So Excited Got Half an Allotment

Yorkie1

angelavdavis wrote: »

Ref potatoes. You are right, the frost does kill the plant growth which you then remove carefully at ground level, but if you get them in early enough, they create the tubers and the tubers continue growing underground until you harvest them.

I don't think that can be quite right. The tubers grow because of the input from the leaves. Once the foliage has died down, the tuber growth should cease. Even before then, the growth will slow right down with drops in temperatures. We now have only 12 weeks till Christmas, of which quite a few will be post-frost dates.

My potatoes were in the ground sufficiently early but still got turned to mush. The depth and duration of last winter's cold spells would finish off any spuds in the ground, irrespective of when planted. Fleece will protect against a couple of degrees of frost but nothing determined.

savemoney

I am 117 on the list after 14 months wait, I will be an old man at that rate

wssla00

Me too save money! We just have to sit on our hands!

cubegame

We've had our allotment for just over two months and it's been hard work but fun. Ours was on a brand new site and was quite weed free as we got it in a hot spell.

We just dug over, digged compost and manure in and on most of the ground have planted green manure which we're going to follow with another green manure crop when that's dug in. All will be ready for planting next spring.

Otherwise we've planted soft fruit ready for next year. I don't see the point of overwintering if you don't know how productive the ground is.......

It's shocking how many plots (25%) of our brand new allotment site have been taken on and remain untouched though...... :-(

angelavdavis

cubegame wrote: »

It's shocking how many plots (25%) of our brand new allotment site have been taken on and remain untouched though...... :-(

I quite agree. Our allotment society have just decided to waiver the 6 month notice period for people who simply don't start cultivating within the first 2 months and just give them 1 month notice so other people get the chance.

joolsybools

savemoney wrote: »

I am 117 on the list after 14 months wait, I will be an old man at that rate

Have you tried Landshare http://www.landshare.net/ or Transition Towns http://www.transitionnetwork.org/?

dogcat_2

Huge Congrats.....I too had an email today...and was told that I had half an allotment...Yay...great feeling I went to view it today....... I only waited about three Months for it. I don't have a clue what to plant at the moment. I think I'll just dig it over ....and have a think. Congrats once again to you.

Lotus-eater

Yorkie1 wrote: »

I don't think that can be quite right. The tubers grow because of the input from the leaves. Once the foliage has died down, the tuber growth should cease. Even before then, the growth will slow right down with drops in temperatures. We now have only 12 weeks till Christmas, of which quite a few will be post-frost dates.

Quite right, no leaves no tuber growth.

The only plant (which I know of)which works opposite to this, is Oca, which tubers only really start to swell when the leaves are killed off by frost.

Skint_Lynne

I am also the proud owner of a new allotment - I went to view it yesterday. :j I ended up with a full plot.:eek:

I'm going back today to measure up and have a think about what I'm going to do with it. I am thinking of doing raised beds so that the weeds are kept at bay.

I won't rush into anything, but may invest in a small polytunnel as the plot is so big. I think it will be well worth it. My tomato plants were great this year, plenty of flowers on them, but I do need something more to turn them into tomatoes.;)

Lots of ideas flying about in my mind, but the first thing is to draw the plan, do some digging and take my time!

I do want to do a lot of soft fruits as we love strawberries, rasps etc, and I got an added bonus............... there is a gigantic raspberry bush on there already and it is covered in ripe fruit! :j

dogcat_2

Wow. There seem to be a few of us with new allotments.....I 'officially' get mine on Wednesday. I wanted to keep chickens but the guy said that the plot wasn't really big enough for chickens...and that I could put my name down for a full plot...something to think about. Maybe I should concentrate on veggies and fruit first...I am just excited.:)..any ideas on what I should be doing...or growing at the moment. I would love some feedback.:D.