Allotments 4 All
Produce => Edible Plants => Topic started by: JohnnyLarge on November 10, 2005, 19:40:32
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I am dying to get going again in the allotment. Unfortunately the plots are really wet at the moment. I went to plant some raspberry canes yesterday and dug 3/4 of a spit deep. The water filled the hole immediately!
I have planted the canes in the greenhouse for now.
I'll have to console myself with a photo of it in bloom for now.
John :(
(http://photos.fotango.com/p/eba00335100f00000019.jpg)
(Taken last year, My first ever attempt)
(http://photos.fotango.com/p/eba00335100f00000027.jpg)
(Taken 3.7.05, My second year. Note green house has been moved!)
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You've set yourself a pretty high standard?
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Just short of a few chickens on there JL
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Sure did, Tim.
My Dad was a keen gardener. I could never understand him coming in from a hard day at the pit, hanging his bag and donkey jacket on the back of the door and getting straight in the garden.
Now I do.
I wish he was here to give me advice and help. I am sure he would be as proud of my allotment as I am.
I am still learning though, and am trying different varieties of seeds this year to suppliment my usual Wilko varieties.
I have plenty of room in my 2 plots so have no need to cram stuff together.
John :)
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that looks fantastic. how big are the plots?
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I don't know exactly but I think both plots together are about 25x14 yards.
Good question, I'll measure them to satisfy my curiosity now!
John ;D
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Oh dear....my weedy mud muddle looks a little poor now....still, hope my new composting bins will help with that general yes I'm interested and keen look.....I'm still battling twitch/couch grass.... :'(
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Fantastic plots Johnny. I am very impressed at how organised and neat everything looks. Your Dad would have been very proud of you and you obviously carry the same gardening gene. Well done for a great allotment. busy_lizzie
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Wow!! Not a weed to be seen and so neat and tidy. How long have you had your plots Johnny? They are an inspiration to try and get mine under control.
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Well done Johnny! You have done well and obviously worked really hard to get the plots looking so wonderful. I wish mine looked like that!
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Nice plots you have got there. You must have put allot of time and effort into them. Looks as though you have had a good crop also. I understand about the waterlogged allotments as the site I am on allways gets either partually flooded or water logged during winter and it is rather sticky under foot to do much work on site. Luckly though one on the plots is on a very slight gradiant so it all drains down to the bottom plots. Hopefully with a few days of dry weather and a good drying wing it should be a little easier to work down there. At the moment I am stuck reading the seed catalogues.
The_Snail
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Wow JL - plots look amazing! I only started up in July but what an inspiration! Plots look kind of familiar though, where are you based?
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Johnny, what amazing plots! Makes me want to run in and pick!! Won't though cos that would be rude....Well done, and cos your Dad would be proud. They're amazing!! As for straight lines, my dad got so fed up with seeing zig-zag rows of veg, he made me a line out of 2 bits of stake and bale twine, still use it even though given lovely shiney one..... ::) Rows now straight...ish ;D
Lottie
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Well done Johnny made me green with envy. My only gripe PLEASE no Tesco ( or any one else for that matter ) carrier bags tied to canes. Our site at times looks like an explosion in a supermarket, if I had my way anything plastic would be banned from lotties. ;)
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Well done Boardywardy
we have had our plot for nearly two years and we are STILL digging up bits of plastic, half our plot is all plum trees and I spend a lot of time unwrapping plastic bags from the branches. What did our forfathers use before the days of plastic bottles and carrier bags? Plastic Plant Markers Grrrrrrrrrrrr Plastic String Grrrrrrrrrrrr
There are better ways.
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To answer a few questions:
I took over the first top plot at the end of April 2004. The lower adjoining plot I took over about 6 weeks later.
It had a huge old 'greenhouse' (I never saw) which I was informed by a few of the old guys, was more string, plastic and rubbish than it was glass. After the previous tenant passed away, the committee removed this and a lot of rubbish. I had to clear the remainder myself.
I bought a rotovator for £40 from another plot-holder, so I can run over the plots when needed. The greenhouse cost me £40 and I bought another for £20 which hasn't been erected yet.
My allotment is on Ashfield Road, Hasland, Chesterfield, Derbyshire.
The plots slope slightly across the width so the top plot drains ok. One of the previous tenants put in some land-drains.
I share a shed with another friend at the moment, but my nephew has a big shed he is letting me have for free when he has built his new block one.
I'm just comparing prices and varieties of seed to suppliment my normal 'Wilko' seeds with some varieties more suited to what my garden has to offer soil wise.
John :)
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Ashfield Road, Hasland, Chesterfield, Derbyshire.
Not far from wardy then? (she being in Bolsover - the home of the main man Skinner)
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Wardy Hope Russ behaves himself. Then again if you leave the wallpaper on the floor nobody will notice if Russ has done a "tiddly winks old man" Enjoy your visit even if you are working. That's what Mum's are for or is it your niece you are helping?? Lorna
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Hi Johny
Take a look at this site for “some” of your seeds, I’ve bought from them and they’re as good as anyone else but you don’t get a fancy packet, and all at 50p a pack!! it was from someone on here that i heard of them!!
http://www.alanromans.com
Cheers Kev
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Ashfield Road, Hasland, Chesterfield, Derbyshire.
Not far from wardy then? (she being in Bolsover - the home of the main man Skinner)
Would that be Frank Skinner??? LOL ;)
KevB
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You not a fan of left wing fire brands then Wardy - and doesn't he still only claim the average wage anymore - don't think that would pay for Belgravia or Kensington, and surely the beast must come home sometimes for surgeries etc.
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I'm a bit of a lefty myself.
(http://www.geocities.com/gifs_political/russian1.gif)
;D
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I'm a definite popularis.
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Green liberal wet here. And proud of it. HA ;D
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Hasland! Ah Ha. I looked at those before taking one in Newbold! Wardy did mention a JL from this area but that was a while back. Small world!
Just to supliment the seeds, why not go for a couple of fruit trees (Netto £3.99)?
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Well been on the plot today and spent a good half hour walking around the plot fantasising about next years crop. Sad aint it when you do that. Start fantasising about vegetables ::) on your allotment.
The_Snail
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Only if that fantasy becomes warped and you envisage yourself rolling wildly in a sea of spinach...... otherwise it can be excused as planning.... :D
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.....Take a look at this site for “some” of your seeds, I’ve bought from them and they’re as good as anyone else but you don’t get a fancy packet, and all at 50p a pack!! ...! http://www.alanromans.com
Cheers Kev
First time I've looked at this site - they ARE cheap aren't they! will give them a go this year I think...
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Fantasising about vegetables Snail? I do it all the time ... ;D
Derekthefox :D
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Wardy. What with you and Lottie this site is a laugh a minute ;D ;D "Desiree" now that was adding insult to injury ::). Well I hope you didn't get any injuries other than your pride!!
Where else can you gain so much garden/allotment knowledge AND have a laugh.?? Keep it up.
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Those fantasising about getting going again may like to know that the U.K.'s earliest sunset is going to occur about December 10th, so the evenings will start getting longer after that, just a minute at a time though so not a lot of extra daylight to get things done. Your latest sunrise this winter will be roughly January 2nd, 2006. To pre-empt a possible question, the briefest day light will be December 21st, 2005, as most are familiar with.
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Yes John, i am familiar with the 'wobble' between the sunrise and sunset times, but I didn't realise that is was as divergent as that ... so less than a week to the earliest sunset, that gives me hope yet ...
Derekthefox :D
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Yes John, i am familiar with the 'wobble' between the sunrise and sunset times, but I didn't realise that is was as divergent as that ... so less than a week to the earliest sunset, that gives me hope yet ...
Derekthefox :D
I'm clutching at any straw I can find to mark the passing of winter too. My calender is marked!
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Yes Wardy, yesterday was very pleasant indeed - until the rain started ...
John, I would so much prefer that we went on Central European Time, that would move the light an hour further into the evening. I would not find the dark mornings such a burden, but I doubt it will happen, people are so resistant to change ...
Derekthefox :D
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thats a nice couple of pictures it makes you want to get ready Nice going big lad
carl
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What's this all about... we haven't stopped yet.
The weather down here has been / is quite superb, I was digging again today.
(Good job as I'm behind schedule!!)
I pricked out some Winter Delight lettuce during the week and they've picked up very well.
In the cold greenhouse the next batch of Winter Delight re coming along nicely, Dill and Spring Onions are coming through.
I said WE as a newbie joined us this week and has the whole plot to dig over.
Cheers
Cliff
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Today is a key day then, the evenings will be getting lighter from now.
It was also a superb day for working the plot, I got a substantial amount of digging done, so bit by bit the plot is looking better ...
Derekthefox :D