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Allotment Gardening

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  • Allotment BoyAllotment Boy Posts: 6,774
    Oh yes I  have to confess I have read that too, but  that gives the length of the rod. But it is used as a square measure so why are plots long & thin not square? I think it goes back to the old strip system of agriculture,  fields were divided into long strips, people were allocated various strips on the field,  they were not adjoining so no one would get all the prime land.  A furlong is  a furrow length,  the distance the ox plough, would go before they needed a rest,  then turn to go back the other way.  An acre is the area a good ploughman could do in a day. People who say the old imperial system was not logical have no idea why these things came about. 🙂
    AB Still learning

  • purplerallimpurplerallim Posts: 5,287
    Also that applies to why plots are long and narrow, ploughing and turning circle of a team of oxen. You would plough your strip, but the turn at the end would go around your neighbours strip to your next one, meaning every other plot belonged to another family.

  • Allotment BoyAllotment Boy Posts: 6,774
    Yes I guess a team of oxen didn't have a very tight turning circle. 😀
    AB Still learning

  • Allotment BoyAllotment Boy Posts: 6,774
    Made a new Asparagus bed with added grit, topsoil &manure.  3×5 new crowns planted. Planted Broad bean plants that I had raised in root trainers,  & hardened off earlier.  
    A bit cream crackered now. 
    AB Still learning

  • Allotment BoyAllotment Boy Posts: 6,774
    Finally planted the First and second early spuds.  I don't think I have been this late with them for years.  Hoping this cold will have gone away by the time the tops are through.  
    AB Still learning

  • GWRSGWRS Posts: 8,478
    Also planted first earlies today 
    O/H sewed parsnips & beetroot but covered them with fleece 
    Again watered plot , very dry 
    Have had several Hail storms to day , hope it warms up soon 
  • Gardengirl..Gardengirl.. Posts: 4,172
    Was weird weather today, bit sun, rain, snow/hail loads the sun again
    decided not to do spuds this year still old ones in ground on plot, few in pots garden 

    We were at plot on Thursday afternoon and saw the temp site rep and council allotment officer going round checking plots went up road did not come near our plot so should be ok, I was strimming off plot paths around plot at time

    Interesting info about allotments and measurements most plots are longer than wide I do know of one that is only 25 square metres near where we go past to other end of site to our plot

    Have bought some broad bean seeds just going to sow direct, not sown any seeds just yet think this is the latest I have ever been  

    watched beechgrove last week amazing what the garden looked like when no one looked after it
    Hampshire Gardener
  • Gardengirl..Gardengirl.. Posts: 4,172
    Strimmed the strawberry patch today just to rake over then hope they all grow back - bit of an experiment
    Hampshire Gardener
  • GWRSGWRS Posts: 8,478
    @Gardengirl.. , interesting to strim strawberries 🍓 , do let us known if it works
    Off to allotment tomorrow morning 
  • Allotment BoyAllotment Boy Posts: 6,774
    Well the old way is to use shears to take off the old growth.  So long as the emerging leaves on the crowns are not damaged they will be fine. 
    AB Still learning

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