New allotments Autumn 2010 Chat

dogstarheaven

reason why i don't have manure is that i'm trying to be as practical as possible. as you know i don't drive, so don't have means to transport any but what i do do is grow green manure as a practical and cheap solution. when the soil's warm enough, i shall sow Phacelia on some of the beds and these will be chopped down as soon as it starts flowering. It self-seeds very readily so I shan't be buying new seeds for a long time. The seedlings have come a bit since the weather's warmed up in my small flower bed at home, and this will be dug in before the annual flowers go in (May onwards).

oligeo

Thanks for your advice. I like the idea of green manure, and may look at doing this on some areas that aren't going to get planted up straight away. I've been told about a version that doesn't self seed as i've been warned some types can blow their seeds and they can end up on other plot holders, who may not be too impressed!

scotsaver

Managed to get some Seeds sown last Friday - after I'd cleared out and tidied the Greenhouse! Have left some in the Greenhouse but have others indoors as my Greenhouse is not heated. Been up to the Allotment today and put some Broad beans in, also have some that I over-wintered and they have been fine as I had them covered in Fleece.

Planning to get back up there Friday to put some Peas in.

How is everyone else doing?;)

loucroft

There's a hungarian grass that you can grow and acts like a manure, thats always a good idea. There are others which I can't remember but just note other members suggesting it

radiohelen

Of up there tomorrow morning for some more digging action *sighs*.
I'm planning on digging my spud trenches this weekend so they can warm up.
I'm going to nuke some weeds on the edges with a healthy dose of glyphosate.
I've got a packet of broad beans and a bunch of garlic I hadn't managed to put in yet that are going in over the next few days.
I've also started some leeks off today in my four shelf tardis.
Oh and what will happen to the jerusalem artichokes I haven't dug up yet? Should I dig them in case they go mad and sprout like demons? Trouble is we can't eat them that often. Husband has IBS and it's bad for him to eat windy making foods.....

dogstarheaven

I've not grown artichokes for a v. long time, but i think they're meant to be dug up over the winter period. i don't think you need to leave them in too late or else the slugs will get them. if i wanted to eat them, normally i make soup out of it, but you can always make them with a potato gratin, or popped in a nice wintry casserole. it's a shame you OH has IBS, i suffer intermittently from this but then again, i don't really curb my diet so v. naughty of me:eek:

the other week, in the spare bedroom, i've sown -

chinese chives, leeks, globe artichokes, s. pepper (romano), pimento chilli

all these have come up in the past week. there are some flower seeds that i've yet seen any signs of life yet (verbena, cosmos, datura, eryngium and sweet pea).

yesterday, went down to lottie after a week's absence and planted out my shallot and onion sets. i thought i'd wait till march to plant these out, but the shallot bases were getting mouldy. so i had to put them out. as there were about a hundred odd onions, it took a lot of space in one of my main beds. as i was wanting them grouped together, i decided, i'd intercrop with the newly planted soft fruit bed (wonder if that's acceptable? as i won't be cropping from them this yr)

of course, i know that the onion/shallots will have to be weeded regularly. although, i know that this month, there will be loads more seeds to be sown, so that'll mean lots of pricking-out and then potting on and so on...

ps. reason why i was only there last week for two days was that i was in london for 4 days. went to visit a couple of museums and one of my highlights was visit Columbia Road Flower Market (East End). bought some decent sized rosemary plants for 2 for £5. the rosemary that i replaced last yr, died over the nasty winter frosts. last time, i was there, it was really busy, but this time, it's just so packed, where you get stuck in the 'bottle-neck' sections of the 'strip' where ppl are there with buggies, tourists taking pics.. what really impressed me were a stall selling shrubs mainly and they had a daphne odora aureomarginata 2l that i really wanted, but altho' it was £8, i couldn't justify spending that much when there's much more essential stuff that i need for the lottie ie., a shed! there were 30 different perennial divisions (good sized clumps) for 5 for £5 which i was really impressed by, but none that i wanted tho. all the plants there were all in good health, and all in all, i was so happy to be down there, despite all the crowds... anyone with a spare Sunday morning should go down..

gingernutbizkit

Hi all

A few years ago I had a half plot for a year and was just getting started really when I had to give it up due to a house move. The the recession hit us badly and we ended up not moving. Tried to get my plot back but ended up on the waiting list (no 46 ).

Anyway, got a leaflet through the door about a private allotment scheme opening up in solihull only a 15 min drive away . I went down today and have rented two plots next to one another. In total I have 200sqft of space. This is probably too much but how often do you have chance to rent an allotment? I figure that we'll give it a go this year and if necessary only rent one the following.

The land was previously agricultural. Sweetcorn was grown last year and prior to that it was used to keep a herd of cows so the soil is in excellent condition. The whole lot has been rotivated and is ready to get started on so I consider myself very lucky as our previous experience of allotmenteering was most spent getting rid of the weeds!

I have three boys who are very excited by our new project (9, 10 and 13) and we have been today to purchase a few cheap seeds and some raspberry canes.

I had thought to make raised beds but I'm thinking now that I will go without the first year as I'm bound to want to make some changes. I did get from B&Q some weed membrane to make the paths though. 5mx2m on a buy two for £12 offer so it seemed like a really good deal.

I'm really excited about this and can't wait to get started. I think it will be good for many reasons. It horrified my tonight that my kids couldn't name many of the veg we eat and had no idea how they grow. It'll be good exercise for all of us and for me quite therapeutic. i think i also need a project at the moment other than 'being mum' if you know what i mean!

Please too that as it's a new site everyone is starting together. Looking forward to the weekend already!

Ging

savemoney

I been on council waiting list for 19 months now and probably years more to wait

loucroft

savemoney wrote: »

I been on council waiting list for 19 months now and probably years more to wait

I hope this helps but there are normally loads of allotments free, just the council don't have much time or staff members to deal with it (in some cases) as it doesn't generate much/any revenue

I know of a few people who have visited the allotment and spoken to the people in charge, then recieved charge of a plot before the council would have had chance to cover the paperwork. Try that, the guys that manage it can put a good word in for you and they do prefer a working plot than one that just sits looking ugly

Let us know how you get on,

L

savemoney

Thanks loucroft I did try that a while back but might be worth a try again

I am getting rather fed up now of waiting, I did ask last Summer how long I was on list it was 97 and there are 40 plots, I would even share