Loana, you're right - I really do look forward to getting down there at weekends, although trying to balance family life with allotment time can be tricky! I am using this time mostly like Zoomer - putting the structure of the plot in, as it has never really had one. My allotment neighbour has been there for the last 11 years and he says that no-one has ever really 'loved' it, and he was complimentary about what I done so far, which was nice to hear! Just got to finish the brick path and put a few more paving slabs down. I know someone who works in wood and have been able to beg some sleeper off-cuts from him to build the raised beds (8 of them!). It's great that they are free, but they don't really measure up because they are all different sizes! I guess that's the spirit of allotment creation though...? the paving slabs are all free too, but none of them match either!
There was absolutely nothing growing in the allotment when I got it back in May (except LOTS of weeds) so everything will have to start from scratch. I have bought 3 small fruit trees (1 pear, 1 plum and 1 apple) so the first planting will soon take place!! VERY exciting!!
What is everyone's thoughts on sowing green manure? I was reading about it for my (as yet) empty raised beds
TyCerrig has any of your plot neighbours got fruit trees? to help with pollinating, brilliant nice to buy fruit trees, great your neighbour likes your progress on the plot
Probably bit late to sow green manure now, have used it does ok just remember to dig it in the right time, you could cover the areas with cardboard or weed mattinng, or if you know of a horse stable with manure you could ask as most with give away if you bag it for free, you could cover the ground with that
Hi all, hope you are all well. Its ages since I last caught up with this thread. Dark nights and "home stuff" have meant not much time on the plot. I did manage to dig a bean trench for the first time and I'm filling it with kitchen scraps.Beans were very good this summer, so will be interested to see if they are any better with this method.
still harvesting parsnips, rocket, chard and kale. Brussel sprouts are a disappointment though, so tiny!
Well done on your bargain green house TyCerrig. My one at home cost me £50 second hand but about £150 in new glass!! The lady with the plot next to me is making a "Long meadow" path too, quite fancy one myself !
Went to the allotment today just to drop off the pallets I picked up the other day which I hope will be good to make into a shed door, watched the birds, filled the feeder
GWRS great bargain, I want snow none here just the ice/ frost
Posts
Loana, you're right - I really do look forward to getting down there at weekends, although trying to balance family life with allotment time can be tricky! I am using this time mostly like Zoomer - putting the structure of the plot in, as it has never really had one. My allotment neighbour has been there for the last 11 years and he says that no-one has ever really 'loved' it, and he was complimentary about what I done so far, which was nice to hear! Just got to finish the brick path and put a few more paving slabs down. I know someone who works in wood and have been able to beg some sleeper off-cuts from him to build the raised beds (8 of them!). It's great that they are free, but they don't really measure up because they are all different sizes! I guess that's the spirit of allotment creation though...? the paving slabs are all free too, but none of them match either!
There was absolutely nothing growing in the allotment when I got it back in May (except LOTS of weeds) so everything will have to start from scratch. I have bought 3 small fruit trees (1 pear, 1 plum and 1 apple) so the first planting will soon take place!! VERY exciting!!
What is everyone's thoughts on sowing green manure? I was reading about it for my (as yet) empty raised beds
TyCerrig has any of your plot neighbours got fruit trees? to help with pollinating, brilliant nice to buy fruit trees, great your neighbour likes your progress on the plot
Probably bit late to sow green manure now, have used it does ok just remember to dig it in the right time, you could cover the areas with cardboard or weed mattinng, or if you know of a horse stable with manure you could ask as most with give away if you bag it for free, you could cover the ground with that
Went to the plot today got some weed matting from shop and covered couch grass area hope that will help before digging it
Also done a good bit of digging clearing some of the crops grown, the weed rubbish we then took it to the tip on way home
cold but sunny nice out
Went to the plot and laid some more of the path I'm making.
I've been soaking perennial weeds, when they've rotted down the plan is to dig them into the soil. It saves a trip to the tip.
I've some winter jobs still to do.
Hi all, hope you are all well. Its ages since I last caught up with this thread. Dark nights and "home stuff" have meant not much time on the plot. I did manage to dig a bean trench for the first time and I'm filling it with kitchen scraps.Beans were very good this summer, so will be interested to see if they are any better with this method.
still harvesting parsnips, rocket, chard and kale. Brussel sprouts are a disappointment though, so tiny!
Well done on your bargain green house TyCerrig. My one at home cost me £50 second hand but about £150 in new glass!! The lady with the plot next to me is making a "Long meadow" path too, quite fancy one myself !
Hello Gina sounds as though you have a good lot to harvest still, report back on the bean trench
Zoomer you are making good progress with the path, interesting with the weeds
Went and got some more nails for the shed
Hello everybody , went to plot yesterday to dig up some veg for weekend , sprouts disappointing , very small
Gardengirl , I believe you can get green manure you can sow in the winter , i will see if I can find the name of it next week when I go to plot again
Monday stained main shed
Giniagbs , wondered what a “ long Meadow “ path was ?
Picked up a bargain at Lidl outlet a full size fire bin for £5 , it had a damaged handle
Blooming cold at moment and little snow flurries
Went to the allotment today just to drop off the pallets I picked up the other day which I hope will be good to make into a shed door, watched the birds, filled the feeder
GWRS great bargain, I want snow none here just the ice/ frost
Went to the plot today and done some more wood sanding, some digging and also harvested some parsnips
Not been to the plot for a while, was away last weekend.
I've been going through seed catalogues.
I'm going to try and sow somethings at least twice next yr so am looking at early varieties.
Early lettuce did well last yr but not so well mid summer. Peas and broad beans did well but didn't sow a second lot.