Hi from Birmingham

[Han&Matt]

Hey guys,
Finally I have made it to the forum - such a happy welcome place and a marvelous diversion from a somewhat stressful job! We've a huge allotment deep in the centre of the city though you'd never know it when you're there - our escape from the madness of urban living, though currently overgrown with brambles and ground elder... Have realised we must dig it rather than use the tempting rotovator and have spent our first month covered in scratches and laughing all the way - I wish I'd known of the therapy of gardening and growing earlier in my life!
Sorry, am rambling... Hello to everyone!

[Andy Hamilton]

It is a grand pastime indeed, just wait to start getting loads of produce.

GLad that you made here and welcome

[Hillbilly]

Hello and welcome to the site

[Han&Matt]

Thanks Andy, and Hillbilly,
First 'Help!' - I have several tomato plants happily growing towards flower setting, all within the same bed with great loam soil and compost mulch. Howver, one plant (Phylis - I name my plants, how very sad) is looking distinctly unhappy. Drooping leaves, with the bottom few showing yellowing along the veins of the leaves, and the stems. She is showing signs of budding but is not healthy and we are worried about her... Someone suggested tobacco mosaic, others that something has the roots - any other suggestions? I am just so precious about my first few plants and this is really rather upsetting!!
Still, the squash plants are getting big, and I am researching recipies for hearty soups come autumn!
Lastly, is black polythene over dug beds for the summer an efficient way of keeping away weeds until compost time in November?
Thanks guys!

[Millie]

and welcome!

Ive found myself yearning to go and sit down at the allotment, wish I had discovered it earlier too! Im not too brill at the mo, but I popped down for 10 mins earlier to check on my new charges, and I swear I almost bounced back to the car, brill "therapy"!!! Never thought I would be an outdoors person

Sorry, no idea about the toms, have yet to get that far! Ive a good book here, will have a nosey in it later

[glenniedragon]

Welcome to the site!
My Nan (a wise old Leicestershire lass if there ever was one) used to swear that gardeners live longer, as they are always planning for the future-next season, next year etc.. they have access to good healthy exercise and the fruit of their labours come harvest....I'm sure she was onto something even then....most gardeners/allotmenteers I meet do tend to be more optimistic about life......I think that perhaps the NHS should look at prescribing allotments!
anyhow your little Phylis, is she being fed? toms do like a bit of feed when fruiting. I'd give that a try first and see if that helps her.

Kind thoughts
Deb

[Millymollymandy]

Hi Han and Matt and welcome to the site! Not sure about the tomato problem but it may well be a virus - which could spread to the others. I doubt it is a deficiency in a mineral if the others look healthy.

[Han&Matt]

Thanks guys, for the wise words and welcome,
Dug another bed and checked on the babies yesterday evening (got savaged by biting bugs after about 8pm, due to the stream I imagine). The recent rain seems to have doubled the size of the plants - except poor Phylis who is more floppy and Simpson-yellow than ever. Having read your post MMM I suppose I had better uproot her to avoid her disease spreading? My sister-in-law (a horticulture grad) suggests it is a root fly, and that we can use Phylis as a scapegoat to take the fly attention away from healthy plants - not sure what to do for the best, I don't want to contaminate the others since they are doing so well...

I remember my granfather saying that planting a seed was an act of faith!

[hedgewitch]

Hello and welcome to the forum

[Sharon]

Hello Han & Matt and welcome

Some of our tomatoes have had Phyllis's problem in the past. I think you'll have to get her out of there, just in case, although your sister-in-law is likely to know what's what. Useful having a horticulturalist on hand! Hopefully, the rest will be OK.

best wishes

Sharon

[Han&Matt]

Hi Sharon,
Thanks for the advice - I have resolved to relegate Phylis to the fire (shall say a few words in respect). Why must I get attached to plants?!
Fingers crossed...

[Shirley]

Hi Han&Matt

Sorry to hear about Phylis... I guess your sister in law knows her onions... or even tomatoes... I'd be tempted to have a look at the roots myself to see what's going on.

Where is Phylis situated... greenhouse/outside/edge of row ??

Glennie... I think you are right... allotments on prescription, now that would be a good thing. There should also be some kind of planning rule that incorporates allotments into any new supermarket/housing estate plans.

[glenniedragon]

That would be a good idea, and when the revolution comes and I'm in charge I will make a law that for every acre of housing there should be an acre of community green space planned, either as squares or allotments or whatever the community needs.........How about it Shirlz? me PM and you Minister for Horticulture/gardening?

kind thoughts comrades
Deb

[Shirley]

the job's yours if you want it Deb lol.... no WAY would I want to be PM

Obviously the minister for horticulture would have to be the selfsufficientish minister... official title!! I wonder... out of the current MP's (and have you noticed that PM is MP backwards...) who would be anywhere near worthy of the selfsufficientish minister title....

[Wombat]

G'Day Han & Matt!

Welcome to the site!

Nev