Just got an allotment (Merged)

Lotus-eater

Seeing someone get so excited about growing their own food really makes my day sad I know

Claire, the greenhouse and vine growing in it sounds brilliant you must look up how to prune a vine properly, they need drastic pruning to fruit well. If you have kids be careful round the greenhouse (and be careful yourself) the glass may be old and fragile, it can literally kill you if a pane breaks and cuts you in the wrong place.

Compost, the conclusion I have come to after thinking about it for many years, is that the best bin is one made of pallets, with all the gaps filled in with other pallet wood, make a removable front for it so its easy to dig out. It needs a lid and if it was me I would have heavy gauge wire underneath as well (to stop vermin). The idea is that the gaps in the walls will act as a insulator and the bin will be big enough to warm up properly.
I will add that I haven't actually built or used one like this yet, but after various trials with different bins and reading what others have written about it, I came up with this idea. I've decided that the plastic bins don't work very well.

Timewise its makes much more sense to do little and often, which makes it a pain for me, as I'm a bish bash bosh type guy, I prefer to do it all at once. Once the initial hard work is over that is (the little and often) it is better to keep on top of the weeds rather than do a big weed once a month.

Wheelbarrow, you can make do with a bucket and someone on the allotment will always lend you one if you need one.

lindseykim13

Our allotment needs a bit of work and already started digging and finished one bed, but i would say that once all the digging has been done would only spend a few hours a week down there, all depends if you plant everthing in one go and then just water it until it's ready to pull up, you wouldn't need to be down there much for that, i will be planting the beds as they have been dug so that i have diff things ready diff weeks if that makes sence lol

If you do want an allotment i'd put your name down quick as i was lucky and only waited 6months but a friend of mine (diff area) has been waiting for 2 years.

Zazen999

Hi
congrats everyone on the allotments.

Firstly, don't get a fold away wheelbarrow; we did and it went back the same day. When I said 'it is impossible to do the thing up' the boy in the shop aid 'i know, it took us ages'...just don't bother - you might be able to pick one up off of freecycle or borrow one.

secondly, can you post on the epetition that I have running on here please - to try and stop the councils selling them off. thanks in advance. link below.
http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=778079

quietheart

We took on an allotment a few months ago. We've can constant illness in the family and have only got there a few times. We've now had a dingdong with the secretary for not pulling our weight..... though i think this is over-zealous I'd love some advice on how to catch up.
The plot is in good condition, there are still some old carrots, onions etc in the ground. We have a shed there but no greenhouse but we do have some sunny windowsills at home to start seeds off.
We're just planning what we want to grow but will be keeping it simple, potatoes, onions, garlic, broc, peas etc. We're also planning a patch for the kids age 4-7.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated as I think we're on the verge of a warning already:o .

jennybb

I'm new to it too - we took over a very neglected plot in January. We have started to clear it and dig it,but I doubt we'll do it all this year. Plan to cover some of it in black plastic and grow squash through that later in the year. It might be worth dropping the secretary a line - best not to fallout. If you are seen to be having a go I would have thought there wouldn't be a problem. Are all of the plots pristine?

Good luck - at least you have some stuff in already! We just had weeds and out of control raspberry canes.

arkonite_babe

Have a look at our older allotments threads here on Greenfingers for some help and advice.

Zazen999

Hi
you can grow alot with the no dig method.

Basically, get some newspaper and/or cardboard and put it over the ground that you want as beds. Add some well-rotted manure if you have it. Cover the lot in black plastic - you can get huge swathes of it from the garden centre. this will keep the weeds down in the meantime. You can also add some lime as conditioner before the newspaper/cardboard; just to get you going.

Meanwhile, start some seeds off at home; so that you can get some stuff into the ground. You could probably buy some soon, just to put in to show that you are doing something.

When ready to plant, cut a hole in the plastic, dig through the card and make a hole, and plant the veg through the hole. you can grow brassicas, potatoes, peas like this; that will get you started. It will also cut down on the work involved, and when all this is harvested - you'll have a nicely mulched plot for next year. you can grow loads of other things like this; but covering it now shows you are doing something, and will get them off your back.

If they have another go; tell them that Prior Planning Prevents Poor Performance; and that is what you are doing this year.

If you have just got the plot, there's little that you can get in there as yet anyway - the secretary needs to calm down a little. the main thing is to be seen to be doing something - so don't break your back digging; just do the above and you should get away with it; and have fab crops later in the year.

Good luck

and to the secretary.

quietheart

Zazen999 - great post, that's just the encouragement I'm needing! It feels like a bit of an old folks plot, they've decided we're shirkers and we've just got to prove them wrong now.
We've done a good plan for the plot and we're spending the morning there tomorrow and will get moving.
We've got some seeds that can be planted now so we'll get a bit in the ground, get a bit covered - will have to see how much the plastic sheeting is.... and will keep smiling through gritted teeth;) .
Jennybb - yes all the plots are pristine, it's a great site but I don't like being put under pressure already. She's also wanting to know every detail of what we're planning to do and not in a friendly way, in a 'whatthehellareyoudoingthatfor' way! heyho, just wait to see her face when the kids get bored.... then she will have something to moan about. let me know how you're getting on with it, how often are you getting to go there?

jennybb

They are a bit more relaxed at our site - thank goodness. Quite a few of the plots are a bit worse for wear. We get there when we can - which means weather permitting I might do a few hours one day a week and oh might dig for a few hours at the weekend. Not as much as I'd like to. Hopefully your fellow allotmenteers will calm down when they see that you mean business. We have found everyone to be helpful and friendly - maybe you can get some of them on side by asking for advice (watch out - because everyone will say something different )

Great plastc post Zazen. Rovers, just check that you are allowed to do this before you go and fork out for plastic - apparently not all allotment societies allow it.:rolleyes:

Lady_Writer

Hi. You may find this site very helpful. I know i did.

http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/grapevine/