Allotments 4 All
Allotment Stuff => The Basics => Topic started by: Aeeeek on December 11, 2005, 21:45:06
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Forgive me if I am being dense , am a lottie virgin ( haven't even got one yet ..but on it's way )
According to council rules & regs I will be forbidden to grow rhubarb, (aswell as asparagus) strawberries and any fruit set out as perennial
So what fruit can I grow? and can I grow rhubarb in a bucket in the ground, do you think that counts ?
seem to recall from agri college ( a long time ago) that Raspberries are planted annually as canes or did I hear that wrong ??
sorry if I am being stupid feel free to mock :-\
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Hello Aeeeeeeek (sorry if I spelt your name wrong :) )
we'll never mock. My lottie restrictions say not to grow anything which doesn't mature in 1 season. Think this is to stop people growing big fruit trees which might affect other plots, although it doesn't seem to stop some.
I suppose you could harvest some rhubarb or asparagus in the first year but it wouldn't do the plants any good.
I ignored the rule and planted everything I could, except big fruit trees. Seems ridiculous to forbid bubby growing though. Go on do it. You know you want to. Be a rebel.
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ssssssh don't tell but I think I will........ I'll tell them you told me to..besides in the corner of my lotty-to-be is a crab apple tree for heavens sake!! so'll I'll just pretend the rhubarb, strawbs and all were there before.... ::)
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I promise not to tell. Not a word. Crab apple? Pah! Chop that down soon as you can. :) Make room for more veg.
Do you know when you get the plot?
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well have picked one out and emailed council soooo..who knows, v tempted to go down and start clearing out next week though...will take my saw!
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Sod the council! Grow what you want. He/she who dares wins :)
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I agree Wardy, sod them. I can't see them coming down to check anyway ...
Derekthefox :D
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our contract states that perenial fruit can be grown but has to be removed whenever I vacate the plot - well, that'll be never ;)
Maybe grown them a bottom of plot and less in view :)
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Sod the council! Grow what you want. He/she who dares wins :)
Ditto. Daft rule.
If they ever dream of sending a digger along to dig up my fruit, I'll be lying down in front of the gate as a protest...
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Aaaaaaaaaagh Aeeeeeeek. Do not chop down the Crab apple. Crab apple jelly is the finest conserve of all time. Crab apple wine is not so bad either.
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There's plenty of room on lotty for fruit and veg. One goes with the other surely :)
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okay the fate of the crab apple hangs in the balance as it will depend how much clearing I get to do as it is right in the corner.....
I have a vision of a harmonious lotty with herbs, fruits, veggies and the flowery corner near the shed with Brompton Stocks & Sweet Peas.....might take a while to get there though
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Hi Aeeek
One of my lottie friends also has this restriction at her site in Sheffield. People do ignore it although she doesn't as she always follows rules. ::) However, when looked into, it appears the restriction is put there to reduce the amount of compensation which can be claimed should the council/Prescott decide to tarmac the plots.
To my mind, the potential gain of nice fruit far outweighs the potential lack of compensation sometime never.......
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I agree Bagpuss ...
Derekthefox :D
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Agree with Palustris! Don't chop down the crab apple. Crab apples are very rich in pectin and so great to help set jams made with other fruit (for example blackberries). Plus it makes lovely jelly on its own!
I've just taken on a plot with two smallish trees on the edge: A pyracantha and a hawthorn. I'm keeping both of them; I've just pruned them a bit.
We're not allowed to plant fruit trees though, except for cordons on dwarf rootsock. I'd be planting a quince if I was allowed. Now that makes the BEST jam ;D!
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Grow it and be damned - and if the strawberry police come after you we'll send the boys (and girls) round. What a daft rule
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Succinctly put Reedos ...
Derekthefox :D
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You have joined the militant lottie site where the only point of a tenancy agreement is to get you a little plot of land for you to do whatever you like with as long as you do not concrete it over. Keep the crab apple tree - they are even good for eating in small doses and I agree with Eric about the wine (cider is also good)
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okay ..so the crab apple is saved
Took OH down to look at it yesterday and he nearly fainted about how much clearing there is to do..he's not so keen now...a small amount of blackmailing may be required to get help now....!! ::)
Any tips on clearing/prepping a site????
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Either cover it in black plastic or strim it hard and often, then dig it bit by bit.
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mmmm good idea might clear half then plastic half, OH now feels bad and has roped his biking mates in to help out..we'll see...
As soon as I have returned a signed copy of tenancy agreement I can start work should be before Xmas break...and no rent to pay til March!! bargain (allows me to hire a petrol strimmer!!)
crab apple wine sounds interesting too
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Tip? yeh. Take your time :)
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That is more mandatory I would of thought Wardy ... ;D
Derekthefox :D
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i must say Aeeeeek, it appears the possibility of alcohol may have been the deciding factor in saving the crab apple tree!
great, you'll fit right in ;D
welcome, and as for the clearing, try little and often. maybe plant some garlic to encourage you? chat on here often for moral support and get loads of seed catalogues to plan (and daydream) about next years harvest ;D
certainly worked for me.
Tara xx
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Agree about the seed catalogues. I always take mine to bed with a glass of something or other :)
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to be honest one of the main reasons for wanting to grow fruit was for the sideline of 'interesting' wines ..no that I'm an alkie ( honest!!)
OH is very impressed with the allotment as I spend all free time planning it, reading about it or on it ( and it's not even anywhere near cleared yet!!) which means I no longer nag him about all the time he spends reading, talking, doing mountain biking ...... ::)
have had the paperwork thru' so is now officially mine. ;D
just need to decide whether to go for raised beds or not..maybe I need to go down again in a while to have another look, the hoovering, washing, housework can wait ( along with Xmas shopping!...aaagh how many days left??)
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The plot will evolve over time so don't big in too big a hurry. You could have some beds raised, some not, some edged, some not :)
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to be honest one of the main reasons for wanting to grow fruit was for the sideline of 'interesting' wines ..
I think you are going to be very popular on this forum Aeeeek .....
Are you already acquainted with the Drinks Board ... ?
For your interest, I am currently brewing
Rhubarb - almost a staple now, certainly easy drinking - too easy actually !
Pumpkin - an experiment due to a surfeit of pumpkins
Carrot - again a bumper crop of carrots!
Parsnip - made with moscovado sugar, this is hopefully very exciting !!!
Nothing else until after Christmas, I have no more room.
Derekthefox :D
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we've made three raised beds to start, i'm making a coldframe.
we plan to grow strawberries and peppers along the top of our fencing.
some little mountains of horse pooh for squashes, a small pond for toads to manage the slug population and a compost bin.
that's it for our first year, everything else can just get bunged in where it fits and where the thistles are thinnest.
i figure by 2007 i'll know what i'm doing and can make any big decisions then :-\
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:o Wow DerekThe Fox, am v. impressed have sampled Rhubarb in the past but none of the others...am going to start visiting the Drinks Board regularly me thinks!!
Cheers!!
DaveandTara..sooo lucky having a pond, these are 'strictly forbidden' on our site , so am going to create a hedgehog haven in my 'freestyle' area ( the scrappy bit at the end that I don't think i'll conquer for a while)
Are you making your raised beds out of pallets?..I have gained some from work but haven't got to the construction bit yet......
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ponds are banned here too! i just hid it with plants. it's only 2 1/2 feet wide!
i figure that if the ccouncil ever do a site visit they'll have to evict all the overgrown plots, tidy the ever increasing pile of flytippings and fix the loo.
they won't be round for a while. ::)
we made fences from pallets and also compost bins but invested in timber for beds. 3ftx6ft came to £13;50 each (inc nails)
Tara xxx
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Rhubarb wine is compulsory ;D
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Ooooo yes....(http://bestsmileys.com/drinking/2.gif)