Allotments 4 All
Allotment Stuff => The Basics => Topic started by: trudie on June 23, 2009, 20:06:01
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hi ya could anyone give me tips on filling my plot quickly. Got the council on my back to get it all planted up in 28 days (aaaaah) thinking of Pumpkins as they take up a lot of room. Having two young boys and working only really leaves me weekends and if i'm lucky a few hours in the week to get on with my plot. I would hate to loose it, i've done so much so far in the last two years. When i got my plot it was four foot high in weeds and took me four dump runs to get rid of all the rubbish Half the plot is planted so cant understand why they're being aggy advice please
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If its all ready then should not be a problem. I think I read on here 75% must be cultivated in most rule books.
You could plant some brassica plug plants in. I think you can get some from garden centers.
Maybe some sweetcorn too. Again a bit late from seed but you could try or again from plug plants.
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I had a catalogue from Dobies today & they had 50 brassicas for £10.95 + postage. Dont know if that's any help.
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Radishes come up quickly. Purple sprouting broccoli, do not need to move it, sow sparingly. Lots of pegs showing where things are growing. Beans come up pretty quick, both runners and french. Lettuce, surface sown, puts in a show in a few days after watering.. Again sow thinly, cut and come again. Different colours look like different crops. Also kale will come up quick again it is rather late to sow for moving but can be sown direct into final positions, sow two or three seeds and then a baig space. GEt a few paclets of cheap seeds from Wilkinsons. If you do not like it you can dig it in later.
More pegs with labels showing what you are growing.
Pumpkins/courgettes need a huge space.
Lots of labels.
Parsley from tesco. Get a couple of tubs and split them up.
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thanks for the advice i 'm not going to let them take my little eden away
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My allotment neighbour does an amazing job. She only gets to allotment at weekends for a while. She worries the soil a bit and throws in packets of seeds and it all jumps up in no time at all.
Forget peas, they put in an appearance pretty quick.
Suggest you make the edges look neat, it makes the whole site look loved.
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Boot sales Boot sales Boot sales
L:oads of stuff at boot sales.
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My allotment neighbour does an amazing job. She only gets to allotment at weekends for a while. She worries the soil a bit and throws in packets of seeds and it all jumps up in no time at all.
Forget peas, they put in an appearance pretty quick.
Suggest you make the edges look neat, it makes the whole site look loved.
yeah been keeping it neat with two young boys that want to play adventures all day i 've got to keep it tidy maybe the council r just being "THE COUNCIL" as sometimes they can a bit difficult
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i 've got to keep it tidy maybe the council r just being "THE COUNCIL" as sometimes they can a bit difficult
The council is responsible for ensuring tenants cultivate their plots or for passing the plots on to people who will. People come here with monotonous regularity asking why there is a waiting list for the site they want to join when plots there are uncultivated.
If you're unable to cultivate your plot fully into your third season, perhaps a smaller plot might be more manageable and might help keep the council 'off your back'?
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Having two young boys and working only really leaves me weekends and if I'm lucky a few hours in the week to get on with my plot. I would hate to loose it, I've done so much so far in the last two years.
Three points:
1) Are there any plots in a worse state than yours and did other plot-holders get a letter too?
2) What about giving up half a plot as Ceres suggested? Being as busy as you have said would lead me to ask how & why , if you have not fully cultivated your plot in 3 years, could you now suddenly manage it in 28 days? If you could then would it not be already done so?
3) If you think you will have more free time in the near future then make a list of all the positive things you have done on the plot such as clearing rubbish and brambles, getting the ground into a more workable state than it was when you started. Make a 3 month plan of what is next on your agenda regarding the plot and stick to it. Any photo evidence proving the state of your plot compared to any current progress? Put all this to the council as part of your defence if needed.
In your heart of hearts, if you really are struggling with the upkeep of a full plot, then suggest keeping half a plot. as it is already cultivated and it should get the council off your back.
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We had a half plot in the early 70s, with a young child, two full-time jobs, demanding hobbies and an OU degree. We couldn't manage the allotment as well, so we gave it up.
We took one on again (same site) ten years ago, when we could commit the time.
If you really want it, go for it - but it's got to be central to your life!
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i might take on a second plott next year to grow chouch grass and nettles
who says i have to grow veg
as long as i grow wot i intend to grow and do not affect anyother plot eather side of me . so wot
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Welcome to A4A Trudie and Brian...
Well spaced Dwarf French Beans... but our local garden centres have knocked down the bare rooted brassicas ready to clear the shelves...
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We had some folks on the site yesterday who put their name down for a half plot at the beginning of the year. They wanted to come and have alook around the site. I must admit that I did feel for them. They appeared very enthusiastic and I couldn't help wondering what they must have thought when they passed a good number of plots that were not really being worked.( Praps a token planting at the front of their plots).
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we've got some like that on our site. Spent a fortune on timber for raised beds that are largely growing thistles. There's four sharing the site (since late summer last year). Wander down every so often and wave watering cans at the lettuce. Two other plots haven't been touched this year. It's such a shame when there are so many wanting a site. Trouble is I think ,any dont realise just how much work is needed at times.
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Welcome to A4A Trudie and Brian...
Well spaced Dwarf French Beans... but our local garden centres have knocked down the bare rooted brassicas ready to clear the shelves...
hi ya went to allotment first thing today after school run and dog walking, got loads done. Very large heap of weeds to burn over weekend, might take some marshmallows with me the boys would like that. getting some Pumpkins in at weekend hope not left it too late. Put some savoy cabbages in today hope the devil slugs stay away :-\
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We had a half plot in the early 70s, with a young child, two full-time jobs, demanding hobbies and an OU degree. We couldn't manage the allotment as well, so we gave it up.
We took one on again (same site) ten years ago, when we could commit the time.
If you really want it, go for it - but it's got to be central to your life!
life is so busy but really don' t want to give up my plot cause i know that i wont get another so easy. When i first got my plot the other ten plots were over grown and not being used, now there all taken some hardcore gardeners some just playing. I need to fully commit, less house work more gardening
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I need to fully commit, less house work more gardening
Put the TV in the skip.
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I need to fully commit, less house work more gardening
Put the TV in the skip.
the TV is not my weakness sweetie my weakness is keeping my house clean and tidy
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If you come round and sort out my house, I will sort out your allotment. ;D ;D ;D
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thanks for all the advice people. Been doing really well most of it sorted now just edges to tidy and more weeds to burn but yeah all done and well in time. Mr council is happy and now i can relax [if only]. Now thinking of making up little hidey places for the slow worms,ladybugs and all the good guys. Any ideas? :D
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Break up any rotting wood and stack it in a corner.
Grow nasturshums to attract nice bugs.
Leave another corner as grass to grow on but remember to cut off any weed seeds before they mature.
Lastly, sit still and keep quiet for about 10 mins after you have dug over a few feet of soil and marvel at what you can see.
Bill
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me too
just plant goard i think thats the spelling.
it is huge and really makes the plot look used.it gives great big pumpkin and marrow size veg i think but just looks soo good
good luck
rob
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You could always plant some plants for next year which attract wildlife i intend to devote a portion of my plot to this.
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thanks for all the helpfull info. Been getting the boys making lady bug houses. I made my nine year olds day when i finally let him cut loads of twigs up with the very sharp sectaries :-\
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IM having the same problem half of my site has failed cultivation survey, not quite sure how as its just as planted up as the other half. We have 21 month old twins so weekends are the only time we get down there or an hour in the evening.
WEve bust our gut this weekend to dig as much as we can and got quite a bit done. Seriosuly hoping for good weather next weekend so we can weedkill some too. OH and dig the other half of this bit we are digging.
The bit we are digging we are going to cover with weed barrier and then plant through so hopefully that will keep the weeds down on that bit so we can concetrate on another bit.
Weve just manged to get leeks cabbaged cauliflowers and broccoli all going for 4 strips of 8 plants for £5 at B&Q. In reality each strip has about 12 plants in it.
We will succeed with this its just a bit tougher when youve got kids too. ONce done you can look at your plot with pride and think ive done it with all the challenges the kids have brought us and reap the rewards of your hard work.
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I do feel for u brownow123 kind of makes u panic that your plot is going to be stolen away from right under your feet. It took me nearly a broken back and a stricked ban on doing any house work for at least two weeks so i could get my plot to the standard the council wanted. Now its done every one is happy ;D and i can relax "in a way." Sounds like your getting there keep it up. The little ones will soon be helping out, or as my two boys do be off playing adventures. My plot feels safe, all fenced in so i let them run free.They normally come back with handfulls of fruit from other plotties, Which keeps them quiet if only a few Min's. keep it up it's all worth it :D
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Trudie - I actually ache alot less that I thought I would after this weekends hard work. An acheivement at least and then next weekend we can do more.
Looking forward o getting the rest dug and the weedbarrier down so I can plant more goodies.
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Do be careful not to overdo things. With 21 year old twins you have a lot on your plate. Hopefully you will soon get it all sorted.
Must say I think that all the stress of having inspections would take some the pleasure out of having an allotment. I go the lottie to escape from stress.
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I need to fully commit, less house work more gardening
Put the TV in the skip.
the TV is not my weakness sweetie my weakness is keeping my house clean and tidy
Stuff the housework!
(hope my OH never reads that as he'll then know his comments at home are wasted!...anyway if he didn't do some of the housework he'd just waste his time playing computer games!)
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With 21 year old twins you have a lot on your plate. Hopefully you will soon get it all sorted.
I just read that as twenty one year old twins ::) But would they be more help than hinderance ;D
And good luck to you all with your plots :)
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They would be a hinderance. lol
I drag my 23yr old down to my allotments to act as body guard cos its very isolated and he moans all the time "Can we go home now, can we go home now"
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They would be a hinderance. lol
I drag my 23yr old down to my allotments to act as body guard cos its very isolated and he moans all the time "Can we go home now, can we go home now"
So they dot get any easier as they get older. Think i might give my boys an area with just fruit stuff's, with a wild life haven for them to look after. My boys r 5 and 9. They might find that a bit more interesting. They do like to collect the slug's and snail's for me so it's not too bad
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How about making a bug box from small pallets and filling it with bug friendly stuff?
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With 21 year old twins
Many apologies bit of a typo there. The twins I think are 21 months, so she has her work cut out coping with them as well as getting to grips with an allotment.
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They would be a hinderance. lol
I drag my 23yr old down to my allotments to act as body guard cos its very isolated and he moans all the time "Can we go home now, can we go home now"
my 18 year old son has his own plot
and it looking better than mine
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So they dot get any easier as they get older.
The short answer to that is.....
No!
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With 21 year old twins
Many apologies bit of a typo there. The twins I think are 21 months, so she has her work cut out coping with them as well as getting to grips with an allotment.
Aw no need to apologise Digeroo, it was just me reading it quickly, and then having to go back and read it again properly, and realising the typo and then getting the giggles. And you know how hard it is to resist a cheap gag ;D
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Very inspiring to read how you can do so much so fast, brownowl123 and trudie.
It's scary to have the threat of someone taking your plot. But maybe you'll be glad in a way, because you ended up getting a lot done, being very efficient - and that must feel great.
I've got a 10 month old and a 2 year old, and left my old plot and am starting from scratch with a new plot - completely overgrown, massive brambles etc. But so far I've been cultivating a big square patch.
An azada arrived in the post this week, so hoping if I can learn how to wield it, I can make some fast progress!
I'm going to think of you two and really go for it!
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I think you will enjoy using the azada, Pigeonseed. I know mine has proved invaluable :)
1066
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We love our azada ;D. Brilliant tool. It breaks ground no other tools can.
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I had my first go with the azada on a day off this week - it was hard work on an extremely hot day!!! But that ground was so compacted I hadn't been able to get a fork into it. So the azada was really useful.
I think I'll ask my husband to look after the kids and go again this afternoon!