my previous allotments; 1.in London, which I left when I moved up North, 2.a plot on a very steep slope, got flooded and vandalised, 3.an allotment share, with someone who never came, so I spent all my time fighting his weeds
so now I have my own plot, 5 mins walk from home, flat ground and nice people. When I moved, i took the fruit bushes and small trees, but had to leave all the onions etc. As you must know, the hardest thing is all the land that had to be cleared of bindweed and couch grass and glass, then manuree and dug over
still, good experience and exercise
hopefully over Xmas, you will have inspired me to get to work doing paths and fenced before spring
Let us know how you get on Anne I don't think I could share an allotment unless it was huge, I like to do my own thing even though it might not make sense to anyone
I nipped up the lotment yesterday, just to check on my newly planted crab apple tree really and feed the birds. I have a vague theory that trees don't always require the hefty staking often recommended, especially if sheltered or the soil is heavy so I staked this tree (just a thin stick about 4.5' with a few small branches) with 2 diagonal bamboo canes and a twist of mine tape. Then I piled some spare clay lumps around the root area.
My flimsy bird feeder and two coconut halves have disappeared, hopefully by a jackdaw and not some dull-witted humanzee.
Took the last of the chip up today, put it on the paths so it's less sticky to walk on and filled in a few craters.
My greenhouse is going at the end of the path at the bottom where the wheelbarrow is under the tarp, so you can walk straight in off the path. I've got some topsoil to put in that area when the chip starts to collapse. I can walk on it now without falling through although it does sink varyingly.
I think the chip cost about £100 including delivery, at least 4 cubic metres and I've spent about £20 on manure for raising the level and chip-mixing, and topsoil I'm taking from my garden. Next year I'm going to dig a sump on the left between the crab apple and the first trench as an additional measure but I feel quite confident about the situation at this stage?
I've been poking my onions and noticed most of them are quite squishy as if there is a layer missing under the outer skin, this doesn't seem like a good sign, does anyone know? It doesn't seem to vary between the good rooted onions with top growth or the rooted without. There have been about a million frosts, how do onions react do being repeatedly frozen? The Senshyu Yellow's have done the best so far (centre) and the red ones in the furthest bed the worst.
Started a compost heap today, some twigs from the garden (don't have a garden heap as don't want to waste the space) and all the sedums I had on the plot as I think they are a poor value bee plant unless mine were the wrong kind. Compost heap is on the flood zone also, so another sign of progress as previously the scraps were used to fill the trenches.
Tested some patches of clay so see how it was breaking down. This lump came apart easily and I think the little bits will crumble away so I can dig in next year.
Shame about the drainage issues, do other allotment plots have same drainage issues ? Have you consider a bog garden / area if you cant solve it. That clay looks awful to dig, your going to need all them bags of manure.
My Sedum don't seem to attract as many bee's and butterfly's as I hope they would but i like the flowers anyway so wont get rid. I would high recommend a Eupatorium for Butterfly's and bee's, they have a feeding frenzy on mine, they are quite large but I am sure there a smaller one called baby Joe.
The plotholder the left of mine (as viewed from the last lot of photos) says his plot floods at the bottom also but as it is covered in membrane at the moment I can't see what is happening on his plot...
It's early days, haven't been through a whole winter yet so my course of action is still to prevent flooding rather than embrace the bog... If it does fail I think I will just use the ground for spring sown crops or later potatoes if too wet in spring, rather than permanent things like fruit as it has been okay since I acquired the plot last spring. No point throwing the baby out with the bathwater? I have also planted a volunteer blackcurrant in the flood zone as a test
Eupatorium are nice plants, I have three including Baby Joe but that is a big plant also, recently moved to my front garden. I'm growing some white clover from seed as they are good for different bees and plan to have an annual flower patch in rotation with the veg also
Nipped up the lotment this AM with a boot full of soil I've excavated from the garden. I'm carving out a new beach for the garden pond and creating something I'm calling a lagoon but I think that's the wrong word. The soil is dark and heavy, with fat worms so perfect for the allotment I reckon.
Went a bit nuts this week and ordered a greenhouse in the sales I'd intended getting one, but not until I was sure I'd sorted the flooding or re-planned the plot to have the greenhouse somewhere on dry land. Anyway, it was one of those instant decisions and just because I've ordered it doesn't mean I have to put it up straight away...
I think it's called a Halls Popular and is 6x10'. Had set aside a 6x8' space on the plot but have now extended it as using the GW offer code meant I got the additional 12 square foot for free
The canes mark up the 6' width, it will sit where the wheel barrow is at the back of the plot. Have left a space on each side for a path and waterbutts and will also be able to access the back.
The above just posted itself before I had finished but was just going to end by saying I now need to mix the woodchip as it settles with something more solid so that's where I'm tipping the topsoil for now.
Posts
Hello , hoping to go to allotment tomorrow for leeks , sprouts & sparsnips
Not Been in garden or allotment for a few days , will start again in New Year
my previous allotments; 1.in London, which I left when I moved up North, 2.a plot on a very steep slope, got flooded and vandalised, 3.an allotment share, with someone who never came, so I spent all my time fighting his weeds
so now I have my own plot, 5 mins walk from home, flat ground and nice people. When I moved, i took the fruit bushes and small trees, but had to leave all the onions etc. As you must know, the hardest thing is all the land that had to be cleared of bindweed and couch grass and glass, then manuree and dug over
still, good experience and exercise
hopefully over Xmas, you will have inspired me to get to work doing paths and fenced before spring
Last edited: 17 December 2017 21:47:27
Let us know how you get on Anne
I don't think I could share an allotment unless it was huge, I like to do my own thing even though it might not make sense to anyone
I nipped up the lotment yesterday, just to check on my newly planted crab apple tree really and feed the birds. I have a vague theory that trees don't always require the hefty staking often recommended, especially if sheltered or the soil is heavy so I staked this tree (just a thin stick about 4.5' with a few small branches) with 2 diagonal bamboo canes and a twist of mine tape. Then I piled some spare clay lumps around the root area.
My flimsy bird feeder and two coconut halves have disappeared, hopefully by a jackdaw and not some dull-witted humanzee.
Took the last of the chip up today, put it on the paths so it's less sticky to walk on and filled in a few craters.
My greenhouse is going at the end of the path at the bottom where the wheelbarrow is under the tarp, so you can walk straight in off the path. I've got some topsoil to put in that area when the chip starts to collapse. I can walk on it now without falling through although it does sink varyingly.
I think the chip cost about £100 including delivery, at least 4 cubic metres and I've spent about £20 on manure for raising the level and chip-mixing, and topsoil I'm taking from my garden. Next year I'm going to dig a sump on the left between the crab apple and the first trench as an additional measure but I feel quite confident about the situation at this stage?
I've been poking my onions and noticed most of them are quite squishy as if there is a layer missing under the outer skin, this doesn't seem like a good sign, does anyone know? It doesn't seem to vary between the good rooted onions with top growth or the rooted without. There have been about a million frosts, how do onions react do being repeatedly frozen? The Senshyu Yellow's have done the best so far (centre) and the red ones in the furthest bed the worst.
Started a compost heap today, some twigs from the garden (don't have a garden heap as don't want to waste the space) and all the sedums I had on the plot as I think they are a poor value bee plant unless mine were the wrong kind. Compost heap is on the flood zone also, so another sign of progress as previously the scraps were used to fill the trenches.
Tested some patches of clay so see how it was breaking down. This lump came apart easily and I think the little bits will crumble away so I can dig in next year.
Good stuff???
Hi Victoria , just caught up on the thread
Shame about the drainage issues, do other allotment plots have same drainage issues ? Have you consider a bog garden / area if you cant solve it. That clay looks awful to dig, your going to need all them bags of manure.
My Sedum don't seem to attract as many bee's and butterfly's as I hope they would but i like the flowers anyway so wont get rid. I would high recommend a Eupatorium for Butterfly's and bee's, they have a feeding frenzy on mine, they are quite large but I am sure there a smaller one called baby Joe.
Best of luck next year
Hi Perki, nice to see you
The plotholder the left of mine (as viewed from the last lot of photos) says his plot floods at the bottom also but as it is covered in membrane at the moment I can't see what is happening on his plot...
It's early days, haven't been through a whole winter yet so my course of action is still to prevent flooding rather than embrace the bog... If it does fail I think I will just use the ground for spring sown crops or later potatoes if too wet in spring, rather than permanent things like fruit as it has been okay since I acquired the plot last spring. No point throwing the baby out with the bathwater? I have also planted a volunteer blackcurrant in the flood zone as a test
Eupatorium are nice plants, I have three including Baby Joe but that is a big plant also, recently moved to my front garden. I'm growing some white clover from seed as they are good for different bees and plan to have an annual flower patch in rotation with the veg also
Happy Christmas & prosperous new year on the allotment ?
Thanks GWRS,hope you have enjoyed the holidays
Nipped up the lotment this AM with a boot full of soil I've excavated from the garden. I'm carving out a new beach for the garden pond and creating something I'm calling a lagoon but I think that's the wrong word. The soil is dark and heavy, with fat worms so perfect for the allotment I reckon.
Went a bit nuts this week and ordered a greenhouse in the sales
I'd intended getting one, but not until I was sure I'd sorted the flooding or re-planned the plot to have the greenhouse somewhere on dry land. Anyway, it was one of those instant decisions and just because I've ordered it doesn't mean I have to put it up straight away...
I think it's called a Halls Popular and is 6x10'. Had set aside a 6x8' space on the plot but have now extended it as using the GW offer code meant I got the additional 12 square foot for free
The canes mark up the 6' width, it will sit where the wheel barrow is at the back of the plot. Have left a space on each side for a path and waterbutts and will also be able to access the back.
Last edited: 01 January 2018 11:01:18
The above just posted itself before I had finished but was just going to end by saying I now need to mix the woodchip as it settles with something more solid so that's where I'm tipping the topsoil for now.
Hello , perhaps you could put a picture of your beach at home when finished
I have a g/h frame up at allotment I intend to finish it this year , hopefully
I will put on a photo of the beach when it's done and the lagoon, that is the right word after all.
Good luck with the framing