]

It gets you hooked immediately!

[@jennyjohnson9012]

I know exactly how you feel, this growing year has been terrible, apart from a few things. I'm only putting in brassicas for winter and that's it for me until Spring. Need the break from stressing about veg. Life is too short. Have a rest and recharge your batteries JB.

[@Jazzidoodle]

Re crystal le.in and bitterness Environmental factors have an impact on the levels of cucurbitacin. High heat and constant temperature swings, for example, can affect an entire garden’s worth of vegetables. The watering process has a major impact as well. Too little water followed by dry spells will often cause higher levels of this bitter compound.

[@paulinebyrne1321]

Im going do similar go havest and slowly get it ready for next season..You done so well JB a fantastic plot. Youve learnt so much. You would have well passed a degree course with flying flags. 🎓

[@PreatorRaszagal]

I just write down small notes on things I want to write in my comment while watching. That's why it might look "jumpy". That thing with not getting overtime and having to take back time feels kind of like the "bonus" part of my salary (which luckily isn't a big chunk). It is based on learning something new that the company uses. It feels like it is very hard actually finding time to learn new things when there's always actual work to do... Haha I thought you had some brilliant idea there when in fact you backed in to the bramble 🤣The timing on that subscribe button thing popping up *just* as you say a bunch of things are a waste of time. Priceless! 👌Those goatbag tomatoes are just insane! Thy're like small pumpkins 🤪And I have considered "fancy plant support" as well. Been thinking about getting some good tomato cages for my peppers as well. It feels like we can compare your raised beds with my balcony and your greenhouses and tunnel with the plants I placed at my parents haha. My balcony is a total failure this year. One plant at my parents has like 4-5 times the amount of peppers all plants combined have on my balcony... And I have 2 tomatoes (as in fruits, not plants!) that have started turning and another 2 which probably won't do anything. That's it. Love that black moon crawling in the tunnel ceiling 😍Congratulations on successfully growing carrots! 🥳You should clearly ask Elmo what voodoo magic he's putting in his soil haha. Those spoon tomatoes are so cute 😍And lol at the Crystal Lemon cucumber. All pictures I found shows them more as yellow 🤔Maybe they should have been on the plant longer? Wonder if they would have worked as pickled. That Alison's dream tomato looks amazing! It looks like a mix between a red apple and a peach or something! Nice harvest in the end and looking forward to the 24 episode series on shed building 😄Also, glad you are making decisions what's best for you ❤

[@JBNat]

@@PreatorRaszagal hahahahaha I'm so glad someone noticed the timing of the subscribe prompt in this one 😂 Just harvested the first Goat Bag and it's just shy of 800g!! Yet to taste it though. It does sound like your balcony is a challenging grow space, but you make the most of it well. A few people said the Cucs should have turned yellow but I found they just got HUGE on the plant and were just full of really tough seeds. Maybe the seeds were a bit of a dud this year 🤔

[@hoosierpioneer]

JB I'm sure once your home repair is complete you'll feel better about the garden. You have so much knowledge in your head to share, we don't need to see a perfect garden this year.

[@Gemsurbangarden]

The crystal lemon cucumbers I found them alright, the little pricks can be brushed off or you can peel them and I saw a video saying you should harvest them as soon as they go from green to lemon colour, they’re usually around the size of an egg 🥚

[@JBNat]

😂😂 KZbin blocked this for "little picks" and I'm really laughing. I don't think any of mine went to a lemon colour, can see they look different online actually so maybe it's not pollination and I've got some duds, unsure!

[@Gemsurbangarden]

@@JBNat 😂😂😂

[@ritahobbs5256]

Perfect… well done for taking control … good lad 😊

[@irenesmith5676]

Hi jb you can’t do everything! Work is more important than the plot ! Just keep it ticking over ! put it to bed & don’t feel guilty have a good break from gardening! then in the spring you will be ready lv Irene 😘 xx

[@Gardenofglory-l6v]

What a beautiful harvest JB it’s great ❤

[@TheFarmyardGarden]

I’ve always been amazed at how many videos you sometimes put out a few days apart.. given the editing etc must take up so much time. You have to do what’s right for you and being able to enjoy the garden without the pressure to film will be lovely for you. Good luck with the house projects. Oh and the crystal lemon.. I was SO excited to grow them, also agree with you.. VILE! Will not be growing those again 😂 You’ve so much growing, so even though you felt you went through a period of showing us the failures, you’ve also got some good stuff growing. The polytunnel is just WOW! Everything looks so good.

[@JBNat]

Hahahaha glad it's not just me on the crystal lemon!!! I'm very very pleased with the tunnel although I'm sure yours could still put me to shame! I am generally lucky that I can get a good few videos out because I only spend a few hours editing each. I have a general rule of thumb that I like to be finished with work or editing by 8pm so I can just chill for a bit. But when I'm working the day job until 6/7/8pm that's when things really start to become tricky!

[@TheFarmyardGarden]

@@JBNat Oh i don’t I know, I think your polytunnel is far more productive than mine. It’s proper wow factor in there, JB. It made me smile when Steve’s music came on. He’d be so pleased with what you’ve got growing in there now. 🤗 I can’t imagine sitting at a computer all day for work and then sitting at one to edit too. I think many of us have no real idea how long editing takes and the commitment, and sacrifice to down time for you and Jess, that you put in to offering us this free content. Thank you. I really do enjoy your videos. I don’t comment on every one (got to avoid the stalker label ha!) but I do watch and like them all. Was quite pleased to see a bumper video to settle down to after the F1 (cars, not hybrid crops) 😂

[@JBNat]

@TheFarmyardGarden ah you are too too kind, thank you thank you 💚

[@TheFarmyardGarden]

@@JBNat you’re welcome. It’s true… let’s stick to Carmen cucumbers next year though eh? 😂

[@gregmellor3012]

I am doing the same as you, actually looking forward to not going down every day to check what needs watering. Going to focus on setting up more barrels for rainwater this winter and then some cheap solar powered irrigation. I actually like going down to the polytunnel after being away and seeing how much everything has grown. Taken on another plot for more punishment 😂 couldn’t resist, it has a really good shed and a greenhouse that will be great after a morning spent on it. Toying with putting our chickens down there in the future, but then also having half of what’s space is left for flowers, something that takes care of itself and is somewhere I can look at and be content rather than always wanting to do this or do that as well as balancing work & family life.

[@JBNat]

A plot with a shed and a greenhouse already on it - completely irrististible! Good luck with it, I'm sure it will bring you much joy 😁

[@RawLondonGardener]

Pit your feet up and go again when the time is right! 👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼

[@NoumiNooruddeen]

JB, if the cucumbers taste foul, I mean bitter, chop them, lightly salt it and rest for few minutes. Discard all the water that oozes out, and eat it like raita with yoghurt or quick pickle.

[@sootybond9498]

My Crystal Lemon cucumbers were amazing and tasted divine. You just need to rub them with a cloth to rub off the spikes. I grew them only, no others so I'm glad mine were a success. I am envious of your polytunnel and the array of tomatoes you can grow. Enjoy your harvests.

[@JBNat]

I think mine definitely must have been pollinate by the male flowers, must try again but with more attention paid to them

[@scousebill1473]

I've grown the crystal lemon an the apple cucumbers for 2 yrs now an me an the wife love em. The 1s you showed look like the apple cucumber as the crystal lemon get a yellow striping when ready to pick an start to look like a proper lemon an don't have many spikes on them.they also have a thicker skin which is best pealed off imo. As the person said above just rub the spikes off.im no expert but I'd say the cucumbers that you said were crystal lemon are actually crystal apple. 👍

[@amandar7719]

Agree about Rosella! They really are fantastic! As are Honeycomb. Different tastes but both delicious, in our opinion. You’ll get the plots figured out, JB. You’ve spent more time than most people with the greenhouses, bed making and polytunnel. Work, house and filming/editing. All fantastic achievements. Your soil obviously needs some serious amending and maybe digging in manure will be the jump start it needs. Maybe after slowing down for a few months will provide more head space for decision making. Love your casual catchup walkabouts/tours if you feel like picking up the camera. And your Pottymouth input. Health and time with Jess is more important but we’ll be here anytime you need viewers. Hashtag Team JB. Hashtag Down with nawty foxes.

[@JBNat]

I wasn't a fan of honeycomb last year, but then LOTS of the hyped varieties were a bit bland for me last year. Think there must have just been something in the air that year. Thank you for the support!

[@craftybits-o3p]

💛keep smiling! Do what you can when you can. 🙏

[@tangocat4370]

Awesome vid. In my climate as soon as it turns color I take it off the plant and ripen it inside the house. We have immense pest pressure and weather at this time is not great for ripening tomatoes in the vine ( if they grow )

[@JBNat]

That's interesting! Does it not affect flavour at all? I've taken some early but they've not come very good.

[@tangocat4370]

@@JBNat not in my experience so far. Maybe it also depends on variety? I did try brads atomic this past summer got 5 fruits… those I couldnt tell when they “turn” so I did leave them on the plant for as long as I can.

[@lorainemcguire5795]

Hi jb its been a disappointing summer and then pests on top 😢 i think the lemon cucumbers look better than tastes, great video enjoy your break and do some relaxing ❤

[@chriseverest4380]

Absolutely a good idea. Soil preparation, amendments, infrastructure repair, (making raised beds deeper?), planning for 2025, mental health triggers noted and listed and tabled to avoid. To start 2025 now is ALL GOOD without putting any stress on yourself (and/or Jess). Take care : I'll watch with interest. (Note : dealing with the PTSD of grief and sudden death is very similar)❤❤❤

[@JBNat]

All the best Chris

[@patriciahawkes386]

Put canes on top of the blue hoops and tie them to the hoops and straighten them up.

[@JBNat]

You can't see them because of my terrible camera work but they are already there!

[@freckles2437]

Any chance of doing a top 5/10 tasting tomatoes that you are growing this year. Thanks Jo.Devon 🙂

[@JBNat]

Yes I absolutely will do! I'm very conscious that in lots of my recent videos I think "oooh I'll just try this" and then end up doing 25 minutes of tomato tasting 😂 I'll condense it down into one video in a few weeks!

[@Bexyboo88]

I just recently did an order again from Meraki seeds in Greece (They have such amazing variety) ready for next year :D I've ordered a couple green varieties that state in the description they are sweet (hopefully) so will be my first time growing any greeny ones. The ones I'm going to try are: 'Grinch' - Green fruits that stay green with a yellow blush. Lime-green flesh with a juicy and very sweet tomato flavor. 'Green Krim Cherry' - Green fruits with a golden shimmer. Juicy, crispy, and sweet flavour. 'Emerald Pear' - Stays bright-green. Very fruity and sweet tomato flavour. and a striped green one, 'Delta Dwarf'' - Orange-red-yellow with green stripes. Lime-green flesh with an excellent sweet tomato flavour and a fruity aroma. I definitely Won't be ordering any more seeds from 'Yorkshire Seeds' as the tomatoes I got from them were all completely incorrect, which was very frustrating (I label very meticulously). Any 'blighty' / diseasy looking leaves/branches I just snap off (Push them upwards for nice clean snap) and I haven't used my snippers on my plants at all this year, snapping or roughing up a clean cut is supposed to help the plant heal itself quicker so they say. Ahh yes I have black opal, I agree, pleasant but nothing special. I've got to say my fave cherry this year, that beats Sungold hands down, is Rapunzel, followed by Consuelo in 2nd place I think. And fave tasting salad size tomato has been 'Bloody Butcher'. And heirloom variety which such a great, tradition, rich tomato flavour :) P.S. I'm Fluffed Up Garden on Insta, recently made an account so I can share some pics of mine hehe!

[@JBNat]

Some amazing amazing sounding varieties there! Iain from Grown Local is a big fan of Conseulo and my neighbour who gave me the cabbage has had great success with rapunzel - he was growing them just for the length of the trusses but nice to know it's a good flavour too!

[@NoumiNooruddeen]

Dwarf beans have been fantastic for me, however, every sort of climbing beans were pathetic. I am facing the same fate as you, JB, as having only one squash plant to thrive. All my others has shrivelled or eaten by slugs.

[@tiffanikneip6546]

idk if anyone has suggested vermiculite into ur soil it holds water better and can slowly let the nutrients into ur soil. definately need more soil/compost test your soil as well see if it maybe to acidic tests kits are pretty cheap and u can dyi

[@tiffanikneip6546]

also, if you can get some rock salt line the sides of the beds with small liner/plastic and put a row of rocksalt down and it helps with slugs ALOT lol

[@lorainemcguire5795]

Great tip i shall give that a go 😊

[@risasgardentokitchen]

I don't have any luck with tomatoes this year 😂😂 i wesh I have right now 😅. Year garden is looking great 👌 👍.

[@hazelbell9855]

You will be mist love hearing your honest videos

[@BumblebeeAdventure]

🐝thanks for the great video🌻

[@bob-og1ih]

Grew Crystal Lemon last year, they were a lot rounder than yours and was a lemon colour with very pale stripes, the skin was a bit thick but the cucumber was delicious, Great Vids Regards Bob

[@bristolveggiebeds5310]

I feel the same with my plot

[@JBNat]

It's the same for a lot of people this year I'm sure! Thankfully there's always next year

[@JanesGrowingGarden]

Well done you for taking the pressure off. I'm completely with you on the Brad's - the first year we couldn't stop raving about it but the second year - meh. Our star this year though has been Honeycomb - ridiculously sweet - although we haven't harvested an Alice's Dream yet so that could change. Yours looked like a nectarine! Enjoy a bit of a break - it's great for perspective!

[@linnw360]

I Have seen more ppl on youtube having the confusion of the Black Russian Cherry tomato. Seren's Garden on youtube for one. Maybe there was someting wrong with the sead- package/labeling there? Love your content, you go man! i's okey to take it easy and just bee in the garden too🤗🌱🍂

[@JBNat]

Thank you so much! Someone else said the same thing so maybe there was a mix up!

[@jacko3275]

Jb I don’t think the crystal lemon cucumbers are ripe enough I looked them up they should be fist size and going more a lemon skin colour

[@Mark_G-h9z]

Hi JB, don't bother buying fencing pins. Buy rebar in bulk online or builders merchants. The more you buy the cheaper it is. 12mm, perfect, cut off the length you want, hammer into the bed and slip the blue polypipe over it. Won't go anywhere!! Bulk buy, 50p a meter!! Lasts a lifetime and so handy to have around the plot. You can paint with red oxide paint or bitumen but it'll probably cost more than you'll pay for the rebar!!! Have a great break from the plot chore. 👍🏻

[@JBNat]

Oooh fantastic recommendation thank you, that is exactly what I was thinking of!

[@juxtaposed1358]

Hi…. What would youcut them with please 😅 I am useless at DIY but need to start buying tools x

[@JBNat]

@@juxtaposed1358 you can use an angle grinder to cut metal but with rebar you can just purchase the right size. I still don't own an angle grinder but I've been thinking about getting one for years now

[@juxtaposed1358]

⁠thanks JB... In my basket in Amazon! X but thanks for replying.... You're an angel (pronounced angle, as in 'angle grinder' 😂 in Welsh 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿😇) Now turn your devices off & Shhhhhhhhh lol 😂😊😉😉 enjoy your time off!!!!!!! ❤️ ✌️ 🙏

[@linaso9739]

I see you are growing Beaver Dam and Antep Aci Dolma peppers. Is here any difference in taste between them? Difference in heat level?

[@jaynekennedy8469]

The split tomatoes are still good for cooking JB, don’t waste your efforts!

[@JBNat]

Yes if they've only just gone I still use them, but if they've been open too long they go quite bad

[@traceypotts9425]

Could you do a list of the toms you grow they look fantastic 😊

[@JBNat]

Yes sorry I usually put them in the description but didn't for this one. If you check out my last video they're on there :)

[@traceypotts9425]

Don't buy bell pepper seeds get them out of peppers from the super market I do every year and never fail just ready to turn red dude😮😮😮😮😮😊😊😊😊😊😊🎉🎉🎉😊😊😊

[@LINDAWATSONGARDEN]

So glad to see you back JB , missed your videos..Have you grown black krim tomatoes. I cut one open for my son and he gave me a look as to say I'm not eating that, had to explain it's meant to be that colour. They do taste lovely just don't look it. I've not heard of half of the tomatoes you grow, where do you get your tomato seeds from.

[@JBNat]

Never done black krim but I have heard they're great!

[@maureenmcgrath4664]

Im also growing Alices dream this year. They grew well and are really big. It took a long time until they finally began to ripen. I was so excited to try my first ripe one the other day but was sooo disappointed. It didnt have much flavour at all. I tried my second ripe one today but again it didnt have muck flavour at all. They were purple on top and green striated on the lower half for weeks then finally the bottom half changed to a lovely orange which look lovely against the purple top. I grew them in my green house in Quad Grows using the supplied feed. I wonder if they had been grown in the raised beds in earth the flavour might have been better? I will try and include unripe and ripe photos if I can. What are other people experience of growing this tomatoe and how did yours taste?

[@JBNat]

The Alice's dream has been good for me but not amazing, definitely not tasteless though. I've generally not seen people say that quadgrows affect tomato flavour, but it has been a very grey summer which might impact sweetness and ripening I think

[@Jacqui-Pen]

My Alice's Dream are really dark on the top. Almost deep purple/black. I'm just waiting for the first 1 to ripen JB. I'm getting a couple of red chillies although I think the seeds I bought are not true seeds. I'm not sure what variety are growing but they are definitely not what I was expecting

[@JBNat]

Ahh mystery chilli's are always fun!

[@Jacqui-Pen]

Yes they are if you've a good idea of what they are lol

[@angelialafbery508]

I will miss you, but you do what you have to, i hope you will be back ❤️

[@JBNat]

Oh I will definitely be back! I'll still do a few updates but there's only so many times I could film me watering and harvesting 😅

[@tiffanikneip6546]

even if you dont want the crop cuz you have to many maybe needy ppl or pantrys could use the extra bit of harvest :)

[@JBNat]

I've checked with most of the local food banks and they're not keen on homegrown produce which I totally understand - very little goes to waste though! If it's not going to my parents or family it goes to plot neighbours 😁

[@GardenofEmma]

Doing the same with my plot winding down. Marketmore cucumbers do well outside and I’m not far from you but aubergine never had success outside

[@swift4062]

JB where do you get your brassica net from chap😊

[@JBNat]

That one is from harrod horticultural, there's a link to the site in the description, I'm really impressed with it as it's very hardy! Not a single breakage in it yet, but it's a little pricy.

[@juxtaposed1358]

Can I ask the thickness of that blue water pipe please? Also, i feel exactly the same……rodents in my polytunnel eating tomatoes & now I’ve got blight lol 😂 I was crying this morning, thinking about giving up…..started yanking everything out & then got excited for next year….only grow salad in tubs hung in polytunnel now…..haven’t bought salad leaves for a year….ended up putting chard and spuds in tubs in polytunnel ❤❤ (I ‘m also in burnout mode!)

[@JBNat]

Ohhh God that sounds really tough I'm sorry to hear about it. The blight on top of pest pressure sounds utterly awful. Good thing that there's always next year and it sounds like you've got some good plans for using the tunnel over winter. The pipe is blue mdpe pipe and I think it's 25mm. Great because it's UV stable but because it's quite flexible it does need supporting.

[@juxtaposed1358]

@@JBNatthanks so much ❤🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏

[@Anthony_Lee99]

Hi JB, can i please know where you got the lithium sunset seeds, i have tried to buy some and can't find them for sale from uk sellers, i did try ebay but they are from Australia and it wouldn't let me purchase them, so frustrating...

[@JBNat]

hello! I'm afraid they were sent to me by Grown Local, so I'm not sure if there are any UK suppliers! Tomato Revs is a good one to try.

[@Anthony_Lee99]

@JBNat thanks for the reply, I did eventually manage to find some on Ebay from the uk, only 5 seeds though. Hopefully I can get at least 1 tomato so I can save the seed. All the best 👍

[@madrabbitwoman]

I am curious why you don't mulch your gardens?

[@JBNat]

@@madrabbitwoman I do? I use well rotted manure for the most part but did run low this year so only did a winter mulch on all the beds. About 50% got a spring mulch too :)

[@madrabbitwoman]

@@JBNat I am wondering if we are talking about the same thing.

[@martinroden9656]

your the second person iv watched that has planted black russian tomato and got a cherry

[@downthethirdlaneallotment]

Me too JB, me too…

[@PamsMountainGarden]

Typically, bitter cucumbers are a result of water stress.

[@JBNat]

It could well be that seeing as they're always so wilty. I'm not sure why because everything else in there is fine and it probably gets more water than anything else. I wonder if I spoiled it at the start and so its root system never goes searching

[@GARDENER42]

Here's me with fennel, lettuce, spring onions, spinach, mizuna, rocket, lamb's lettuce, all close to planting out. Then in October, the broad beans & garlic go in. Things might slow down but there's still plenty to do to ensure crops through winter.

[@sandye9029]

Would lose my plot if I stopped growing, that is the rules on my site. Percentages high all year round. Have a nice rest.

[@gloriadavidson8599]

Doing the same as you basically prepping for Winter early. One of the worst growing seasons for a long time 😐😐😐😐😐

[@tomzyboddy9506]

jb a bit of constructive criticism mate if you going to plant things please make sure you have the time to look after them, i,m no expert but not far off lol, like to watch your channel but it could be better looked after

[@helenagreenwood2305]

Sometimes life and work get in the way though 🌿

[@hoosierpioneer]

​@@helenagreenwood2305yes and often unscheduled stuff.

[@rebeccawild3804]

That's not constructive at all? It's not helpful, it's unfair and it's just plain criticism 🙄 jb has literally just said he is close to burn out and he is doing what is right for him. If you haven't got something nice to say...don't say it?

[@LucRom-kz5uw]

Fantastisch Tour te moostuin te september planting thans te video Top weekend best fried 🌿🥬🌤👍😎🧋🍈🥦🍅🥒🧅