For the first time

[betula]

In many years I feel like giving up on my Allotment :'(

I have changed allotments a few times due to house moves etc but never really felt so down about things as I do now.I took on a new Allotment recently and it was over grown.I dug a few beds out so I could grow a few things while I was clearing.Thought I was progressing reasonably well considering the constant rain.An old boy upset me because he said  I should get a letter re the state of my Allotment........I spoke to the site rep who said there was no question of a letter due to the circumstances.

I have worked in the rain as much as I can but I have not been down for over a week because I can't face it at the moment.

[betula]

[Flighty]

I'm not surprised that you feel as you do, as I'm already thinking about next year. Everybody says that it's been by far the worst year that they can remember.
I was at my plot yesterday but as it's waterlogged there's little, if anything, that I can do even if I felt like it which I don't.
Ignore old boys who make crass remarks like that! Even the best kept plots on my site aren't looking too good.
Germination has been poor, growth far too slow and as for the slugs...
As the saying goes...It'll be better next year!   

[pumkinlover]

I posted on another thread that I felt very disheartend, but most of the posters  after were trying to be up beat!
However it seems there are a few of us like this.
My allotment is not good and I am ashamed of it- I should write myself a letter! We decided at the committee meeting not to have a site meeting till mid August to give people a chance to sort out their plot It is only fair, especially  for people who work, as there are so few chances to get to the plot at the moment.
As Flighty says next year will be better -or if not we will be better prepared.
I have to dig deep to be optimistic but we will find the good, at least there is not a drought now, with all the problems that brings!

[shirlton]

Must admit I am getting into defeatest mode

[antipodes]

Don't worry Betula. On my site too, many plots are over weedy and a lot of things are struggling to grow. There is heaps of foliage but the fruits are having a struggle- most people's soft fruit is rubbish, everyone is spraying madly for blight and a lot of teh summer plants are stunted. maybe the winter crop will be better :(
Ignore old boys, I find they can be so rude! They have all day down there, they are retired and often lonely. They forget that other people have lives outside of their allotment!

[claybasket]

This year everyone is having a horrible time with rain,cold ,and seed failure and all the other crap that comes with this,if you can't keep up with weeds through something over them to kill them, while you get you head around this rotten year and just work a little bit of the Lotty if you can, if not cover the lot up till Autumn or next year,this is a bad year don't give up on your Lotty's think of next year  :)

[betula]

Thanks for all your encouraging words.

I have a lot of experience now and learnt how to deal with heavy clay and droughts etc but this lot has really got to me.

Wish us all well ;D

[rosebud]

  Betula, don`t give up, we are all very downhearted at present. It does not matter what we do it still does not look good, our beans are terrible, onions struggling in such wet ground, peas are the only thing that seems to be ENJOYING this weather they are the best ever ::).
You know the saying.
WE ARE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER  LOL Mmmmm should i laugh!!!!!!.
Chin up now try to  hang on in there EH!!!!. :) :) :-*
  Mary  :-*

[Ellen K]

My plot has given me no joy this year either and I have let it all go now.

I still visit but just water the plastic greenhouse, pick a few raspberries, chuck some slug pellets around and leave.

But not once have I felt like jacking it in because there is always next year.

Roll on 2013 I say.

[Digeroo]

I think we are all struggling one way or another.  I am trying to be up beat so as not to let it get me down.  Lottie is passable just, by my garden is a terrible mess.   Certainly writing myself a stiff letter about it.

I have been trying at least to get rid of the milk thistles so seeds do not blow onto other peoples plots.

I think we are all like the Song Dearest Mother Dearest Father.  The bit about camping being  very entertaining if only it would stop raining.   I am sure we will all get the enthusiasm back when it brightens up again.

What about 1986, it was cold and dull, the warmest day in the year was in October and I wore winter clothes all summer.   At least we have had a few nice breaks this year.   All my courgette plants except one rotted.


 

[manicscousers]

We're trying to get the place ready for Wigan/North west/ Britain in bloom and the RHS in your eighbourhood judges  ::)
Lots of the plants we grew from seed have been eaten. All the petunias have melted in the rain and getting the working plot holders to clear their plots is a nightmare, they only have so much time.
Still, the organiser gave me £200 to spend on plants so I've been shopping today, much nicer to spend someone else's money  ;D

[Doris_Pinks]

I actually got one of those letters  :o  Was a bit gutted I have to say! They did a site inspections on the 26th June, and another one coming up on the 26th July, complained about my weeds, but did say they realised it was a difficult year..........I should bloody well say so! (What makes me smile though is the footpath to the compost which is their responsibility has weeds taller than me!)

It seems every time the sun peeks out, I am working, and I am just not enthused enough this year to go up in the cold, windy showers. A lot of people on our site are disheartened too, I am just hoping we have a fabulous autumn :)
I do miss the sunshine and my plot  :'(  So you are not alone

DP