Allotments 4 All

As 'twere requested, I thought I'd say a bit about my plot.

'Tis in the Rivelin Valley (western edge of Sheffield), a few hundred yards from where the Rivelin joins the River Loxley.
We officially took it on before Christmas, shortly after moving to Sheffield, then didn't get to do much on it 'til about April, owing to a combination of sorting house out and unfavourable weather (eg. frozen solid). That said, it was always destined to be a matter of reclaiming the allotment bit by bit from about 5 years lying fallow.

Have (sort of) cleared about half of it, planted onions, spuds, broad beans and ready to plant out various brassicas, runners and peas. We also have some squashes and courgettes, just getting going. Along with clearing and getting a few crops in, I also started to re-establish the front boundary (until the weather got too warm/dry) using some self set trees dotted about the plot; they are free and I needed to dig them out anyhow. I think they are a species of willow; round leaved, not exceptionally vigorous (famous last words ;)).

We have gradually dicovered quite a lot of stuff which has hung on since the previous encumbant 8). As we cleared back we discovered some strawberries and rhubarb surviving in amongst the grass, and 4 currant bushes and a gooseberry in the back corner under a bramble thicket. On one boundary there were some rose trees, on the other some raspberry canes. Since the fruit bushes were already starting to leaf up, I left them to gain strength this year having been brambled, but they are bady overgrown and need a serious pruning. They still fruited pretty well - though I got a grand total of 10 currants thanks to the birds!

There are also the slowly subsiding remains of two brick-based greenhouses - one against the front boundary was burnt out, which was apparently the final straw for the last people who gave up. We also have lemon balm, marjoram (I think), pepper and apple mints growing as weeds! The brambles and a few encroaching convulvulus are mildly irritating but not too much trouble, I think the worst problem is really the couch grass combined with a rhizomous perennial which looks a bit like rosebay willowherb.

I'll try to take a few photos this evening and post them tomorrow.


Pete

PS: Off at a tangent... Using "'lottie" as an abreviation seems great - unfortunately I hesitate to use it, as I know somebody who prefers to be called Lottie. Cute computer geek, with a lot of cleavage which she likes to show off (let's be quite clear, I don't have a crush on her, quite happy as I am thanks), so this leads to huge potential for unintentional inuendo, if you see what I mean!

OK, I'm not sure if this is gonna work, but here (hopefully) are a couple of photos...
It was a little tricky to get anything that didn't just look like a lot of grass and weeds (hmm, I wonder why? ::)), so apologies for the poor quality.


Taken from the roadway at the back of the allotment and somewhat above, as you can see there's still rather a lot of scrub which I haven't yet turned over, and more large saplings to uproot/transplant. The inherited soft fruit is mainly in the near right corner, out of shot or obscured, but I also discovered a couple more bushes at the weekend, in the derelict greenhouse.


Some of the more cultivated bit: potatoes nearest, carpeted bit has a couple of squashes planted (some pumpkins and courgettes to go in tomorrow night) then beans and as yet small brassicas beyond. Beyond that onions either side of a couple of fruit bushes we bought, and out in the grass after that their are some strawberries hiding.

I know it looks rather a dump, but I'm reclaiming it slowly!
This was fairly early, so you can see that it doesn't really get the sun until late morning - methinks there may be some sereptitious tree pruning before the year's out.

laters
PB

 ???

Can't see the pics TR! Can you cut and paste the url thingy?
As you can see I am a computer whizz (NOT)

;)

Buggrit! Millenium hand and shrimp says I!   >:(
Sorry guys, I'll try again, but I thought I followed the directions in Wiki....





Or failing that, try these links:
http://f3.yahoofs.com/users/430b3b34zc8c1a17b/a858re2/__sr_/a8f2re2.jpg?phYJ4sEBcmbScSx_
http://f3.yahoofs.com/users/430b3b34zc8c1a17b/a858re2/__sr_/3f5cre2.jpg?phYJ4sEBUwR.8W0c

I make no pretense at being good with computers - hate 'em but they're darn useful - I usually find that a basic understanding and some inventive threats do the trick. ;)

Dan: if you're reading, why didn't it work?

;D

Ooooh lots of potential there! Take it you have had your abseiling lessons?!!

;)

Stupid Yahoo!  >:(
But what should I expect - serves me right for thinking I'd take the easy route and use a service I already happened to be subscribed for. ::)
If this is still working for other people I apologise - but I just came to look at Katy's reply and the images have both died. One last try....






;D Katy - bit full of brambles at the back (near field) there! Was wondering whether to plant one or two hop vines to scramble up and suppress them.
PB

Dear Foul Ole Ron,

Glad to see you've branched out from eating shoes.  Can't remember the name of your flea-ridden hound plucky little dog. Remind me?

The plot looks lovely, lots of shade and growth, wish it was my garden! Lots of work to do, but keep with it.  Your toms certainly look healthy.

Regards
Lady Sybill.

got it at the last try TR.  how do you find things under that shade ??  seems to be just find and dandy.  do you get more sun on it at other times of the day ??

i keep looking and longing at others plots.  now you've got the knack, keep the pics coming.

;D