Hi Vic, yes the blueberries need acid soil or erecacious ( i haven't spelt that right ) compost, so growing in a pot is a good idea, they need good watering. My sweet peas didn't do very well this year, probably not enough water, we had a dry summer here in Norfolk. I was lucky enough to be given a 6' x8' greenhouse, i grow mini cucumbers, selection of tomatoes and basil in there. I've tried different ways of growing too, pots and grow bags, both did equally well, but i think next year i will invest in larger pots and put upturned squash bottles in for watering. Last year i bought the drip system,but it only worked for a few days and then gave up the ghost i think the nozzels got blocked? It is handy to pick up tips and experiments from others, it can save you a wasted effort and money. It is nice to have the winter months to give you time to prepare everything and the dark nights to peruse the veg catalogues....i found i didn't get a chance to come on here through the summer as too busy in garden and work, not complaining though? I'll keep popping in to see how you are getting on, my OH helped me build raised beds for next year, only wood surrounds but should help keep the water in where it is needed
That looks very well organised and pleasant. Hope mine looks more pleasing when I've got everything sorted I like foxglove corner behind the tunnel.
This morning I aimed to take around 100 bags of chip up to the lotment. Took 80 plus some huge refuse sacks my neighbour gave me in a last effort mega-load?
Gave further thought to my plan while I was doing this. I expect this all to settle and where the trenches are should collapse by around a foot over winter.
I still have at least half of the chip on my drive but now I've made a path around it there's no urgent reason to move it. Plus it's concealing my precious logs as my neighbour pointed out people may start to predate them for their burners
I was originally going to pile it all on the allotment and let it sort itself out but that might complicate the 3rd phase I want to start in spring (if it's not flooded) and dig up at least the top few inches of clay and mix with the chip and either manure or compost or both.
So I'll probably take up a load every few weeks for the next 6 months, will probably run out before then as well as my kitchen scrap/waste cardboard mixes I've been creating and chuck it on top.
Found this mushroom/toadstool. I kept smelling something funky, a bit like cat poo but a cat wouldn't poo on the clay (this was before I put the chip down). I think the smell was coming from this but it smelt stronger further away.
Doesn't look too impressive on the photo but it was about six inches tall plus it had forced its way up through the heavy soil?
That was good you will be able to move more bark, forgot to say before you can grow cucumbers outside as you can buy outside ones as well as green house ones
With the GH have you thought about seeing if you can get one on Gumtree - I did someone was giving it away for free, just had to take it down, still need to put it up yet at plot
Well, I couldn't sleep so got up at 5.30am today and came downstairs so as not to wake my other half. I've just read your allotment adventures journey from start to finish -WOW! I knew that you are a hard worker but this is a whole new level! Well done you! What an inspiration! Where on earth do you get your energy from?!
Its better than the book I'm reading!
I haven't been too active in the garden this year (IVF trials and tribulations, and annoying strict instruction to 'moderate' exercise - humph!) so it's just lovely to be able to garden vicariously through you!
Thanks sooo much for sharing your story. Can't wait for the next update!
Sorry to hear of your troubles and I hope it all works out for you...I'm so glad you enjoyed reading the thread
Hi Gardengirl, I'm a bit put off by growing cucumbers outside as I assume the season won't be long enough and the random weather will damage the plants? I don't know enough about it, I'll query it with the other plot holders...good call about the greenhouse, there should be a way to batten (is that the right word?) it to the ground...
Not going up the lotment today, need to sort the mess in the garden from yesterday's plant moving carry on
Going to put green house on fence posts either 3by3 or 4by4 as it was on concrete posts when we took away, so will screw it to thoses and they are quite heavy and the posts I will treat with paint as they will be in the ground a bit
Good to ask other plot holders about cucumbers, I havested them quite a while ago they need a good few month and some thing to climb up
I only grow the outdoor type of cucumber and I do very well with them, you can get quite a long season out of them. That said I do not eat them at all, they disagree with my digestion in a big way, but my OH & the grand kids all tell me they are really nice.
Hi Vic thank you for nice complement about my plot. Its great this time of year to make plans, get things ready so that in the spring you will be off and running ? My paths are just trodden down dirt but i do weedkiller them to keep tidy. The beds have just been edged with old,odd bits if wood, really helpful to keep your mulch in place and your water where you want it. I was given a GH 6x8 by my OH parents, we had to take it down and rebuild. Some panes broke but you can get cheap polycarbonate type ones on ebay ?
Just finished reading from the beginning of this post.. What a journey you have had to get started on an allotment ! How is the drainage problem ? I would think about getting a greenhouse for that area, it would be ideal. You could even raise it on a brick base ! I have just inherited a 50 year old greenhouse from my Grandad (Was my great uncles greenhouse). Hopefully this weekend I can get it totally glazed! Only 2 pieces of the glass need replacing which is incredible ! The only drawback with older greenhouses is there is about 100 pieces of glass, compared to a friends who has about 25 in total.. Quadruple the work !!
Posts
Hi Vic, yes the blueberries need acid soil or erecacious ( i haven't spelt that right ) compost, so growing in a pot is a good idea, they need good watering. My sweet peas didn't do very well this year, probably not enough water, we had a dry summer here in Norfolk. I was lucky enough to be given a 6' x8' greenhouse, i grow mini cucumbers, selection of tomatoes and basil in there. I've tried different ways of growing too, pots and grow bags, both did equally well, but i think next year i will invest in larger pots and put upturned squash bottles in for watering. Last year i bought the drip system,but it only worked for a few days and then gave up the ghost i think the nozzels got blocked? It is handy to pick up tips and experiments from others, it can save you a wasted effort and money. It is nice to have the winter months to give you time to prepare everything and the dark nights to peruse the veg catalogues....i found i didn't get a chance to come on here through the summer as too busy in garden and work, not complaining though? I'll keep popping in to see how you are getting on, my OH helped me build raised beds for next year, only wood surrounds but should help keep the water in where it is needed
That looks very well organised and pleasant. Hope mine looks more pleasing when I've got everything sorted
I like foxglove corner behind the tunnel.
This morning I aimed to take around 100 bags of chip up to the lotment. Took 80 plus some huge refuse sacks my neighbour gave me in a last effort mega-load?
Gave further thought to my plan while I was doing this. I expect this all to settle and where the trenches are should collapse by around a foot over winter.
I still have at least half of the chip on my drive but now I've made a path around it there's no urgent reason to move it. Plus it's concealing my precious logs as my neighbour pointed out people may start to predate them for their burners
I was originally going to pile it all on the allotment and let it sort itself out but that might complicate the 3rd phase I want to start in spring (if it's not flooded) and dig up at least the top few inches of clay and mix with the chip and either manure or compost or both.
So I'll probably take up a load every few weeks for the next 6 months, will probably run out before then as well as my kitchen scrap/waste cardboard mixes I've been creating and chuck it on top.
Found this mushroom/toadstool. I kept smelling something funky, a bit like cat poo but a cat wouldn't poo on the clay (this was before I put the chip down). I think the smell was coming from this but it smelt stronger further away.
Doesn't look too impressive on the photo but it was about six inches tall plus it had forced its way up through the heavy soil?
Ran up the lotment this AM with some bags of composty scraps, just tipping them into the wood chips, it can mix itself up.
Chip is starting to sink a bit and some determined docks are struggling through, so may put another layer on in a few weeks.
Onions are mostly up and some of the garlic. I wasn't sure how deep to plant them as info differs on tinternet?
That was good you will be able to move more bark, forgot to say before you can grow cucumbers outside as you can buy outside ones as well as green house ones
With the GH have you thought about seeing if you can get one on Gumtree - I did someone was giving it away for free, just had to take it down, still need to put it up yet at plot
Loana great looking garden veg area
Hi Victoria Sponge,
Well, I couldn't sleep so got up at 5.30am today and came downstairs so as not to wake my other half. I've just read your allotment adventures journey from start to finish -WOW! I knew that you are a hard worker but this is a whole new level! Well done you! What an inspiration! Where on earth do you get your energy from?!
Its better than the book I'm reading!
I haven't been too active in the garden this year (IVF trials and tribulations, and annoying strict instruction to 'moderate' exercise - humph!) so it's just lovely to be able to garden vicariously through you!
Thanks sooo much for sharing your story. Can't wait for the next update!
That's so nice Tootles! Thank you?
Sorry to hear of your troubles and I hope it all works out for you...I'm so glad you enjoyed reading the thread
Hi Gardengirl, I'm a bit put off by growing cucumbers outside as I assume the season won't be long enough and the random weather will damage the plants? I don't know enough about it, I'll query it with the other plot holders...good call about the greenhouse, there should be a way to batten (is that the right word?) it to the ground...
Not going up the lotment today, need to sort the mess in the garden from yesterday's plant moving carry on
Going to put green house on fence posts either 3by3 or 4by4 as it was on concrete posts when we took away, so will screw it to thoses and they are quite heavy and the posts I will treat with paint as they will be in the ground a bit
Good to ask other plot holders about cucumbers, I havested them quite a while ago they need a good few month and some thing to climb up
I only grow the outdoor type of cucumber and I do very well with them, you can get quite a long season out of them. That said I do not eat them at all, they disagree with my digestion in a big way, but my OH & the grand kids all tell me they are really nice.
Hi Vic thank you for nice complement about my plot. Its great this time of year to make plans, get things ready so that in the spring you will be off and running ? My paths are just trodden down dirt but i do weedkiller them to keep tidy. The beds have just been edged with old,odd bits if wood, really helpful to keep your mulch in place and your water where you want it. I was given a GH 6x8 by my OH parents, we had to take it down and rebuild. Some panes broke but you can get cheap polycarbonate type ones on ebay ?
Hi Vic,
Just finished reading from the beginning of this post.. What a journey you have had to get started on an allotment ! How is the drainage problem ? I would think about getting a greenhouse for that area, it would be ideal. You could even raise it on a brick base ! I have just inherited a 50 year old greenhouse from my Grandad (Was my great uncles greenhouse). Hopefully this weekend I can get it totally glazed! Only 2 pieces of the glass need replacing which is incredible ! The only drawback with older greenhouses is there is about 100 pieces of glass, compared to a friends who has about 25 in total.. Quadruple the work !!
Best of luck and happy growing.