Plant sale in the rain?

[Squash64]

We've been planning our plant sale and cream tea for ages, and now the weather forecast for Saturday is RAIN.  We have got gazebos but are people really going to come out to allotments if it's pouring down?

I suppose there is the consolation of all those cream cakes I'll have to eat though.......

[Squash64]

[1066]

The weather is the 1 thing you can't guarantee so I hope the forecasters get it wrong for your area and that you have a great day.
Out of interest I compare the BBC and Metchecks versions and to be honest neither seems to get it right round here  ???  So you may be ok
Good Luck
1066

[daileg]

i have just checked the weather for you in Birmingham for saterday there is a 100% chance of rain in the morning 2.2 mm and again in the afternoon 2.2 mm average temp 8 degrees 18 mph wind from the south

PS Met check

[saddad]

Having run one for 4 years I'd be more worried about the wind... a grey day with a few light showers isn't a problem (2.2mm is nothing) and you don't have to keep watering the stand. Wind will  make erecting and maintaining the gazebo a nightmare and taller plants will keep blowing over... keeping my fingers crossed for you...  :-\

[1066]

Make sure you have plenty of gaffa tape and cable ties to hand - they are a godsend for events like this!

[shirlton]

What a shame Betty.Praps it will be ok between 12 and 2pm Court Lane have an open day on Sunday and its torrential according to the forecast. I really don't think folks will want to come out on a day like that..

[Busy Bee]

I hope everything goes well for you whatever the weather. I'm sure people will turn up regardless. I would just to have a cream tea. I think people want to see events like this more and more these days.
(I have to agree with 1066 about the weather here. i'm always amazed to find the weather forcast seems to have no relevance here).

[1066]

I hope everything goes well for you whatever the weather. I'm sure people will turn up regardless. I would just to have a cream tea. I think people want to see events like this more and more these days.
(I have to agree with 1066 about the weather here. i'm always amazed to find the weather forcast seems to have no relevance here).

I blame the South Downs meself  :D

I hope people turn out for that cream tea !

[shirlton]

Tone and me are going

[Hector]

good luck for it :)

[Squash64]

Thanks everyone for your good wishes for the plant sale. 

We are putting up the gazebos today and getting the hardy plants out, the others will go out in the morning.

About pricing - how much do you think tomatoes, chillies, cucumbers and pumpkins/squash/courgettes should be?  (My chillies have flowers on and look much better than some I've seen in the shops)

I've also grown a lot of Celosia because my sister in law saw them growing in Sicily last summer and raved about them.  They are all in individual pots and are showing the 'cockscombs' already.

We've got lots of indoor space so hopefully the rain won't matter too much....

[manicscousers]

depends on the size, really, we only charged 50p for our toms etc but they were only in 9x9 quite flimsy pots we buy specially..we had a few squash etc plants we charged 1.00 for, we try to keep everything to multiples of 50p's and pounds, makes it easier for Eric who takes the money..
so, it was 50p for small pots, everything else was marked, black buckets of sweet peas were 3.00  ;D
hope that helps and you all have a brilliant day

[shirlton]

Betty will you save me a few winter squash if you can. I want some of the more unusual ones to climb up Tones structure. So they can't be huge.BTW. Is there somewhere to park at your place

[Squash64]

depends on the size, really, we only charged 50p for our toms etc but they were only in 9x9 quite flimsy pots we buy specially..we had a few squash etc plants we charged 1.00 for, we try to keep everything to multiples of 50p's and pounds, makes it easier for Eric who takes the money..
so, it was 50p for small pots, everything else was marked, black buckets of sweet peas were 3.00  ;D
hope that helps and you all have a brilliant day

Thanks M,

The problem is when people donate plants - some plants are much bigger than others so it seems difficult to put an overall standard price on them.  I wonder if having tables with all the plants on them at the same price would work? Then we could charge different prices depending on size and quality.

It rained so heavily in the night here that the river in the park is twice as high as normal. :(

[Squash64]

Betty will you save me a few winter squash if you can. I want some of the more unusual ones to climb up Tones structure. So they can't be huge.BTW. Is there somewhere to park at your place

Hi Shirl,
Parking is not a problem because there is a car park exactly opposite our gates, it will be signed and someone will be on the gate. 
I have a few winter squash which I wasn't going to put in the sale because they were only planted last week.  If you don't mind having such small plants, I'll bring a few and save them for you. 

[shirlton]

Thankyou Betty. We will be the couple in the sowesters lol. See you tomorrow

[Deb P]

What time does it start? I'm tempted, it's only about an hours drive and rain doesn't put me off...... ;D

[Squash64]

What time does it start? I'm tempted, it's only about an hours drive and rain doesn't put me off...... ;D

The gates open at 12. It would be lovely to see you if you can make it, there should be plenty of shelter from the rain.

[saddad]

I might have to scab a lift then...  :)

[shirlton]

Carol and Steve, our allotment neighbours have said that they may come too Betty.