Topic: Yo Allotmenteers

[Ozzy_aka_Pothead]

All for one and one 4 all......

Yo allotment dudes/duedettes....its a real buzz finding this site... I am not yet an allotmenteer, but have my name down and have a few
appointments with the allotment secretaries later this week.

I am currently growing veg in me
 gardy at the mo, and this is my frst year at growing veg and I am totally hooked on it, so much so, I feel ready to take the plunge..

If I get one this month, would I
be better off digging the whole plot (4 perches) and then growing some green manure on it?

Also what sort of tools will help make life easier in getting it ready?

cheers peeps

oZzY %)

[LynneA]

Steady on!  Unless you're super fit, digging any amout of land  takes a lot out of you and wrecks your back.

Don't know where you're based but most places the ground is to hard to get a spade in at the mo.

If you play your cards right, you may be able to get off paying any rent for this year, but still be one jump ahead.  Play innocent and insist there's nothing you can do until the new year other than paint the shed and you might just get away with it.

Back to digging....

When I started, I waited months for the council to rotovate, and when they did, the next day the site flooded.  When it dried out, the top layer had baked so hard it was like a china plate.  So, inspired mainly by Audley End, I divided to plot into 16 sections.  We've gradually tackled them.  It's not completely cultivated even now, but it keeps the chaos from order look presentable.  It also helps plan the rotations.

Get hold of as much ground cover - plastic, membrane, old carpets and even carboard.  Cover as much as you can and dig over what's left exposed.  It's best to start digging from the end nearest the path, so others can see you're making the effort and for your own self confidence - much better to jump right in, than wade through weeds to get to the one good area!

And of course all next year's catalogues are out soon - get yourself on the mailing lists!

[Storm]

Hi Ozzy,

followed your 'link' from the BBC site, this is a neat place :)

Don't go mad digging your entitre plot in one go, figure out where you want your beds and work on them one at a time, covering the rest with carpet etc.  Then you can plant things as you go.

Storm :)

[teresa]

Hi Ozzy thanks for recomanding this site on the other side nice to find one open this time of night.

I got a lottie two  months ago and found my old fork with prongs like knitting needles worth its wait in gold a bath with radox and pain killers but hey its worth it.

the more I dug the more plants I was given loads of cabbages and leeks and support from the real old gardeners down there lovely bunch.

good luck

[legless]

sounds just like mine ozzy!  :D

have fun digging won't you!

[teresa]

great news ozzy you got one, one tip lay the carpet out on the bit you want to dig it will keep the moisture in the ground and makes it easier to dig.
I used and old woolen blanket and a plactic tablecloth they thought I was crazy but hey it worked.
Little and often thats the secrete and straighten up occasionaly it is easy to get carried away digging.
then wait for the offers of plants, winter cabbage now I went down to the lottie yesterday and found a bunch of young plants dug in my seed bed gardeners are so kind not sure which one planted them.
hows the water on your lottie and do they have manure delivered? have fun tommore thinking of you.

[legless]

how'd the digging go today? my husband is almost convinced that we need new flooring so i can have our old carpet for my allotment! well actually - no he's not, but i'm working on him!!

i recognise you from the bbc site (it won't let me register or post for some reason, really getting on my nerves)

just want it to rain so i can get stuck in!

[LynneA]

And another thing....

Never forget the restorative powers of a cup of tea.  Having lugged flasks of boiled water over in the barrow for a couple of years, we splashed out on a gas ring. (£20 from Millets plus cannisters).  We now fill up a 5l water bottle and fill up the kettle whenever we fancy a brew.  And we can feast on sozzies and beans when we manage an early start!

But the powers of tea are sometimes too much.  We gave up trying to dig out a dead tree root and left the hole as a man trap cum mini midden to chuck the tea slops in.  Said dead wood has sprouted  shoots and would appear to be the remains of an oak tree! :o

[legless]

glad its going well. my progress is very slow compared to yours, but its raining steadily now which might soften up the ground for me and hubby is taking me to buy a bike on saturday so i can get to the plot a lot quicker and more easily!!!

i ordered a kitchen caddy for my kitchen waste today - every little helps with compost i believe!! i'm going to get really stuck in with the weed clearance on saturday hopefully, if not, i'll clear the glasshouse out.

do you have cable or sky ozzy? if so there has been a great programme on at 1pm each day this week on UK Style called 'fork to fork' with monty don, its an old series but its all about growing your own food and also cooking it! worth a look if you can get it....

[rosebud]

hi ozzy glad you suggested this site some familiar
names which is nice have a great weekend on your lottie
cheers Rosebud  8)

[teresa]

Hi Ozzy your famous got an email with your name on it oh ah sorry to hear about the spade. I gave up with a spade use mums old fork the prongs like knitting needles well worn goes through the  ground like a hot knife through butter. well with a little effort.
if you can water the ground before you dig makes life easier softens it. when can they rotavate it for you? soon. Some of the men offered to do mine but I am glad I did not with bolders bricks and iron bars tin cans oh a real dumping ground if I had broken their diggers I would have died.
The carpet will help keep the moisture in the ground and soften it up for you. Have a great weekend Teresa

[allotment_chick]

Yo Ozzy, dude!   8)  Thanks for the lead to the site.  Seems a number of us beeb boardies are followin' you, man! It's a blast!

I have changed my identity......new site, new name, catch my drift  ::)  

[Beer_Belly]

I found my way here as well from the beeb board - thanx Pot bloke  ;)

[Suze_O]

Yo Oz - you'se is some kinda celeb now!  emails wiv your moniker on - next it'll be 'I'm an Allotmenteer - Get me out of here!'  You'll be in the purple sprouting broccolli with Tara Palmer Tomkinson next .......

Just got back 6 days Madchester and seen loadsa lovely lotties from train window - and seen loadsa lovely names from Auntie here aussi.

Having neglected gotta go water dem beans man.

Suze xxx

[Suze_O]

Eh by'eck Gladys.  The cream of Manchster!"  Came back wi' wippet an' flat cap and pigeons in't loft.  Eeh! ecky thump. (sorry that may be Yorkshire)

Any road up, had right good time, met man of me dreams and up there again soon as I can (i.e. next week);)

[Suze_O]

Sorry.  3 seeds 21 squidlings..No way.  Got loads here freebies.  Even choice 10 equals 30 squids.  Anyway, glass half empty or full - which leads us into ab. pysch. course.

[Suze_O]

Yo Oz!

Still consider 21 squidlings for 3 outrageous.  Gotz loadas stuff here freebie. Anyhows, do you like listening to radio whilst surfing?  If so hook up to =Spydaradio - internet radio site, try latching on to Paul Sherratt.  Really cool dude.l  Nice site this but v, quiet ain't it