Allotments 4 All
General => News => Topic started by: Normylass on November 08, 2008, 20:51:59
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;D
Just registered on this great forum.
Wanted to say hello and introduce myself.
My DH and I were lucky enough to be allocated an allotment in the middle of August with no wait. We were given the choice of two, a double plot which floods badly, or a 10 rod plot which although over grown and hadn't been touched for at least 10 years had a standpipe at the gate and helpful plot neighbours.
We chose the 10 rod plot. We both work full time and go there (10 minute walk away) as often as we can. DH is mainly doing the fence repairs, erecting a shed, and making compost heaps/greenhouse. I've undertaken the digging and planting. The clearing of the plot has been difficult as there was all manor of rubbish, old mattresses, wheelbarrow (beyond repair), rotting wood, old holey tarpaulins bags of 'gone off ' concrete.
Using my trusty spade and folk have manged to clear around half of the plot so far and have some plants growing :)
So far have planted..... white, green and purple sprouting broccoli.
winter endives and chicory
spring cabbage
over wintering onions,shallots and garlic.
raspberries, gooseberries, and strawberries
oh and potted up some broad beans for overwintering they are in my back garden at home.
Also have made some cordons with some apple and pear trees bought at lidl.
Can't wait till the spring as have bought so many seeds to plant.
One of my fellow plot holders thinks I'm mad as intend to make a frog pond ;D
Jue
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Hi, Normylass, welcome to the forum ;D
sounds like you've made brilliant progress, we have a pond for frogs so we're also mad ;D
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Hello, welcome to the A4A madhouse! ;D Sounds like you've been a busy bee. Hope you're enjoying yourselves!
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hi and welcome from a back yard allotmenteer ;). well done on what you have done so far, send us pictures if you have some.
i think a frog pond is a good idea, why not also create an insect tower/ hotel to encourage more beneficial beasties on to your plot.
PS join a swap there are few on going and being started soon that you could get your teeth into, it will let you off load surplus seed stock and give access to new varieties to try.
happy growing vibes,
thifasmom.
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Hi Normylass and welcome from me too. Wow you have been bitten by the *Lottie Bug* ;D
Congrats on what you have achieved so far.
Please, please post some pics, we love, before during and after pictures. :D
Lauren :)
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Welcome, Normylass. Sounds like youv'e made a terrific start and youv'e got the best bit to come. Spring is my favourite time with all the seed sowing and planting. Enjoy. ;D
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Hi and welcome from me too Normylass ;D
Frog pond??? .......................................Yes, yes and yes!! You'll be glad you did, you'll also be glad you are.................................................mad ;D ;D ;D
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Yippee - another seedaholic!
- ahem! - unlike me of course...
;D
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I wanna frog pond I wanna frog pond I wanna........but the kids a to small they might fall in
oh and hello I think that's what I came on hear for ??? ::) sorry will slink off and go do some more seed sorting ;D I did not buy any more honest ..... well i think i need to post on the SAA thread
WELCOME from trinity ;D
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:D
WOW Thank you for all the welcomes.
Me a seedaholic.. ahem..... ;)
Just got back from a popular diy shop with two more packets ;D
Will try and load some pictures when I work out how to.
Just got to work out how to dig in the rain now ;)
Jue
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Hi Normylass welcome to the best alotment advice site , enjoy your allotment LB :) :)
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Welcome. I must warn you - becoming a seedaholic is dangerous. Your non lottie friends and acquantances will reckon you are the most boring person on earth.
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Hello, I think that they're a great crowd here!
A frog pond is a good idea. Mine is just an old washing up bowl and the frogs seem quite at home.
http://flightplot.files.wordpress.com/2008/06/dscn0378.jpg
Happy allotmenteering!
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:)Love the photo Flighty :)
Have uploaded some before/during pictures.
http://www.allotments4all.co.uk/smf/index.php?action=gallery;su=user;cat=318;u=8466
Hope the link works :D
Jue
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:D
Just got to work out how to dig in the rain now ;)
Jue
Hope this helps,one of me taken down the allotment this morning. ;)
PS. normally i would wear a string vest but its in the wash. ::)
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Thanks! The links work fine. You're doing great by the look of it! Just wait until next summer and you'll have a big smile on your face.
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Welcome from me, Normylass. looks as if you've done a lot of hard work there! And nice to see someone (like me) NOT using raised beds!
Let us know whereabouts you are, as this can make a difference to the advice you get (and we're all nosey!)
Flighty, is your washing-up bowl sunk into the ground? Might try that myself.
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Caroline it's sunk in the ground to the rim at a slight angle, and partly filled with stones so anything can get in or out of it.
Another alternative is to use an upturned plastic dustbin lid if you want something a bit bigger.
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And nice to see someone (like me) NOT using raised beds!
That made me chuckle Caroline. I am fortunate enough to have good soil which drains well. I only use 2 beds for my strawberries and that is only to stop the runners taking over. So can I be in your gang ;D
Welcome to the site Normylass. You will love it.
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Another alternative is to use an upturned plastic dustbin lid if you want something a bit bigger.
Great idea- I bought a plastic dustbin to use as a water butt so I've got a spare lid!
KT, welcome to my gang. I'm sure some newbies think raised beds are the only way to grow veg, and I know some people need them, but I manage fine without!
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I've got beds but they are not raised so can i be in ya gang :'(
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Sounds like fantastc progress in such a short space of time. You've obviously relised how addictive this is and that you never get over the excitement of picking/digging your own produce and eating it fresh from the ground! A frog pond is a great idea too, they will help to keep slugs at bay.
I'm another one that grows in rows rather than raised beds. I know that sems to be the trendy way of doing it these days but I started off with rows (because I didn't know of any other way t the time) and it would be too much effort to change. And actually, I'm not sure why I would want to.....
What are the advantages/disadvantages.....or perhaps I should have started a new thread for that one?
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I don't bother with raised beds. Mind you I only grow vegetables on less than half of my half plot!
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I'm on clay and our site has awful drainage but I don't have raised beds. I use those plastic strips of lawn edging to identify the paths between the beds, but that's it.
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No raised beds here either. I have a vague plan but then there are always the bits that one swops or folk give, so I push them in wherever I can with skinny little paths in between. I do like a bit of disorganization. (and it won me a prize this year 8))
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No raised beds here either. I have a vague plan but then there are always the bits that one swops or folk give, so I push them in wherever I can with skinny little paths in between. I do like a bit of disorganization. (and it won me a prize this year 8))
Please, can I get a prize for being disorganized and not having raised beds?
And then can I have another for sinking all my surplus washing-up bowls in the garden? It's a washing-up bowl graveyard in there....but oh! how the frogs love them 8)
And hello Normylass and welcome.
Lishka
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The prize was a cheque big enough to buy me a washing up bowl Lish ;D
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Hiya Normylass, from another newbie ;D. Well done you - I don't envy you having to dig out all that grassy stuff. We only had big brambles, but so much easier to deal with than grass (& rubbish!) imo.
No raised beds here either - not much of anything just yet tho tbh lol. I do like the idea of a frog pond - we have frogs & methinks they need a nice home. I think I'll nick the bin lid / washing up bowl idea at least til we get more organised!
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Great idea, have two old washing up bowls in the garden. Will take them to the allotment. Do I have to put anything in apart from a few rocks, they will fill up with rain water this weather so won't have to use water from the water tank (might not be so fresh). Do I have to get a frog/frogs to stick on or do they find the washing up bowls themselves. Do I put it under a tree or somewhere quiet. I am getting quite excited about it. Could plant all round the bowl and make a water feature.
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(http://www.free-animations.co.uk/food/veg/images/veg_42.gif) Welcome, Normy :)
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WOW all these replies ;D
I like your style Froglegs, A scuba suit to dig in :D
We did think about having raised beds but decided that as the soil is good (when you get to it) and it drains well so we didn't need to use them.
Have been to the allotment today and done some digging/clearing. Have taken up my Kids old sand pit (they are grown up now) and will use that for the frog pond.
Jue
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Welcome Normylass to the madhouse, :P I have a washing up bowl but no frogs, how do I attract them or do you have to put spawn in, and do you think its the washing up liquid that's keeping them away, ;) another in the no raised bed gang, do we get a badge or something. ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
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and do you think its the washing up liquid that's keeping them away, ;)
The washing up liquid only attracts fairies, not frogs, I think, Kev :-\
Borlotti, plant round the bowls, the frogs like to keep shaded and secret and safe - oh! and don't worry about supplying fresh water, don't think they're fussed about that, either ;D Just make sure that they - and any little birds, etc. - have easy access in and out. I've got curved pieces of stone piping as well as rocks. So, two of my bowls are well-hidden, but the third is in the open - that's the one that the birds go to, to drink and bathe. All great fun 8)
I've not got a pond as such in my garden - the frogs just appear and never seen spawn in the bowls. Guess the word's got out round the district that I'm host to a Superior Breed of slugs ;D
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With all the rain we have had today I think the whole allotment will be paradise for frogs, ducks etc. but not for me. We have had no ducks on the allotment although we did have some of the grass verge outside my house for a couple of years.