It's the same crop whether it's grown for human consumption or cattle feed (or, as is usually the case now thanks to taxpayer subsidies, to burn in car engines in order to save the planet).

As it happens, this farmer stores the grains in silos for cattle feed and sells any surplus. After that, there's no knowing the use to which it's put.

In the autumn I join one or two other locals in gleaning the fields after harvesting to pick up the cobs which miss the combine. It's a real treat, picking up enough fresh cobs for several weeks of lunch or snacks. Nothing gets wasted - even the husks go into the dog's dinner. We do get some very odd looks from the majority of residents, who pay £1.50/cob from Sainsbury's, yet ignore exactly the same thing lying on the ground.

Some people just don't know how lucky they are to live in a time and place where we're so well fed that a tradition as old and essential as gleaning gets dismissed as pikeyist.

probably just been sprayed with something....

Some crops are just better being fed to a pig, and then after that you eat the pig.

don't throw the left over cobs away. Hang them out to dry and they make great fuel on log burners. An old American trick.

Will they compost down BB?  I am currently composting all vege and fruit matter, is there anything that shouldnt be put in?  Egg shells?  Tea bags?  I presume meat /fish is a no no.  Does anyone use those plastic things?  I imagine they are more efficient and manageable, i currently have a few pallets and some old bathroom carpet on top.  I guess it needs turning over at some point, but there are loads of gaps to let air and stuff in, surely it is better off totally enclosed by those plastic things, though they look rather vulgar.

I have two of the plastic compost bins, tucked away in the corner.
Veg off cuts,potato peels,banana skins,tea bags,paper, and a little water now and again.
Look tidy and produce great compost if left for a year when full, alternate between the two year by year.

Meat or fish composts OK, of course, but the problem is firstly the smell, secondly the attraction to flies and thirdly the attraction to rats, foxes and all sorts, who will target your heap as a consequence.

Excellent idea for the eggshells. Been a relief so far this year with the drier weather producing fewer slugs.

By the way, at risk of stating the bleeding obvious, use the tea sparingly, like any fertilizer. A treat once a fortnight is fine, especially if you mulch your tomatoes and peppers with dried grass clippings, as I do. This way the plants get fertilized to some extent anyway every time I water them. Too much fertilizer and you end up with leaves instead of fruit.

or garlic. My egg shells are all recycled into the chickens feed

good stuff bongo - you got yaself a little project there...

People buy dandelion seeds??

and before you all rush,[not] seems tough year for it in general as none in GC round here


[have a few from my own seed starts -unimpressed and weedy tho]

Really windy here too, has been all week.  It wakes me up at night and I cringe thinking about the damage it is doing to my tomatoes and broad beans.

right - better weather this w/e [x]


Sprouts and Calabreses going in here



yousssssssss?

Those radish leaves of sfbt look bootiful - even better than the rada ishes themselves.

Never eaten Kohl Rabi and would have liked to have tried, but the seeds were sold out when I looked.

Did some hoeing out of weeds, earthed up some potatoes, planted some more radish seeds.

Had a hunt through to see what seeds could be planted from the 'selection pack' of seeds we bought earlier.

Decided to put some greyhound cabbage and perpetual beet spinach in.

Not much room left in the plot, so have lifted some loose slabs we put between the rows of veg to create a bit more space.  They were a row of slabs but now are stepping stones.

It is a big learning experience.  With limited space, trying to work out best use of ground.  Realising that some crops are in the ground/occupy space for 10 months!

Slugs have eaten quite a lot of leaves, particularly dwarf beans, but completely left the runner beans, strangely.  Have put gravel round the beds to discourage them - not sure how effective it is.  Slug pellets are not allowed.

Picked a handful of spinach leaves and ate them last night - the first harvest!

Ta.  Hens arrive on Monday!

Blades, this happens to runner beans when exposed to cold nights early June. Mine were knocked back and are just starting to recover. Don't worry, your plants should recover too, just protect them from slugs.
I will upload a pic if I can work out how to do it.

Growing celeriac (Delta).
This really is one for the experts. I tried it a few years ago, the results were useless. It needs an early start, a warm sunny site, rich soil and plenty of water. Needs a liquid feed weekly. If you live in the UK better use the space for something else. I prefer to buy celeriac from Lidl than try to grow it.

Jack, KR is not usually seen in supermarkets but it's quick and easy to grow your own provided you net it against attack by wood pigeons. Slugs like them too. Only worth growing if you like them though. The leaves can be cooked and eaten like spring greens.