Hi Zoomer, globe artichokes die back so you can mulch and they will pop up again next spring. Had some for years, they are really easy to divide. so you can end up with loads. They look nice in the back of a border too.
Hello, went to the allotment on sunday morning with the boys but it kept raining on and off and the ground was saturated so didn't managed to get much done and I must buy some all in one wet weather gear for the 2yr old as he he was covered in mud.
Ive had the dreaded letter from the council to say that 'your plot did not appear to be satisfactorily cultivated' and that I have been given till the 2nd of Dec to improve it, I'm upset by this as I have been trying hard to get rid of the weeds and sort beds out. I've put in 20 odd strawberry plants, I have 3 raspberry plants, a small pear and cherry tree,some herbs and onions. I was waiting till the sunflowers had died to then dig that part over, I've started another bed and another large bed has a weed surpressant on it. I am on annual leave tomorrow and going to do a couple of hours at the allotment but i was planing on doing that anyway before I had received that letter but this has upset me. There are far worse plots then mine.
I do not want to give it up at all but I feel I should as its not up to their standards.
Stagbettle , don't blame you for being up set , so annoying , letter sent no doubt by some jumped up official
Would not let them get to you , I would ask them what they mean by " your plot doesn't appear to satisfactory cultivated " also take some pictures of those that are worse than yours if they get difficult
One of the good things about gardens/allottments is they are all different
Stagbeetle that is terrible they don't give you much time to get it up to what ever standards they want especially at this time of year when weather not great I would just say keep an eye on weather and do as much as you want/can
Please keep your plot you have been doing great with all that planting - see if any one on the site might give you a hand
Phone the council ask what do they mean if there is a certain area - they must have wrote some notes down when looking around
Thanks Ginagibbs I'll leave the artichokes to die back before mulching.
Sorry you have received a letter stagbeetle other plot holders may have received them too. Take some pics and ask what you need to do before December, explain you work and tell them when you plan to go to your plot but be realistic.
When did you get the letter, you only have a week to show any improvement.
Oh thank you some much for your replies I phoned the council and the lady was lovely, she said mine was borderline and that she could see I was digging the plot but said the letters are standard and quite a few had had them. I told of my plans and issues that I had there and she said she was pleased that I had phoned her and we chatted about how lovely having an allotment was and now it been taken off the list and she said to relax and enjoy it. I did say that the letter was composed on the 18th Nov and not sent till the 23rd Nov and that meant I didn't have long to sort it but I said I was going to go today.
so went to the plot yesterday and it was lovely and so easy turning the beds over and I've enlarged another bed.
How do I weed between the strawberry plants? (Sorry daft question) but where the soil is so wet I find using the hoe awkward.
So glad your crisis is over Stagbeetle, that must have been awful. It does help to be buddies with your council officer.
Went to my plot yesterday between the heavy rain and dug up some more parsnips for dinner, very happy with those as they are good straight ones Had a hell of a job pulling them up though as the soil is so wet!!
Cut back my raspberry canes as they have finally finished fruiting. (good value plant on sale from The Range last year )
Posts
Zoomer that sounds a good seed order mini pop is a good sweetcorn, which ever computer suits you
I will have to browse though seed catalogues see if I want anything would be good to try some new stuff
Hi Zoomer, globe artichokes die back so you can mulch and they will pop up again next spring. Had some for years, they are really easy to divide. so you can end up with loads. They look nice in the back of a border too.
Hello, went to the allotment on sunday morning with the boys but it kept raining on and off and the ground was saturated so didn't managed to get much done and I must buy some all in one wet weather gear for the 2yr old as he he was covered in mud.
Ive had the dreaded letter from the council to say that 'your plot did not appear to be satisfactorily cultivated' and that I have been given till the 2nd of Dec to improve it, I'm upset by this as I have been trying hard to get rid of the weeds and sort beds out. I've put in 20 odd strawberry plants, I have 3 raspberry plants, a small pear and cherry tree,some herbs and onions. I was waiting till the sunflowers had died to then dig that part over, I've started another bed and another large bed has a weed surpressant on it. I am on annual leave tomorrow and going to do a couple of hours at the allotment but i was planing on doing that anyway before I had received that letter but this has upset me. There are far worse plots then mine.
I do not want to give it up at all but I feel I should as its not up to their standards.
sorry for the long post.
Stagbettle , don't blame you for being up set , so annoying , letter sent no doubt by some jumped up official
Would not let them get to you , I would ask them what they mean by " your plot doesn't appear to satisfactory cultivated " also take some pictures of those that are worse than yours if they get difficult
One of the good things about gardens/allottments is they are all different
Carry on
Stagbeetle that is terrible they don't give you much time to get it up to what ever standards they want especially at this time of year when weather not great I would just say keep an eye on weather and do as much as you want/can
Please keep your plot you have been doing great with all that planting - see if any one on the site might give you a hand
Phone the council ask what do they mean if there is a certain area - they must have wrote some notes down when looking around
Sorry you have received a letter stagbeetle other plot holders may have received them too. Take some pics and ask what you need to do before December, explain you work and tell them when you plan to go to your plot but be realistic.
When did you get the letter, you only have a week to show any improvement.
Stagbettle , as you can tell from other posts we are with you
Oh thank you some much for your replies
I phoned the council and the lady was lovely, she said mine was borderline and that she could see I was digging the plot but said the letters are standard and quite a few had had them. I told of my plans and issues that I had there and she said she was pleased that I had phoned her and we chatted about how lovely having an allotment was and now it been taken off the list and she said to relax and enjoy it. I did say that the letter was composed on the 18th Nov and not sent till the 23rd Nov and that meant I didn't have long to sort it but I said I was going to go today.
so went to the plot yesterday and it was lovely and so easy turning the beds over and I've enlarged another bed.
How do I weed between the strawberry plants? (Sorry daft question) but where the soil is so wet I find using the hoe awkward.
Stagbettle , good news indeed
Strawberrys , hands and knees , with small hand fork or other tool
my old strawberry bed is so dense with plants I just pull up any weeds if bigger than the strawberry plants
the new bed the plants are planted far enough apart to hoe , at moment
best of luck
So glad your crisis is over Stagbeetle, that must have been awful. It does help to be buddies with your council officer.
Went to my plot yesterday between the heavy rain and dug up some more parsnips for dinner, very happy with those as they are good straight ones
Had a hell of a job pulling them up though as the soil is so wet!!
Cut back my raspberry canes as they have finally finished fruiting. (good value plant on sale from The Range last year )
