Allotments 4 All

...... that i must remember for next!!!

1. buy half sized seed trays to save the pain of sowing far too many of any one thing and having to decide which ones get pricked out and which ones wasted.

2. 'cherry tomato' is not an adequate label


please add any you may have - could be a good reference for next year!!!

Do agree - I now cut all my module trays into 4s or 6s to get continuity & easy handling.
Except for leeks etc - when you want scores.

Not to start sowing too early!!

The expensive, organic slug pellets that don't harm birds and pets, don't harm slugs either.

Leave it alone - it knows how to grow!

I thought I'd learnt the lesson about not planting too early, but April was too early for parsnips this year; germination has been pathetic.

Lol Robert....same as my first sowings of carrots...just too cold, must wait until the soil warms up next year!!

1.  Don't sow too early
2. Why do I need that many tomato plants?
3. Start peas off in pots to prevent fat mice!
4.  Don't just label one pot, you will not remember that they are all the same within the hour!
5.  Patience.

1. patience
2. look out for pests more
3. patience
4. you will forget which courgettes are in the blue pots and which are in the black pots - label
5. patience
6. use modules as they are intended - let plants develop a root system before potting on
7. patience
8. sow things direct earlier (seriously - I have only sown a few things and am now running out of time!)
9. cut up module trays before sowing into them.
10. buy more module trays and fleece

(we all seem to have the same bad habbits!)

I don't know about this year but last year it was "the fluffy bunny isn't our friend"
Oh yes, my wife said how cute the wild rabbit was until she saw what he could eat in a day.
Im sure she would have planted landmines for it if she could have.
This year, " just because easters early, doesn't mean that sowing should follow the christian calender. Hence no carrotts or parsnips."

Write things down so that next year you've got an idea of what you did and where you planted last year. 

theory translates well into practice - unless you are talking about continuation and succession. i will be glad if i will have sussed that out by the end of the year.

otherwise, everything has been a combination of happy accident, following what everyone else does and occasionally reading the back of seed packets ;)

Quote from: Amazin on June 05, 2005, 22:12:05
Leave it alone - it knows how to grow!

I love that, Amazin.   ;D

I've learnt so much from this site this year including that even the most experienced gardeners make mistakes and that's the fun of it all.  I now ignore sowing instructions and wait until it feels right and I don't get so upset if the slugs and snails eat my prize seedlings - I've always got a few more in the mini greenhouse to replace them. 

I've also discovered that no matter how small your garden is, there's always room to try something new if the spirit is willing.  But most of all I learnt what a truly smashing bunch of people post on this site and I can't thank you all enough for your advice, humour and generosity.

G xx

Invest in an electric propogator.

It is starting to look like there will be nothing left to learn next year.
We are all going to be perfect..............or are we?

The joy of a digi-cam.

label
label
label
label

oh - and same as a few others - don't plant too early and be a bit more adventurous with varieties.

prepare ground better too.

Ina - love comment about slug pellets! 

Not to behave like a complete beginner, and go rushing off to pour over books which all say different things and result in a blind panic, because I haven't done something exactly like the books say :-\

Ask you lot first ;D

1. Stop buying seeds on impulse when I'm running out of room on the plot
2. Stop thinking about taking on another plot (see above)

1 Don't move house, especially when the garden you are going to does not have a greenhouse.

2 oh then especially don't move in the winter, see 1 above.

3 Do plant a few extra, so you can help friends out when theirs have failed and so you can do swaps.

4 Stick a few of your extras out by the front gate to sell, it makes you new friends and helps fund next years seed bill. If you don't need the pennies donate the cash to your favorite charity.

5 Keep a record and label plants.

We're with Justy - label,label, label etc etc and being of the belt and braces brigade, write down what we've planted where for when the labels come out and get lost.

Another thing we've learnt is that whatever we set out to do takes at least twice as long as we thought it would....

1.  Slugs are related to Captain Scarlet
2.  No-one knows everything
3.  Making it up as you go along can work
4.  It doesn't matter that next door's leeks/pumpkins/beans/whatever* (delete as apllicable) are bigger than yours
5.  No matter how well you plan, you will always end up on at least Plan K
6.  Greenhouses are not big enough
7.  Worms are fascinating
8.  Petrol driven strimmers are our friends
9.  Comfrey and nettle tea STINK
10. Radox is cheaper at Poundland

 :D

agree with the next door stuff being bigger - my plot looks like pathetic patch of weeds compared with the 50ft rows of enormous plants my neighbour grows!  Mind you plot other side is rented but not cultivated for last 2 years so at least I am bothering!

Do as much preparation in winter as humanely possible !!

Don' give away your spare plants, because as soon as you have, the slugs will eat the ones you have planted!   (see the 10 pots of runner seeds in my greenhouse!)

Keep sowing! Just cos I have 2 rows of beetroot up on the plot doesn't mean we don't need more later on! (same for lettuces!)

Get a bigger plot, preferably through a gate at the bottom of my garden, with a shed!

This is my first year so I don't know much but what I do know is...
1) It takes around 10 weekends to turn an overgrown average size plot into a nice workable allotment
2) Little and often with the weeding
3) Wait until the weather gets warmer and sow directly into the ground if you're short of windowsil space
4) An hour = 2 hours in allotment time
5) Doing organic is harder than you think
6) Accept that some plants will become slug food.
7) Make a plan of your plot with plants and varieties labelled - it's fun
8) Don't plant too close together, give them space

1. Don't let the couch grass get you down.
2. It's okay that it's a jungle out there, it'll be better next year.

Quote from: tamsin on June 07, 2005, 17:52:16
1. Don't let the couch grass get you down.
2. It's okay that it's a jungle out there, it'll be better next year.

copying this onto various bit of paper and taping them up round the house, so true!

QuoteIt takes around 10 weekends to turn an overgrown average size plot into a nice workable allotment

Blimey, if I do take on a second plot I'll give you a call, my first took about 18 months to get right ;)

1.  Using tinfoil to wrap pots on the conservatory windowsill is less hassle than putting them in proper trays - until the tinfoil tears and you stain the white paint brown....oops!
2.  French Beans don't germinate until you give up on them and re-sow.....then both lots grow....Groan!
3.  Whatever excess you sow and think you can swap....everyone else will have done the same.
4.  A car load of well rotted manure is an awful lot to dig and fit in the boot even with the seats down....but it shrinks to a thimblefull by the time it gets to the lottie
5.  Best ever germination rates stated on the packet normally give worst results!
6.  When your wife says she'll help with the lottie she means she'll let you go......... lol

and finally....................................
7.  Ignore seed packets and talk to people in here - far more effective.  Thanks everyone!

Not to overwater until establisheed :-X :-X :-X ;D


Feel like a plonker, but a valuable lesson for next year ;D ;D

1) It takes around 10 weekends to turn an overgrown average size plot into a nice workable allotment


Admittedly I did have some help from a burly male  ;)

Quote from: greenfists on June 06, 2005, 13:03:15
I don't know about this year but last year it was "the fluffy bunny isn't our friend"
Oh yes, my wife said how cute the wild rabbit was until she saw what he could eat in a day.
Im sure she would have planted landmines for it if she could have.
This year, " just because easters early, doesn't mean that sowing should follow the christian calender. Hence no carrotts or parsnips."

Ah but Easter based on a pagan date and therefore on the seasons so follwoing that particular one is not such a bad idea - however, all things can be scuppered by global warming and unpredictable weather patterns.  :(

Just because you have opened a packet of seeds it does not mean you have to plant EVERY single one!

1.   Label it

2.   Listen to Dad more

3.   Label it

4.   Listen to Dad more

5.   Label it

6.   Listen to Dad more

CC

Quote1) It takes around 10 weekends to turn an overgrown average size plot into a nice workable allotment


Admittedly I did have some help from a burly male 

I'm pretty burley myself but even so ?????????

>>>I'm pretty burley myself but even so

hmm...maybe our plot is smaller than yours then. It's a half plot you see.

Here's the evidence http://www.mytinyplot.co.uk/?p=25
10 weeks from start to finish (I know because I blogged every back-breaking week). And we both work full time so we could only do weekends.

Things I must remember for next year: Label seed trays better, Make a note of when I plant things, Net everything even seeds sown. We have a very tame friendly blackbird, who is straight onto the soil as soon as you have sown anything, I think he thinks I have put down some tasty bird seed especially for him and his family. Stop worrying, it is not a matter of life and death if the mice completely mutilate you peas or the pigeons completely munch away your cabbages.   ;D busy_lizzie

Now Baa............ ;D

I'll just follow you good Folks then something as to work out right. :o

Because you've all written everything down for me ;)

Make sure there's no one behind you with a camera when you are jumping up and down in the compost bin to compress it.  :o lol

I use a sledgehammer for that job. One thing I learnt a couple of years back is, don't do it when the bin in question is immediately behind a beehive; the vibration drives them wild. I moved the bins after that experience.

I think Dan could have a nice little sideline going in labels!  ;D

1. Do not sow carrots and parsnips in March - they will rot.
2. Do not sow melon seeds in wet compost - they will rot.
3. Check your airing cupboard twice a day - unless you want triffid corgettes.
4. Couch grass is not my enemy, I am its - it just hasn't realised it yet.
5. Pigeons love cabbage - protect transplants immediately next year.
6. Sow leeks in compost filled pots as well as outdoor drills.
7. Sow all future sweetcorn seeds by using the pre-germination method (thank you)!
8. Potatoes and pots/barrels are a match made in heaven (thank you).
9. Paper pots are simple, easy, cost nothing, and work a treat (thank you).
10. Home-made fleece/mesh tunnels are easy to make & very inexpensive (thank you).
11. This site is a Godsend for the novice. Thank-you all, but most especially to Dan. Thank you Dan.

:)

All of the above (especially labelling) - and don't put beer slug traps out when the dog's around ...

Quote from: Bluejane on June 13, 2005, 11:48:22
and don't put beer slug traps out when the dog's around ...

Why not?

you get a drunk dog ! ;D

 

rabbit 's are not cute !
don't sow too early


don't buy a strange vegetable just because you have never heard about it ! cardoon   ::)


mags

My dog does not like beer  :(

My Husband does!  ;D

Quote from: mitzzy on June 13, 2005, 17:35:50
you get a drunk dog ! ;D

A drunk dog who goes a bit doolally and rolls on your onion plants, in my case!

Bluejane
I'll join your dog...............i do the same after a few beers!!hahahaha ;D hic hic hic 8)

I generally manage to avoid the onions - maybe that means not enough beer!

Don't go randomly sticking your fork into the compost bin on your new plot, it could contain a wasps nest  :-[ :-[ :-[

Look for a stream of wasps going in and out; you'll soon spot them if they're there. If you're reasonably fit you can run faster than a wasp or bee can fly. I've done it a few times.

Thankyou, sadly your advice is a little late, about 13 hours too late in fact :'(

Just discovered this one, don't throw chicken pellets around your garden before you are about to have guests over for a barbeque! :o :o  The garden ponged to high heaven!!

Also, you might think chicken pellets are fertilizer, but your dog knows better. Mine likes nothing better than hoovering up the little 'doggie treats' I've very kindly left for him amongst the veggies.  :-X

Euuuuuuwwwww   don't let him lick your face! :-X  :-X  :-X

1. don't sow sweetcorn too early
2. don't sow the whole packet of 100 tomato seeds when you only have a small plastic greenhouse
3. Do use hair clippings to deter slugs.
4. Label everything.
5. Cabbage aphids are yukky and kill fast.

Quote from: robsa on June 17, 2005, 11:40:14
Also, you might think chicken pellets are fertilizer, but your dog knows better. Mine likes nothing better than hoovering up the little 'doggie treats' I've very kindly left for him amongst the veggies.  :-X

Ours cleans out the kitten's litter tray  :-X :-X

And he eats fresh horse muck  :-X :-X :-X

This is our second year of allotmenteering:

1.  Plan to be at your allotment - otherwise we find out time taken over by all of life's other distractions

2. Don't give up even when you get an eviction notice from the Council cos you've only cultivated half of your allotment  :(

3. View eviction letters as negative motivation (see above - our plot is now almost 3/4s cultivated and we are so proud of our little-selves)

4. Don't have grass paths between beds (they seemed such a good idea at the time!!! What were we thinking!)

5. Prune fruit bushes or no fruit the following year!

6.  Invest in black plastic (where do you buy it from????)

7. Weed, weed and weed again!

And last but not least - be grateful for every tip and helping hand you get - thanks to everyone for all your wise advice!