I paid a visit to the allotment this week. There's not a whole lot I can do until I get a strimmer (booked for this weekend), but I did have a measure up and a poke around.
I met the guy with the next allotment along, and he told me that mine was actually cultivated until 6 months ago, and sadly the previous holder passed away.
Im amazed that the weeds grew so high in just 6 months, but it did prompt me to have a little look around for signs of veg. Being a complete novice I really wasn't sure what I was looking for, but I did recognise some flowers that belonged to onions.
There was also a lot of a reddish purple plant, and although it looks like nothing I have eaten before, it was quite abundant in a certain area. I dont want to destroy it if it's worth keeping, so perhaps you could have a look and tell me if you recognise it. It is the stuff on the left of this picture:
(http://img503.imageshack.us/img503/4928/allotmentonionou9.jpg)
Actually.... while im posting, I did have another question. I was wondering what the minimum width should be for a bed. My plot is 9 metres across, and about 28 metres deep (30' x 90')
I wanted my rotation beds do go down the length of the plot (north to south), and wondered if 9m (30') would be space for 2 beds width or 3 - given that I will need a path aswell.
Sorry if this seems a strange thing to ask, but im trying to draw a plan on paper, and I think I may have the whole thing out of perspective. When I see it its bigger than I imagine.... maybe I can have 4 beds across the width?
Thanks
JJ
Hiya, jimmy..we did our beds 4' wide, that way, we don't walk on them and compact the soil..can't help with your plant though ??? :)
Jimmy, our beds are 8' x 4'. The width is the same as Manic's for the same reason, you can manage without treading on them, and 8' long so that it is not too much effort walking round and ending up stepping on them in a hurry. They only need narrow paths between. But then these are raised beds but I do have some level beds the same size. Sorry, I have no idea on the plant either. :(
Hi Jimmy, we're novices too but the plant you have photographed was also on our allotment and we were told it was a weed. It came out v. easily. We carefully dug around it too! We also preserved a bed of what we thought was a herb (possibly chives we thought) and were then told it was a type of grass! We were given so much help and surplus plants by the other lotties it was fab (could be because we are blonde though - so you might have to buy them ;D!) Did almost embarrass ourselves though - we were given, amongst other things, chives (real ones) and spring onions and we got them mixed up and were about to try and plant individual chives. We are becoming addicted to the allotment and haven't even had it a week yet! We love it! Been there every evening and can see results already. On to the home brew in the shed next ............
Your weed looks a little bit like "Yarrow"
See here: - http://www.dgsgardening.btinternet.co.uk/yarrow.htm
This weed is also said to repel insects so if its next to the onions....??? ???
As for raised beds mine are 6 foot wide... the longest about 20ish foot. I would go for 3 beds as it will help with your crop rotation. I think my plot is about 32 foot by 36 foot, and in total I have 8 raised beds, plus a fruit area.
Have a look at my blog www.pellonallotment.blogspot.com if you look in the archives back to September 2005 you'll be able to see how I build them.
Good luck! ;D
Thanks for the info Carls, although the subject plants have been strimmed and put on the compost pile!
Great blog, and a great looking plot. I hope that mine will get to something similar over the coming years.
I plan to have a few beds in a similar layout. I do accept that I may lose quite a bit of growing space with so many paths, but i figured I would prefer that to walking all over the beds to reach the middle!
Im slowly working on digging the beds, and will post some pics when I have made enough progress to warrant them!
If it were me I would get rid of the lot who know the onions you see may have white rot (but hopefully not) plus the weeds may be hosting other common vegetable diseases.
At least if you start with a clean sheet you can always think of what YOU did if things go wrong, plus sods law says the plant you want to keep will not be in the spot that fits in with your plans >:(
Your plots seem to be of a similar size to mine and I have made all of my beds approx 5ft (1.5m) wide apart from one which is 8ft (2.4m) wide.
Have a look in here and see what I mean; this was my plot at the beginning of this month (in case you didn't see it when I posted it then)
http://tinyurl.com/33wf3q
My weeds...
(http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e190/Plot52/weeds607.jpg)
;D
Yeah! You need to dig them out, Saddad... :D
A good pull will get rid of those. I've got masses, I can produce more opium than Afghanistan.
There are about six fields of those being cultivated near us. Quite a sight!
Hi JJ, I am planning 4 main rotation beds - spuds, brassicas, roots, legumes. Then beds for other things i want like sweetcorn, pumpkins and squashes, asparagus, strawbs, then an area for flowers and soft fruit, comfrey bed for fertiliser....gaagh!
I thought about 4x8 but not sure yet as still planning. When i got the first plot it had been rotavated and was covered in weeds.
I was clearing a patch and then planting stuff in it so it's a bit haphazard at the mo but things are growing and i figured it's a long term thing and it doesn't matter if it's not all perfect when you start. ;D
I also have problems with the perspective and size of the plots when planning. I always draw the beds tiny or far too big. ::)
My lottie assoc made me pull up all the poppies on my 2nd plot, they were taking over the world but I am a bit gutted. It's ok though coz I have loads of the stems and heads hanging to dry in the kitchen so lots of seed for next year har har.
I agree with TeeGee that it is nice to start with a clean slate unless you are lucky enough to take on a well planned plot that isn't all overgrown. Also you get to decide where you want everything like compost bins, coldframe etc.
Happy plotting. 8)
Same as TG clear the lot, let the dog see the bone. ;D ;D ;D