What to grow first ?

[Estcourt]

Hello All,

Having taken on a very neglected allotment 4 weeks ago....am now at the stage where I have prepared a patch 8 meteres wide by 1.5 metres and am not sure what would be best to start off and when?
Having got soil 4.5 ph do i have to add anything at all now before planting the seeds or when do i plant them......have lots of seeds such as onions,carrots,leeks etc. etc.

I know this is a tough call but any helpful tips would be great!

one last question ...how do you all add photos to topic?.......I have a  photo bucket hosting account :-\

[Estcourt]

[Curryandchips]

Leaving the sowing advice to other gardeners, I can at least direct you to how to post photos. Remember to size your pictures suitably.

http://www.allotments4all.co.uk/joomla/smf/index.php/topic,23890.0.html

On second thoughts, I can at least tell you what I will be planting soon.

Winter spinach is already sowed. Garlic, elephant garlic, and over wintering onion sets will be planted over the next few weeks. Nothing else from my end ... :)

[katynewbie]

 ;D

Well done on getting a patch ready! Where are you? This may help people to give you an idea or two about what will grow this time of year. If you can pick up some cabbage family plants from garden centres or catalogues they are ok to put in now...

;)

[Estcourt]

Thanks Curry and Katy for your tips!........I live in Gloucester if this is any good for helping with future information...

[shirlton]

We have only had our half plot for just over 8 weeks now. During the last fortnight  I have sewn some japanese onions (or you could get the sets) also some leaf beet and planted out some spring cabbage. Perhaps someone on your allotment site will have a few plants they can give you. I'm in Brum so not toofar north of you. I hope you enjoy your new allotment.

[Robert_Brenchley]

Overwintering onions, garlic, brassicas. There's quite a bit which can go in in the next couple of months.

[saddad]

Are you sure about that Ph.. it looks quite low... 6.5 is about right 7 is neutral and it is a log scale so we are talking a 100 times more acidic than we want...

Test in several other places.. sounds like they had some acid loving plants there... otherwise you will need to lime it to get anything...

I'll keep my finger crossed that it is a false result!
:o

4.5 is about the Ph of your stomache acid BTW

[Robert_Brenchley]

Not much will grow in a pH of 4.5. My guess is that it's a false reading; do other people grow stuff in that soil?

[mikedhart]

you have to be care ful how you measure pH some salts- in particular lime salts can distort the measurement best method is 25gm soil 50cm of 0.1 molar potassium Chloride - this best represents the root environment for plants.

Although 4.5 does sound a bit low - stick some lime on the soil to correct it.

Mike

[Estcourt]

Thanks Mike..................will do another test to make sure if not will then add lime !
All the other replies frightened me to death!

[katynewbie]

 :-\

Don't be scared! It was probably just the area where you did the test!
My experience (not much, just over a yaer!) says that the truth is that seeds/plants want to grow! It's what they do.

Try things and see!

;)

[Estcourt]

Thanks Katie.................will relay test reults on here in a few days [as my wife has been admitted to hospital over weekend]...have not been able to get to plot for a few days!

[katynewbie]

 :o

Eeek! Hope she is ok. Don't wish to pry, but let us know?

[saddad]

 :o Nothing too serious we all hope Estcourt..
:'(

[Estcourt]

Thanks Saddad......op tuesday pm and fingers crossed !

[Estcourt]

Just to let Katy and Saad know that wife is back out of hospital having had 5 cysts around her ovary removed!......luckily there were no maligment ones so everything when according to plan and now it is a case of lots of rest.[for the wife that is!]

Thanks again for your concern.............Mark

[lorna]

Estcourt. Glad to hear the  outcome was good news for you and your wife.

[katynewbie]

 ;D

Great news! Now you can concentrate a bit more on the plot!!!

;)