New allotments Autumn 2010 Chat

Synonymous

Hi everyone,

Thanks for the advice gazza, I've got time for a proper post now (and more questions!!)

Been to the allotment today and met a few of my many allotment buddies! There was a family there this morning working on their three beds, and a more experienced couple popped in later to work on their immaculate portion of the allotment. Apparently there are at least two other people growing on there so its a bit of a community affair

The couple gave me some surpluss rhubarb plants so I have now finally got something in the ground out there! :j Gotta finish digging my second bed so I can get my red onions and garlic in quick!

At home I've finally got aubergine and pepper seedlings after nearly two months, and got some courgettes and beetroot sewn last night. I was like a proud parent when the seeds sprouted!!

So a questions ... I was surprised by how big courgette seeds are and there were no instructions on the packet or in my books about sewing. I've done them a few cm down and with the seeds standing upright - will this be ok? Argh!

scotsaver

Synonymous wrote: »

Hi everyone,

Thanks for the advice gazza, I've got time for a proper post now (and more questions!!)

Been to the allotment today and met a few of my many allotment buddies! There was a family there this morning working on their three beds, and a more experienced couple popped in later to work on their immaculate portion of the allotment. Apparently there are at least two other people growing on there so its a bit of a community affair

The couple gave me some surpluss rhubarb plants so I have now finally got something in the ground out there! :j Gotta finish digging my second bed so I can get my red onions and garlic in quick!

At home I've finally got aubergine and pepper seedlings after nearly two months, and got some courgettes and beetroot sewn last night. I was like a proud parent when the seeds sprouted!!

So a questions ... I was surprised by how big courgette seeds are and there were no instructions on the packet or in my books about sewing. I've done them a few cm down and with the seeds standing upright - will this be ok? Argh!

Well done on the Rhubarb, sounds like you have a lovely "community" on your Allotment, I'm lucky where we are too, all very friendly and a lot of swapping/ advice goes round.

I've Sown Courgettes for a number of years now and I think you'll find you've done the right thing, they'll be fine.

I know what you mean about being a proud Parent, I've been checking mine every day, got Aubergine, nasturtium and Beefsteak tomato poking through but no sign of anything else.

Bramleyapple

So glad to find this thread - I've finally got half an allotment :j It was knee-deep in weeds (Gallant Soldier?) and I've had to fork all these out, knowing that they've already seeded Also the previous tenant solved his weed problem when he took over the plot, by removing all the topsoil! I had a trailer load of well rotted manure delivered last week and am digging beds and spreading this on. Being a slightly built, middle-aged lady, will the worms give me a hand to incorporate the manure or will there be loads more digging to do? I'm not averse to hard work but the wrists are complaining.

I've got leeks, cabbage and broad bean seeds in pots and my early potatoes are chitting - looking forward to getting growing. :j

scotsaver

Bramley apple - welcome on board and congrats on the new Allotment - now the fun begins.;)

dogstarheaven

wasn't it so gorgeous today in the Midlands (anyone up here at all?). pity i wasn't on the lotti as I was busy. Tomorrow, I shall tho' for a couple of hours of much-needed digging and turning-over (of the soil that was previously dug, and then another day, more weed seeds will come up and then a good raking to a fine tilth for sowing/planting next month). more of my seedlings have come up, and in the morning tomorrow, the seeds from the other day will have to be pricked-out as they're gonna be leggy if I'm not too careful so that'll take a couple of hours in the morning and then the lotti for a few.. and home to cook dinner... oh what a life, eh?

NB. germinated seeds so far -

leek
spring onions - white lisbon/red holland
purple basil
cabbage - greyhound
tomato - roma/gardener's delight
tomatillo
s.peppers - romano
chilli - pimento
pak choi
Kaillan
brussel sprout - bitesize
pea - delikett (sugarsnap)

I'm sure there are a couple more, but can't remember the others...

dogstarheaven

oh, and btw, i'd direct-sown some annuals in the garden at home around my perennials - californian poppy, love-in-a-mist and cornflower. Although, I had to scratch out some bare soil from the 'Phacelia Bed' that used to be my 'ornamental bed' (it's self-seeded all over it from last yr!)

radiohelen

Hi Dogstar - I'm in the sunny (not) Midlands too and I am also nurturing tomatillo plants! Coincidence is a marvellous thing. Haven't been up at my plot for a week now. Stinking cold... how many weeds do we think will have peeped out while I wasn't looking?

veganvik

What a fab thread! I got my very first allotment two days ago. I was very lucky as it was in pretty good shape. I've covered over half of it (the bit needing the most clearance) and have dug up weeds and rotavated the other half. My question is:

Now what?????

Do I need to add manure? I want to go organic. Veganic ideally but I have been left a load of well-rotted manure so I am thinking I will use it initially and then move to veganics when I have learned more about that style of crop growing.

Any hints for what I do next! I am a complete newbie! Please take pity on me! :-)

scotsaver

veganvik wrote: »

What a fab thread! I got my very first allotment two days ago. I was very lucky as it was in pretty good shape. I've covered over half of it (the bit needing the most clearance) and have dug up weeds and rotavated the other half. My question is:

Now what?????

Do I need to add manure? I want to go organic. Veganic ideally but I have been left a load of well-rotted manure so I am thinking I will use it initially and then move to veganics when I have learned more about that style of crop growing.

Any hints for what I do next! I am a complete newbie! Please take pity on me! :-)

Congrats on the new Allotment, you must be really pleased. Looks like you've got a lot done already, you're getting a great start ready for Spring planting. Can't give you any advice on the Manure, I added mine last Winter as my Fellow Allotmenteers said it needed to be left to "overwinter" but I'm sure someone with more experience will be able to give you some good advice.

Good Luck, you'll love it.;)

Benson

How many compost heaps should I have on the go?
I've got one starting shortly, just sorting the garden, but someone advised me to do 3? Does this sound right?