Just got an allotment (Merged)

katskorner

albacore1854 wrote:

Just don't do raised beds.

Why? We have beds and they work a treat.

albacore1854

All the new starters on our plots turn up, make some raised beds that look like burial mounds then turn up once a month for 5 minutes, and poke them with a stick, befor going home again.

Those that take on 10 rods and actually dig it have a higher success rate.

Thats the problem these days, people are lazy or don't realise that ten rods takes a lot of time to cultivate properly.

arkonite_babe

If you look at the useful links sticky (it's at the top of this board) there are some links to gardening. There is a good one called Green Gardener which gives you organic pest control


HTH

katskorner

albacore1854 wrote:

All the new starters on our plots turn up, make some raised beds that look like burial mounds then turn up once a month for 5 minutes, and poke them with a stick, befor going home again.

Those that take on 10 rods and actually dig it have a higher success rate.

Thats the problem these days, people are lazy or don't realise that ten rods takes a lot of time to cultivate properly.

Well you will always get people that don't realise that gardening is actually good hard graft and that if you want to reap the rewards then you have to put the work in. Me, personally I love the work. I love everything about it. Plus I have a pre-schooler who just adores it and knows all his veg from it, and my baby will be one soon so this year he will start to learn too. Brilliant.

In fact I just bought a load more seeds for this years plan that I shall be starting off in propagaters shortly.

You cannot beat a Saturday/Sunday afternoon down the allotment in the quiet with the birds and the earth for company. Bliss.

albacore1854

Might change my signature to hand digging 40 rods, and still got time for a pint !!

flashman_62

I am watching Grow Your Own Veg on BBC 2 http://www.bbc.co.uk/gardening/tv_and_radio/growyourownveg_index.shtml

albacore1854

Bring back Geoffrey Smith, even Titchmarsh.Surely the BBC can put her, Monty Don, and Rachel de Thame out to grass.

charlies_mum

Been and had a good look at my allotment, and as an estate agent would say 'it has potential'. However, before doing any of the sexy stuff, it's all going to have to be weeded and dug over.

Do I need to put manure into the soil when I dig it ?

albacore1854

Not where you are going to grow root crops.Spuds, onions, beans etc yes, parsnips, carrots NO

charlies_mum

Thanks for the info, but I'm a bit confused - aren't potatoes root crop ? See, I told you I was a beginner