Took over an overgrown allotment in September and have been putting the hours in clearing, digging and manuring and now have a pristine plot just raring to go.
Question is - NOW WHAT? I've run out of things to do and I'm sat round climbing the walls!
I know I'm being impatient but there must be something I can do till the days get longer.
Any ideas from anybody?
Cover the plot with mulch so weeds don't ruin the pristine-ness 8)
Order and plant fruit bushes and rubub
Make permanent lateral supports for fruit bushes like blackberries, raspbs, loganberries etc.
Clean and sharpen tools
Collect leaves and leaf mould
Dig a runner bean trench and start filling with kitchen waste
Construct a pond for slug-eating frogs, and a pergola for squash?
Build compost and leaf mould bins - and any permanent structures
Make permanent paths, cover with woodchip if you can get some free
Make your plot plan, do the sums for type of veg and quantity to ensure successional harvests
Enjoy leafing through seed catalogues
Keep an eye on seed swaps for anything you'd like to try
Fingers still itching?
Plant some broadies - it's still mild and they might be OK
Plant garlic
Grow pea sprouts indoors for fresh greens :)
well you did ask ... :P
If you can still get onions, shallots sets, garlic bulbs these will grow through winter. Plant them out on a mild day when ground is not frozen. Broadbeans are an other crop that does well through winter. Some garden centers may still have cabbage plants as well.
I was in the same situation, so I dug over someone else's plot as well. Or you could polish all your stones.
Get all the catalogues. Build yourself a fruit cage/anti-pigeon cabbage cage/compost bin(s). sort out water butts. Build a shed - if you're blessed with a vandal free allotment. With the weather, I bet you'll still have lots of weeding to do before the spring though
Cheers guys - this truly is the greatest site ever!
I certainly don't like the sound of these weed things ;)
yes, plant bare rooted fruit now. You could scrounge plants from your nice fellow allotmenteers, or you could try taking cuttings from gooseberries (eg). Maybe a bit late, but you lose nothing
See if someone will give you some strawb plants
Certainly try and get some rhubarb
I had to giggle when I read this one as I am almost in the same place myself. New plot half cleared - hopefully the weather will hold to let me finish it! Paths next - then the bins! Then it's twiddling thumbs time and making plans etc.......
I have some Garlic to plant and I put in a few daffs the other day! MIght see if I can get some Rhubarb as I grubbed the existing patch up as it had seen better days and had been part burnt by a bonfire!!!
As for the weeds?? - let them dare show their faces to me! - i'll have 'em! ;D
LOL
LOUISE
we've just bought a big, champagne rhubarb plant from e bay, only cost 4.44, including post, supposed to be a sweet one, and early..can't wait :)
And if you still need something to do after that you are more than welcome to come and make the acquintance of my weeds (which also popped up after I cleaned half my plot). ;D ;D ;D
I just wish it would stop raining so that I can now go and weed the onion patch. The weeds are starting to become the size of the onions and garlic.
Jitterbug
Didn't think of looking on Ebay - is there much of a market for plants etc?
Jitterbug - a busman's holiday is just what I need.... I work for very reasonable rates and just need letting out for five minutes last thing at night.
i know what you mean but mine is due to the bad weather at least i managed to plant the fruit bushes,strawberries and winter onions build the compost bin. i can at least get into my 2 greenhouses and clean up repair and build new staging ready for the spring rush of seed trays :D
Didn't think of looking on Ebay - is there much of a market for plants etc?
there's a whole bunch of plants and seeds on e bay, lots of businesses advertise there, never had a problem with them :)
But Spyros, before you get bidders' fever on ebay, remember to cross-check prices with some of the regular mail-order companies. Ebay's not always the cheapest!
And beware of Seedfest, which also (see this link) -- several A4A peeps have had problems with them recently.
http://www.allotments4all.co.uk/joomla/component/option,com_smf/Itemid,91/topic,25836.0
No advice, just like to congratulate Spyros on his avatar. It's brilliant - wish I'd though of it 8)
Actually, come to think of it I don't think anyone's mentioned how useful coldframes are, and they can be quite time consuming to build :)
Don't mean to brag but take a look at mine that DH knocked together in an afternoon. ;D ;DA visit to the tip a £5 door and some spare pallets and voila - one very good looking cold frame. Which I might add it already full to the brim with plants. Mmmh! Wonder if DH will make me another one ??? :-[
PS Don't look at the weeds behind me - that's a work in progress.
Jitterbug
That's brilliant - using a glass door. It should be in Top Tips :)
Now THAT is a thing of genius.
:D Liking the door idea Jitterbug
ooh ooh ooh, want one want one want one.
think i'm going to ask for a jigsaw for chrissie.
;D
MRSKP: I've got a jigsaw of the Royal Wedding if you want it ;D It's complete apart from Charles' nose (3 bits missing!)
Love your Avatar Spyros ;D
At this time of year I like to do 'shed-work' - sitting in the shed with a cup of tea, seed catalogues and ginger cake! It's exhausting but well worth the effort at the end of the day. I sleep well ;D
who stole my space ! :o
You're going to have to give us a little more than that, Mrs KP.
Incidentally - nice to see your old man finally getting some joy against the Aussie bowlers this morning.
from what i heard, we nearly buggared it again. haven't had a look yet, have been too busy repairing a broken greenhouse !!
i'll have words with him though, we can't do as badly as last time, surely ??
::)
I think he skied one with two balls of the session remaining - luckily it was to McGrath.
Everything's going to be OK.
(breathes into paper bag)
the last test was great (in a way). a bed all to myself. sweet.
i'm waiting for a decent innings before i phone my aunt up in sydney and give her grief.
;D