Allotments 4 All

I got an allotment!  Woohoo!  After only a few months wait, one came free and I've accepted it!  I've updated my blog so details are on there if anyone is interested!

So, anyway, I've read the books, magazines and websites and thought I'd started to gain a bit of knowledge and now that I've got the plot I'm back to being a complete novice!  So I'm sure I'll be asking loads more questions!

Here's the first ones...

There are some raspberries ("canes"?) still remaining from previous owners and I thought I might leave them in place as they're situated in quite nice spots.  Do I need to do anything to them?  Prune, feed etc?  They are about fout foot tall.

Also, I have bought a redcurrant and whitecurrant from Wilko's (£2 each!) and wondered if I should be putting them in the ground now or is it too cold?

Many more questions will follow!

;D

Congrats sallyc on getting your plot, it's exciting isn't it?!!!  Join the club on the questions front, I feel like a4a is my personal wiki sometimes lol  ;D - everyone's been really great tho' and haven't lost patience with us newbies yet  ::) .  Ask away for any advice you need, it's helping us all!  Good luck!  ;D

Sounds to me as if the raspberry canes might be summer fruiting if they are 4 ft tall, so I'd leave them in place and not cut them down until after they've fruited. By late summer, they may have fruited and new shoots will have come up next to them, You cut down the old fruited canes and leave the new shoots which will fruit in 2009, and so on.
For the redcurrant & whitecurrant, put them in if the soil isn't frozen, otherwise pot them up & leave them in a place where the roots won't get frozen solid, and plant them out about March when the soil isn't frozen. For these, have a good look at the shape, if the growers have already taken the centre stem out, they will probably develop ok, they usually do this, and the bush ends up in a shape almost resembling a miniature tree, with a short stem and branches. Let them develop and take about a quarter off the "branches" mid to late summer, to encourage little fruiting spurs.

Congratulations Sallyc... bring on those questions!
;D

Congratulations Sally.

Can you please post a link to your blog? I would like to read about what you decide to grow.

Jo.

congratulations Sally - happy allotmenteering

Yay! Wonderful news, Sally.  ;D

 ;D ;D great news for you  ;D ;D always nice to hear of someone who gets a plot especially after a wait.

Congrats!!! I also have piles of mags and books but none of it seems to sink in.  ;)

Tina.

Congratulations! Prepare to get hooked though....... ;D

And take loads of photos before you do anything so you can see your progress!

Nice one Sally there will be no stopping you.  ;D ;D ;D

Thanks everyone!   ;D

Jo, here is the link to my blog ....  http://kitchen-gardener.blogspot.com/

No pics on there yet, but I have taken quite a few and will prob get chance to upload them tomorrow.

Deb P - yes, photos are great for tracking progress.  Even after three days it was great to see the difference, it's so easy to forget where you started!

Jennym - thanks for the 'currant advice - I'm popping down there afterwork today so will check the soil out!  Although with the snow thats predicted maybe I'll just pot them up to be on the safe side...

:)

Thanks for the link Sally. I had a read of your blog this morning.

I'm at the stage that you were at last year, growing things in pots in my back garden.

I've bookmarked your blog so that I can keep up with your progress on the lottie. I'm interested to know what you decide to grow.

Good luck with it,

Jo.

Hi Sally! Congrats on new plot-just off to have a look at your blog. loads of good advice on here. Sometimes when I come on to ask something it's already there from someone else and you can just soak up all that lovely garden info!
Emmyx :)

Hi again- love your blog. All that stuff about your lottie neighbours did make me giggle as mine are just the same- really lovely and friendly but a bit bossy!
Mine love to tell me about what won't work and how if I think I can garden organic (hadn't said a word about it) then I'm mad- well yes I am but aren't we all!!! ::)
One man got very upset when I pulled down the bizarre scaffolding poles stuck in the ground with wire strung between that was threatening to garrotte my children as they ran around the plot. Mostly they are great though and as you say, loads of freebies to get you started.
Will keep watching your blog for more tales from the lottie!! :D

Quote from: emmy1978 on February 09, 2007, 10:17:07
Mine love to tell me about what won't work and how if I think I can garden organic (hadn't said a word about it) then I'm mad- well yes I am but aren't we all!!! ::)

Tell me about it emmy, ours are just as bad, organic gardening doesn't work apparently, and certainly not on our lottie site!  I'm so excited about proving them wrong  ;D  ;)

we have to talk about natural gardening, organic's a touchy subject  :)

Quote from: manicscousers on February 09, 2007, 20:00:57
we have to talk about natural gardening, organic's a touchy subject  :)

I agree, leave organic for the businesses, garden naturally and you can do as you wish ...

Derek :)

I believe I've already had this discussion here I think. Love the idea of natural as opposed to organic, which seems to have become a brand name!

Yes you have emmy, i remember it too - trouble is i keep slipping back to my 'old' ways & sometimes still call it organic!  Oooops, must try harder!  ;D