Went to plot sunny but cold - lots of pruning of brambles off plot at end to metal fence to make a lot more light in better for pllants, cutting all the brown branches as did not do last year - hope to get a good lot of fruit still for free, pain in hands had to get right in brambles so lots getting caught on coat and gloves - Car broke down for a bit yesterday at allotment not far from plot had to be pushed along road out of others way
Zoomer I tried Bonnie potatoes once think they were nice, I have too many flower seeds to use free from mags some may well be past date, bet it will be the same here for sowing seeds does get busy in March /April, not sorted though mine
GWRS nice you got to plot, ground in some bits on my plot still got snow on, so hard to dig in this weather
Zoomer i do make a note where plants have gone and remember roughly, not really got a plan still to figure out where veg going, not sorted a proper bed area yet as still digging plot so all over place - lots of veg get put together, the spouts given to me grew really well where I put the bonfire ash - so maybe cauliflower will do the same
May give some seeds away, do want a good cut flower area on plot
I've some new beds this year, I had four crate braces, I think that's what they are called, they just unfold and you have instant raised beds. Just need to decide where to put them and then make paths round them.
The special offer with this months GW mag are five dahlia tubers for the cost of postage and packing which is good value.
Gg. I don't have a lot of luck with sprouts, because of their long growing season it seems like a constant battle, first slugs try to eat the seedlings, then cabbage white lay their eggs and caterpillars get their fill, I've even had blackfly and then slugs attack them again. The guy on the next plot though has sprouts the size of golf balls.
Hi Everyone! This is my first post because...yes you've guessed it...I have got an allotment! I am so excited.
I have a few questions and I thought it would be best to put them all in once place and they all relate to the allotment plot, so hope no-one minds. I've searched but couldn't find anything about them, but please feel free to point me to other threads etc...I don't know the etiquette here yet!
So, background: the plot has been left for 2 years but I had a look around the other day and I am properly going to start clearing it this weekend.
Questions:
1. There's an apple tree on the plot (Golden Delicious) and it's growing on a slant. I'll post a picture. It feels like it is heading for the neighbour's fence. Is there any way I can train it back the other way? Would pruning help at all? If so, when is the best time to prune it?
I also have questions about raspberries.
2. I have had some success at home with tulameen raspberries and want to grow lots more on my plot this year as I have a goal of making jam. However, if I buy a few different varieties of raspberries will they be OK mixed together, or do different varieties not 'get on' and should be kept apart?
3. If raspberries have already grown in a certain patch (I can't see any as yet, but I found a label) should I avoid planting more raspberries in that patch? I have a feeling I have read somewhere that the rubus variety likes fresh ground?
Many thanks to anyone who can offer any advice at all and Happy Gardening to all
Hello , welcome to the site , please feel free to ask any questions , I have found it good for practical advice , rather than just reading books Best advice I can give is don’t try and do it all in one got
Apple tree can’t see why you can’t prune it towards your plot , I would and now is a good time , I would also clear an area around tree
Raspberry's , are they summer or autumn ? Personally wouldn’t mix these up but as far as I know ok to mix different types Agian I would create a new bed . O/H makes raspberries jam , one of our favourites I grow summer & autumn raspberries 2 rows each in separate beds , as they need different pruning regimes Beds are planted north to south and feed it blood , fish & bone
Hello and welcome to the new allotment thread and great you got a plot really good time to start clearing - little and often is best
You can prune the apple tree now good time to do in the winter months could help, I have an apple tree on my plot leaning over a bit I am thinking of putting a fork in around it and trying to move it upright a bit while dormant
Raspberries - think will be ok with each other, you could keep a little separate so you know what variety they are, you could also get winter raspberries like autumn bliss which do not need support
Not sure about about raspberries being planted where others were I think It would be ok
Went to plot today a few hours of cutting the blackberry/ brambles back and thinning out all the brown growth off plot, letting more light into my plot was nice and sunny today, good lot of birds on the feeder spotted a dunnock jumping around near brambles
Hi, Louiseburkett. Welcome to the site. I remember getting my first plot and couldn't wait to get started, Some how the feeling never really goes away, I can't wait to sow more seeds but it's still far to cold for most things.
I don't se why you can't train your apple tree to grow straight. I had a dwarf apple tree which wasn't straight. I put in a post by the trunk and used tree ties to secure the trunk to the post and pulled it straight, the post stayed in for a couple of years. You may not be able to pull it straight at first attempt and you would need to mindful not to damage the roots but over time it will grow straighter if you pull it in over several months and do it gradually.
You will need to clear the area around the tree and give it a good mulch of compost or feed. It looks to be a fairly young tree.
I would be inclined to start a fresh bed with your raspberries and plant them in a new spot, keeping autumn and summer ones separate. If you do already have some on the plot you won't know what they are until they start growing. New raspberry plants will soon multiply by putting out roots and next years you'll have a lot more, they can be very invasive.
Happy growing, I'd love to see the rest of your plot do you have any more pics? .
Posts
I gave a lot of flower seeds away last year, why not try the seed swap thread Gg, or just give them away to someone on the plot.
I like to grow cut flowers. Dafs, iris and a few other bulbs are coming up on the allotment present.
The special offer with this months GW mag are five dahlia tubers for the cost of postage and packing which is good value.
Gg. I don't have a lot of luck with sprouts, because of their long growing season it seems like a constant battle, first slugs try to eat the seedlings, then cabbage white lay their eggs and caterpillars get their fill, I've even had blackfly and then slugs attack them again. The guy on the next plot though has sprouts the size of golf balls.
I have a few questions and I thought it would be best to put them all in once place and they all relate to the allotment plot, so hope no-one minds. I've searched but couldn't find anything about them, but please feel free to point me to other threads etc...I don't know the etiquette here yet!
So, background: the plot has been left for 2 years but I had a look around the other day and I am properly going to start clearing it this weekend.
Questions:
1. There's an apple tree on the plot (Golden Delicious) and it's growing on a slant. I'll post a picture. It feels like it is heading for the neighbour's fence. Is there any way I can train it back the other way? Would pruning help at all? If so, when is the best time to prune it?
I also have questions about raspberries.
2. I have had some success at home with tulameen raspberries and want to grow lots more on my plot this year as I have a goal of making jam. However, if I buy a few different varieties of raspberries will they be OK mixed together, or do different varieties not 'get on' and should be kept apart?
3. If raspberries have already grown in a certain patch (I can't see any as yet, but I found a label) should I avoid planting more raspberries in that patch? I have a feeling I have read somewhere that the rubus variety likes fresh ground?
Many thanks to anyone who can offer any advice at all and Happy Gardening to all
Best advice I can give is don’t try and do it all in one got
Apple tree can’t see why you can’t prune it towards your plot , I would and now is a good time , I would also clear an area around tree
Raspberry's , are they summer or autumn ? Personally wouldn’t mix these up but as far as I know ok to mix different types
Agian I would create a new bed . O/H makes raspberries jam , one of our favourites
I grow summer & autumn raspberries 2 rows each in separate beds , as they need different pruning regimes
Beds are planted north to south and feed it blood , fish & bone
Hope that makes sense
Enjoy your allotment
I don't se why you can't train your apple tree to grow straight. I had a dwarf apple tree which wasn't straight. I put in a post by the trunk and used tree ties to secure the trunk to the post and pulled it straight, the post stayed in for a couple of years. You may not be able to pull it straight at first attempt and you would need to mindful not to damage the roots but over time it will grow straighter if you pull it in over several months and do it gradually.
You will need to clear the area around the tree and give it a good mulch of compost or feed. It looks to be a fairly young tree.
I would be inclined to start a fresh bed with your raspberries and plant them in a new spot, keeping autumn and summer ones separate. If you do already have some on the plot you won't know what they are until they start growing. New raspberry plants will soon multiply by putting out roots and next years you'll have a lot more, they can be very invasive.
Happy growing, I'd love to see the rest of your plot do you have any more pics?
.