SammyKayes Allotment Adventures!

sammy_kaye18

Well after being on the waiting list for nearly 15 years, last week I was finally granted an allotment. 

Its a tidy size as you can see from the picture and this is actually a half plot in our small allotment area. I managed to somehow snag a prime location - next door to the toilet and the little allotment tea room space, and also next to the allotment area is a small cafe and a gym so I have plenty of spaces to enjoy as well. 

https://ibb.co/qx9RqWf 

So plot is currently 14m long, and I think about 6m wide.  

The area nearest to the camera is planted up with fruit bushes which have obviously had a council haircut and cut right back ( I found this out from a helpful gent who stopped to say hello) but they go grow into an access path for other plots so I dont know whether to keep these or not at the minute. There is a poisonous plant growing here too at the minute so that needs to go. 

In the back left corner is a raised planting area that's about 2m x 2m which I think I will make into a small raised planting area for my MIL to enjoy. We recently lost my FIL and I think having a place for her to come and enjoy will help her mental health too. Then in the back right corner is a hard standing which did have a shed on but again the council removed so I have now brought another small storage shed to go here. 

I have my own water access point, the plot is mostly in sun all day other than a small slither where the fruit bushes are which are shaded by a neighboring green house and shed. 

A few stone pots, planters and corner planters are dotted around the plot as well. 

I have been down since this picture and 
-  removed a lot of brambles since this pictures,
- cleared the hard standing,
- discovered that there is slabs between the hard standing and raised bed, 
- the covered area is actually bordered by wooden planks 
- put some more liner down to cover the grass. 

I have had a minor op since as well so Im not allowed down there at the minute until I manage to heal so Im busy gathering a few bits and bobs for clearing from my own garden, like I said I have ordered a shed thats coming soon, got several pairs of gloves, couple of seats and a small camping stove and kettle incase theres no access to the tea rooms. Looking through seeds, scouring freecycle, fb marketplace etc for things as well. 

Anyone else have any idea of things I can be doing over the winter? I do also have access to skips, manure pile etc and a rotivator once I join the gardening club :-) 

Join me on my adventure because Im sure Ill have plenty of questions to ask! 

Brie

biggest thing I would guess at is be down there tidying etc so that you get to meet your new neighbours.  They will know what works, what to watch out for, a bit of the local politics and who's a PIA (which may be reciprocal).  Check how safe your things might be as well.  Oh and likely there may be a seed/seedling exchange that you can get involved in - no point in buying lots of seeds if you're simply duplicating what the next plot has in excess.  

KajiKita

Firstly, congratulations 😊👏🤩🎉🥳 I know you’ve been waiting for a while. It sounds like it’s a good location as you say, and looks like it has nice views too. 

At this time of year, especially now that the temperatures have dropped, there isn’t a lot you can do in terms of getting things in the ground, but the winter is traditionally the time for landscaping prep, planning, etc. It might be worth creating a ground plan for your plot - what’s already there and a list of what you want and where they could go. Then have a play with the plan and see whether the flow works. Remember that you will want a compost heap somewhere (I don’t think you mentioned that in your post?) and a simple seating area might be nice to sit with a brew and a biscuit to admire the fruits of your labours. 

Wishing you all the best with it and look forward to hearing more about it 😊

KK

twopenny

Congratulations

If the fruit bushes are in the way of the path then now is the time to dig them up and move them onto your plot. You may not need all but perfect with the haircut to move and get them going for instant fruit next year.

Any you don't want offer to the other allotment holders first. That may get you some good will and something in return. Seedlings or what not.

Most people find they have grown more plants than they need in spring so then it the time to 'admire' them and hope for the surplus.

While you are laid up you can decide what you would like to eat/plant and how much of that you would need.

I tend to go for winter greens because they are a whole different veg to the ones in the shops, beans of various sorts for the same reason.

I plant onion sets in between the plants for a bonus crop.

Flowers to draw the bees to polinate. Lavender is a long season and there are small varieties. Chives and Garlic chives they like too and they make a pretty border as well as being useful.

Sweet Peas growing among climbing beans just because they are lovely in a vase

Gather canes and sticks for supports

alicef

many, many congrats on the allotment!   

I would find out whether the site is signed up to the National Allotment Society, if so then it could be beneficial to become a member thru your allotment site; (benefits include liability insurance; discounted seed schemes etc)

The layout of your plot sounds lovely.   I would put some time into sketching out a plan for the site and next year's planting. 

Defo put in a compost bay and area for leaf mould.

Cycle shops & places like Halfords are brilliant for large pieces of cardboard which are very useful for weed suppression and quick start to next year planting. 

Have a chat to your fellow allotmenteers - I started my GYO adventure on an allotment (couple of decades ago) and I think the people I met during that time was the best bit.

-taff

I've only had mine about a month but it's been really good so far, I wish you immense joy in it, so much fun panning and sorting and sowing and yes, even wheelbarrowing....

sammy_kaye18

Thanks for all the helpful suggestions so far. 

Note to self and to add to my to do list

- ask husband about bringing home pallets to make a compost bay. 
- Join the gardening club and ask about exchanges / allotment society etc
- I usually plant too many seeds so will give myself somewhere to offer up seedlings if there isnt a scheme. 
- Will start to make a plan for layout etc using allotment book 
- will look through seeds I have already and buy any needed

@twopenny I actually brought wildflower seeds, chives, sweetpeas and other flower seeds to encourage pollinators when I was planting my garden but will use them on my plot this year instead. My grandmotehr is also a keen gardener and harvested some sweet pea seeds as well as cornflowers etc for me too. I also have fuschias, pansies, crocosmia and nasturtiums  etc at home that I can take clippings from and transfer. I do fancy some lavender too. 

According to my allotment agreement I am not allowed to plant trees without prior permission so I think I will keep my apple tree in my garden and see if I can make some friends down the allotments to ask if they remember much about what was planted there. 

Also note to self - keep small stock of biscuits and cakes in shed and replenish as needed!
 

twopenny

Sounds good

For Chives it's worth buying some already growing. I won't suggest supermarkets because that's very hit and miss. A decent clump of Chives at a GC is around £3. That should grow well and can be divided for next year. Then plant the seeds as well. But they take a long time to establish from seed.

Think about Garlic Chives if you see any. Look fabulous, flower later in the July gap when the bees need something. If cut they can be kept in a pot of water for the kitchen for a while.

Mint? I've put mine in a cheap large pot with the bottom cut off to stop it spreading. Doing ok.

This is a good time to scan the GC's for bargains. Or for things like lavender or mint, take cuttings and bung them in, firm the ground.

Defo make contacts at the allotment site. People often can spare Strawberry plants and Rhubarb.

Farway

sammy_kaye18 said:

Also note to self - keep small stock of biscuits and cakes in shed and replenish as needed!
 

Keep them in a metal / glass container, or you will have lots of teeth gnawing them before you do

RAS

You've got strawberries, particularly in the bottom right hand corner.

Now is the time to clear around them, identify any runners the Council haven't cut off as these will make good plants by the end of next season and plant to one side. And possibly lift the old leaves and trim the stems back to 3cm, removing any old fungal infections and hoping the new growth comes through clean.

ShinyStarlight1

Have you heard of ‘no dig’? A few very successful allotment neighbours have done this. It involves disturbing the soil structure as little as possible while nourishing it. Charles Dowding leads on this - you can find some YouTube videos about it. We’re going to do it next year, after years of normal allotment digging.