Having have had to give up two allotments because of house moves I thought my allotment life was done with.My health has been a bit poor with kidney problems so consoled myself with the thought that it was for the best anyway.
Three year waiting list here for a council allotment.
Have been able to grow a few veg first on a tiny plot of land here ,then on an unused garden owned by the cathedral,the garden though has been mainly flowers etc as it is in a very public place.Really enjoy it.
Anyway,sat down to read the local mag and a farmer a few miles away is advertising brand new plots...........£100 a year with water.
Each plot is fenced off and they are alongside the canal.......do canals flood ??
Going to see it Saturday............got chatting to someone and her Daughter has one and says it is a lovely place.
May go today as Saturday seems a long way off and I am excited LOL
Seems like you need an allotment so hope this site nice as it sounds. Don't think canals flood and least you wouldn't run out of water!
How lovely Betula. Take some pics and then we can help you decide wether to take it or not ;D
Canals have a complex arrangement of feeders and overflows to maintain the level but can flood if the overflow channels get blocked... highly unlikely though. :)
Our allotments were new and on farm land. Actually technically not allotments. Depends on the contract. But beside a canal sounds like a very attractive spot. You will have to look into the agreement carefully. For example we are not allowed sheds, greenhouses, polytunnels and livestock. £100 charge depends on the size of the plots.
We do not have huge fences so have had minor amounts of theft of produce.
What is the canal used for? Will people in boats have easy access to the site. And being out in the country side means that there are a greater number of rabbits, deer, pigeons, badgers, squirrels to help themselves too.
I have also had to spend quite a lot of effort improving the soil but I did not have to struggle with brambles and bindweed etc. Do look at the access and think about how long term the commitment of the farmer will be.
As for your on cathedral garden, I am finding more ways of popping veg amongst the flowers of my front garden. Purple flowered peas, salmon pink runner beans amonst sweet peas, pink flowered strawberries, red leaved potato plants, red stemned beans climbing through shrubs, red podded peas etc etc.
I hope it works out for you.
Hi Betula,
The allotments that were new on our site, created on a field, had real problems with couch grass for the first couple of years but are good now, I imagine rabbit proof fencing will be your most important need, it is on ours :) Sounds a lovely place to have an allotment, nice and peaceful :) :)
Thanks for your comments all. :)
Well I could wait no longer and off I went to have a look this afternoon.
The site is just off the main road and has plenty of parking.Although the site is fenced their is no real security as such.Alongside the canal and I waved to three happy boaters going past,no mooring as such alongside the canal.But in short yes stuff could be pinched .
The soil is a sandy loam so I guess will dry out very quickly,however anything is better than clay that I have battled with in the past.
I have chosen a plot quite near to the water supply.
The pub is in view of my plot so what could be better.??
Say hi to the new tenant of plot 76...........I am its first tenant.
Quote from: betula on June 17, 2011, 05:33:15
Each plot is fenced off and they are alongside the canal.......do canals flood ??
Which canal Betula? (I'm the water keeper on the Kennet and Avon).
Does the Trent Mersey make sense?
Will double check LOL
Yes Got it right.
sounds perfect-am very happy for you.
It's not unheard of for a canal to over-top its banks, though they're managed as carefully as possible to maintain a constant level so it's not usually anything to worry about. Unfortunately I don't know anything about the Trent and Mersey, but if you want to PM me the locks at either end of your pound I'll make some discrete enquiries. It's easy enough to tell if the ground is regularly flooded as there'll be tell-tale marsh grasses and sedges.
I'm really pleased for you getting a plot again Betula.
Plot 76 to the right of the number
(http://i54.tinypic.com/1zdqkia.jpg)
Looks great - will be brilliant to start from scratch and have it just the way you want.
Well I would have said" TAKE IT". How lovely to have a blank canvas. I have never had a clear site to start with.Imagine no rubbish to get shut of.
What are you going to do first Betula.
I can see this becoming a series"Goings on at plot 76". Just keep us informed as you fill it up. Oh I am so excited for you Betula
fantastic and congrats on the new plot 8) As Shirl says, a blank canvas .... how exciting!
Congratulations Betula. I hope you really enjoy getting going again. What size is your new domain?
Good on ya betula, life without an allotment is worth thinking about and just think of all the new Friends your going to make.
What a fantastic plot and no shoulder high brambles. Congratulations, and may you have many years pleasure with it.
Looks great Bet, a quick hoeing and it will be perfect, I think the pub sold it for me though. ;)
Looks fantastic!
Good for you for taking it ;D
Alison
Yay! good news Den ( and nr a pub, perfick!) ;) ;D ;D
Quote from: Froglegs on June 18, 2011, 08:20:02
Good on ya betula, life without an allotment is worth thinking about and just think of all the new Friends your going to make.
Forgot to put the NOT in :P :P
Just a quick update,
The plot is about thirty feet by ten or twelve something like that.
Loads of clods of grass in the soil when I started digging...........but so easy to dig.........yay ;D
Started to work my way up the right hand side and created a small strawberry bed and as it is late in the season will have to go to the garden centre for some stuff.Will try some seed though but digging and laying the plot out will be my priority.
Jim kindly constructed an arch we bought from wilko......bless them,that is my entrance and may add a few more as I go along.
The farmer has provided loads of muck but I am steering clear of that as I don't want a disaster on my hands.
I have a free afternoon tomorrow so hope the weather is OK but will be popping into wilko first for stuff LOL.
Just reserved a wheelbarrow at Argos..............shunting them grass clods is going to slow me down a bit but the farmer has provided an container to put them in.
Have you looked at Ken Muir for strawberries, they keep them frozen so they take of very fast. Though quite a lot of varieties are now out of stock.
Glad you have made a start . The farmer seems very obliging
Well I had quite a few strawberry plants in pots at the back of the house,so off they went to the allotment and they have started me off.
The farmer does seem pretty good.
Our farmer is great too. I do hope that more farmers can find that renting out plots can be a good crop.
If you need any marshmello runners a bit later in the season, let me know :)
terrific looking site! Hope it brings you much enjoyment! ;)
Betula..Aldi has got some strawberry plants in sale tomorrow..£2.99 for 6..if you are in urgent need of some.. ;)
Oh thanks everyone that is so kind. ;D
It all sounds great and I bet you're itching to get going. Still loads of stuff you can sow too.
My plot - and garden - have been neglected for the last 4-5 weeks while I've been working as an examiner, so I can't wait to get back and get my hands dirty!!
Still got quite a few to do... but having a planting out day... :)
well the plan to work Wednesday afternoon did not happen as I was due to leave work at 2 and at five to two the boss had to go home so I was stuck there till six.Seconds after that my Daughter called me to go across to her house and she was in strong Labour but doubting it ::)Thursday morning went to bed with the dawn breaking but went into auto pilot as had to collect little Grandson from school but today I am determined to dig dig dig..............
What a great looking plot! As everyone else has said a blank canvas is a wonderful way to start off with a new plot (as mine was but it was covered in nettles!)
Enjoy!
Iain
Thanks Iain :)
Correction on size it is 50 by 20.
Managed to do some digging all afternoon.Bit slow as I am not fast these days but was happy with what I did.
The strawberry plants looked nice and perky so happy with that after a few days of them being planted.I draped some net over them but need a fruit cage really so have included that in my master plan.
Found some runner beans still in date so have popped them in round a little wigwam and we will see what will happen.Asked around and a lot of people have used the manure with no ill plants ............the site has been open since April apparently.Popped some manure in and it looks good stuff.
A lot to do before winter comes but the blank canvas aspect is amazing.
Had a few hours down the plot yesterday and was delighted to see my Radish seeds have germinated. :)First seeds on the plot so ridiculously excited over a few Radish but you know how it is. ;D
The digging is my priority but I seem so slow.The digging must be done as finding lots of grass.
Nearly everyone I speak to is a first time Allotment holder and I must say they are making a very good job of it.Saying that the chap next door is just digging where he wants to grow ,litterally ,boy is he going to have problems with that grass but I am keeping my mouth firmly shut for a change LOL ;D
Found a few of those cut worms do you call them ?To be expected in grassland ,had a look on the web and one suggested turning the soil in September when the babbies come so the birds can get at them,another said to put some spuds in on a spike to get them......Any advice on this please ??
Lots of lovely everyday wormies so very encouraging.
it all sounds fantastic, and your enthusiasm is coming across! ;D 8)
Quote from: 1066 on July 06, 2011, 08:09:15
it all sounds fantastic, and your enthusiasm is coming across! ;D 8)
Having a fresh plot to start on is a great feeling and the challenge of turning a weed ridden patch into something useful is exhilarating. Thats how come we have two and a half plots. ;D
Enjoy your first harvest Betula
Well my beans are coming up now and my courgettes ;D
Still slow digging but getting there.I know from reading many posts on here over the years it will be worth it
One bloke is sieving but I must admit I don't think me body is up to that and he said he has had enough really.
Hoping for a few hours down there tomorrow,reckon another week or so and I will have cracked it..
Lots of new sheds ,patios etc going in on the plots and a nice community spirit.
I really need to get down there earlier in the day as more yacking than digging going on some days ;D
That other plot is so tempting but must be sensible,hoping it will be allocated now to take the dilemma away LOL
Me thinks that one has been bitten by the bug again ;D
Only just seen this thread! Congratulations- did you say daughter in labour? :-\
Yes I did LOL
Brand new baby Grandaughter. ;D
The problem was she started Labour in the morning,went to the hospital and they sent her home saying she was not in Labour.She called me in the evening and I went over and she was very obviously in strong Labour,I said she must go to the hospital but she kept saying they will send her home again,she had lost confidence in her own judgment.I put my stern Mum hat on and insisted they go so off they went .What a carry on. :)
Went to the plot Monday,Jim had a day off so we went together.
My Beans are growing so pleased about that.
Someone told us that some free slabs were available so we went and got some of those.They were huge and we struggled,then a lovely young man come along,he had big muscles and a suntan ;D and he really helped.
This held up the digging but we have half a path now LOL
Went to the pub on the way home as it was very hot :)
Sad thing is The Council have objected to the sheds.Lots of lovely new sheds on site.Someone had phoned The Council to see if sheds were OK and they said yes.The council said the guy never phoned.He has now got a copy of his phone bill and he has a record of his phone call................
I have not got a shed yet but will support the battle >:(
I think all the plots have gone now .
Have decided on a traditional lay out and lots to be done before next season.
Will post a piccie of my slow progress ;D
Oh must tell you a funny story,asked Jim if he would mind getting me some muck..........he asked me where the gloves were.....sorry I said I have forgotten them.You can't expect me to get it with bare hands he replied ::) ::)
Er,how about using the spade or the Fork darling ;D ;D ;D
And I thought I had him trained LOL
,he had big muscles and a suntan and he really helped.(Quote by Betula.)
I bet he did ;D I like the pub part.
Can't see why council should object to sheds on sites unless they're huge. Not like they are permanent structures and you need somewhere for your tools and pee bucket.
Glad going so well otherwise.
This rain is driving me nuts....seems that everytime I have some time off from work the heavens open :(
My slow but steady progress is down to a snails pace........... :'(
So you are hogging the rain as well. ;D
Well managed to get a good few hours in today.Just a few spots of rain so not too bad.
I feel all happy now . ;D
Quote from: Digeroo on July 21, 2011, 10:18:22
So you are hogging the rain as well. ;D
No way! I am!! ;D ;D ;D
It is raining here too, in not so sunny Enfield, north London. The reason why our Council objects to sheds is because we do not have too much theft on our site, but once they see a shed, they break into it, even if it only has old tools in it. We have no sheds, but can have wooden boxes with locks to keep tools in. When it rains I sit under the fir tree and put my umbrella up, but we do have a Council toilet/shed to sit in when very wet, but it doesn't smell too good. Good luck with the new allotments.
Betula Has your little pic of the finger tapping cat always been a flashing one? Or am I going nuts! ???
He is not flashing my end Duke ???
Its stopped now phew! Maybe I should mix more water with me drinks! :P
Your going nut cos mine aint flashing ;D
Is flashing cat syndrome serious ??? LOL ;D
It has been decided we can keep our sheds ;D
Don't know why but that is such good news.Shed has now been added to my want it list.
Saw the farmer and he has decided he is going to make another one of his fields
over to allotments.Nearer to home too but I am sticking with this one after all this digging LOL and love being alongside the canal......always waving to the Boaters and the boats are so interesting.
Farmer[Paul] said to me he loves coming down to the Allotments,always someone to chat to.
All the plots taken now on this new Allotment site.
The farmer is opening up a new site but has been unable to plough that field as it is so dry..............lots of eager people waiting.
Have decided next year to make a temporary hedge consisting of a lot of bush tomato plants.............the few bush ones I planted are like mini trees and doing so well.
The digging is almost finished but need to go over it again as still the odd bit of couch popping up.
Done a lot of covering for holidays at work so not got down as much as I would have liked so watering was limited but amazing how the courgettes,runners and toms have flourished.Little rain to speak of.
Do we water too much??
Do we water too much??
In our site some people do..the amount of water they get through is ridiculous. I think instead of 'banging' on water they should think of more getting their soil better and use of mulches.
But this year on our lotties its been soooo dry. First proper rain for whole summer we've had is been last couple of days.
Are close enough to able to access the water from canal?...or would you be allowed to do so? I was just thinking that if the situation gets desperate would you be able to drop a bucket on end of rope and get some for 'emergencies'?
Well we have plenty of taps and dip tanks..............
It would be very easy to dunk into the canal LOL ;D
It is so nice to hear of farmers breeding more allotments. There are so many small towns and villages which have no allotments. They get subsidies for all sorts of things but not for having allotments.
I have been trying to use more mulch. It has been very very dry here. Any crops I have mulched have done so much better. Some people seem to use a lot of water and then the wind just dries it off again.
Hedge of tomatoes sounds good but I like to put a hedge of early peas to keep the W and NW wind at bay. I think it gets the courgettes, swet corn and other delicates off to an early start.
Spent the whole day on the lottie yesterday.
Put in jap onions and Garlic,will be interesting to see if they survive the winter,are you supposed to protect them ?
My runner beans are on a silly wicker tripod,it has fell over in the wind ,my own fault.
Spent ages pinning down the runners on the strawbs.
I like the idea of a hedge of early peas................
Thers some allotments in Lincoln no one will take, because they are next to the River Witham. The ground is sodden twelve inches down at it frequently floods in winter. The other problem is the high humidity of the soil at the surface, under the grass is so high the slugs moove about in vast armies demolishing anything planted.
HERE (http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?q=lincoln&hl=en&ll=53.205586,-0.555099&spn=0.002423,0.005895&sll=53.800651,-4.064941&sspn=19.648276,48.295898&vpsrc=6&t=h&z=18)
SO if its near a canal, you probably will get alot of slugs.
Not seen any so far but sure they are around.....the winter will tell.
Nice sandy loam so very free drainiong soil.
Presume that the canal with be lined to prevent leakage of water.
QuoteThe ground is sodden twelve inches down
Think of all that lovely celeriac. ;D
Saw a program about how some people had floating veg gardens on a lake or river. There were two sets of them on Monty Don's round the world in 80 gardens. One set were in Mexico and the others down the Amazon.