Topic: Shall I?

[sandersj89]

OK, been to see the allotment. The chairman has offered me a plot that has not been used for 2 years, though for the last 6 months half of the plot has had a tarpaulin over it and what weed is showing under is very, very weak. The rest of the plot is grassy, upto about 12”  tall. The plot is 5 rods long, not sure what that is in metric.

The plot is on the edge of the site, at the base of a gentle slop. Vehicle access to within 30 yards. Two stand pipes on site and you can run a hose from them to a water butt on each plot. No hose watering.

On the boundary there is a massive oak tree that will shade about 50% of the plot at various times of the day. Maybe not such a bad thing as it will help on the watering front. Fairly high leaf drop come the winter though.

There is a general no herbicide rule but he has offered to spray the plot with round up, I supply the round up, and rotovate the plant totally. Then we will leave the tarp on the lower section, that has not been covered, through this summer ready for autumn digging. There will be a cost for this but they will also waive the first year rent, £24.

So I could be ready for planting before mid May. This will be fine for Brussels, leeks, carrots, pumpkin, onions, etc. If I can find some main crop spud seed potatoes they could also go in. 3 calls to local garden centres have drawn a blank though, any ideas? Will try T&M on Monday and Edwin Tucker.

I will also grow some cut flowers. I have plenty of sweet pea plants for a couple of wigwams there. Need to do some research on other stuff, Dahlias, glads, pinks, etc spring to mind. Maybe some sorts of lilies.

So, do you think I am mad to take on this, it is only 3 mins by car from home but it will suck up some time. Mainly hoeing/watering in the summer and the autumn and spring ground working!

I am very tempted though…..

Jerry

[Mimi]

GO FOR IT ;) You know that you want to   Jerry sounds great.  Just one think I dont think should be seen as a problem and that is the oak tree.  Just think of all that lovely leaf mould. Only needs a rake and a few black bin bags and you will have a good supply of mulch/soil improver/compost. :D  

[Multiveg]

I agree - definitely go for it.

Spuds you should be able to get in garden centres - one of my local ones still had them last year in June - though you won't have much choice available. Just looked at the organic gardening catalogue, the only spud they have is Premiere which I think is a first early. Had you posted the message up yesterday, I could have even sent you a few spuds!  Shop bought spuds (for eating) may carry disease/viruses which you don't want to encourage.

Good luck

[gavin]

Yup, totally mad!  :) :) :)  Join the rest of us - and GO FOR IT!

Good luck - Gavin

[kenkew]

:::::::::::::DITTO:::::::::::

[Doris_Pinks]

Go on Go on go on! Buy a bottle of radox, and join the crew ;D

[sandersj89]

Well the decison has been made. I am nipping up there this evening to seal the deal I hope.

My mind was made up really over the weekend when I realised I had just about filled up my own veg garden at home and still wanted to grow more.

My home patch is or will be chocked to the gills in a few weeks when the courgettes, french beans, runners, sprouts, leeks etc. get moved out to join the existing spuds, (4 varieties), chard, carrots, onion sets, pumpkins, raspberries, strwberries, salad crops. This is not counting the 3 greenhouses full of tomatoes, peppers, chillies, cucumbers, melons.......

So a quick call this morning secured me some late potatoe seed spuds, enough for a couple of rows on the allotment. I have a surplus of new strawberry plants pricked out yesterday. Also loads of sweet peas. These can all go onto the new plot and I will sow a few rows of carrots, leeks, parsnips direct. I have also started 40 sweet corn as not grown them for a couple of years due to lack of space.

That should be enough for half the plot, will grow some cut flowers as well. The second half of the plot will spend the summer under the tarpauline ready for autumn digging a manure mulch.

Wish me luck!

Jerry

[eileen]

Good Luck Jerry. Sounds as if you're going to be REAL busy.

Let us know how it's going and maybe you could post a couple of pics for us?

ENJOY

Eileen.

[Multiveg]

Good luck - take lots of pictures and buy lots of radox