Topic: Newbie Introduction!

[Jerakeen]

Hello I'm new to this forum and, indeed, to allotments having just got my first one! I planted my first crop yesterday, giant garlic cloves given to me by a fellow allotmenteer. I know a bit late but it's been so mild and he said they will just over winter! Still I did have to ask which way up to plant them!  :-[
I'm only half way through clearing and digging it at the moment but I am getting there and hoping to get a sort of greenhouse/shed/polytunnel up ready for next year!
My name is Bec and I live in Southend in Essex. I'm hoping to achieve my dream of being totally self sufficient and have a nice shed in a field somewhere!
Bec

[jethro]

Hi Jerakeen, welcolme to the mad house  ;D , there's some good people here for advice on gardening, then there's the 'other sort' me included who have a laugh, a bit of fun etc  ;D .
Oh dear another from Essex are you lot trying to take over this site  ;D  ;) , we 'geordies' will have to do something about this ( only joking )  ;D .

[Beer_Belly]

Hi jerakeen - welcome to the good house - there's some mad people here :-)

[campanula]

Welcome........altho there are some right loons on this site!! Look out for Hugh's excruciating jokes.
Loads of great advice (and babbling, wittering and gossip)
Have fun, Suzy

[rosebud]

welcome newbie  i am quite new myself  good luck with your lottie  :D we are all friends here .so i am sure lots of good advice will be coming your way. ::)
   cheers Rosebud ::) ;D

[rdak]

Hi and welcome jerakeen.

Don't worry- you're not too late with the garlic. Any time certainly until end of December is fine.

[busy_lizzie]

Welcome Jerakeen,   Reiterate what everyone else has said.  This a great site, and if you have an allotment, then this is the place to be for advice, support, fun and lots of very nice people.  All the Best, busy_lizzie  

[busy_lizzie]

Welcome Jerakeen,   Reiterate what everyone else has said.  This a great site, and if you have an allotment, then this is the place to be for advice, support, fun and lots of very nice people.  All the Best, busy_lizzie  

[clare]

Hi Jerakeen! and welcome to the world of lottie holders!  

Always good to welcome new people.... especially fellow Essex girls  ;)

Hey Jethro!!! Careful what you say about Essex... you could have a fight on your hands  ;)  I didn't know that were that many of us from Essex here.... thought we were well outnumbered by the geordies!!!  ::)

[Mrs Ava]

Hiya Bec!  Wahay for another Essex girl!  My handyman and me are just outside Chelmsford and have had our lottie for a couple of months now.  Essex girls will take over the world!  ;D

Anyhow, as noone has answered your question, or at least I don't think they did, when you look at the garlic glove, it is the blunt end that goes in the ground, so pointey end up.  I plant them an inch or so in, someone will tell me that isn't deep enough or too deep, well all I can say is, I plant them deeper than onions and shallots, but not as deep as daff bulbs!   ;D

Plus, as rdak said, it isn't too late at all, I think you can go on planting until February time, they need the cold to help them split in to lots of little cloves.  They will start to sprout, quickly if it is warm, and then just sit there looking gorgeous, then go mad in the spring!

Congrats on your lottie - and what a shame you found us lot!  hehehehehe, only joking, a mix of nuts and brains here, but all great folks!

[Jerakeen]

Thanks for all your replies! The only thing I'm going to have trouble with is calling my allotment Lottie as that is the name of my new puppy! Glad I got my garlic planted OK now :D
Bec

[Palustris]

Welcome.
Some of us don't have allotments, but are as self sufficient as it is possible to be.
Take a peek at the Tetanus thread if you are a new gardener.
Eric

[Hot_Potato]

Hi Jerakeen from yet another Essex girl...altho now living just outside Reading......I go back to Chelmsford (my home town) every few weeks - 'cos my parents are still there....

I'm also a newbie "lottie" holder....have only just started digging mine!....not planted anything yet...other than some bulbs for the Spring...got no garden & desperate to have some flowers to cut!

You'll love this site.....they all seem quite mad but good fun with it....and lots of helpful advice.....oh & another warning about Hugh's jokes....he has no shame  ::)

So you've got another "Lottie"....a puppy into the bargain!....you're gonna be kept busy one way & another!....good luck....H.P.