Allotments 4 All

Hi all,
My OH and I moved into a new house beginning of January, which has a couple of small lottie plots in the garden.  We can identify rhubarb and nettles and lots of bunny holes.  This is the first garden I have ever had to work on (despite my advancing years  ;D) so dont have too much of a clue!!

From reading about on this site, I think the first thing to do is sort out some bunny proof fencing and clearing the weeds.  Its a bit stoney in places too. I did find a compost heap behind the shed, but I'm not touching it as it looks as if there are rats living in there - and I dont want to disturb them.....and I'm a big girlie chicken.  Think I need to either start another one - or buy a composter bin.

Something green has popped out of the ground by the greenhouse - as its come up in a couple of lines - I am assuming its not weeds.  ::)

Do I need to prepare the ground other than weeding - I keep reading about cardboard and manure and things??















The only thing we planted so far is the washing line  ;D

Lucky you.  I have a 10m2 patch of mud outside.  The green stuff in rows looks like quite advanced garlic to me.  it also looks like it is last years crop that has been lft on and has resprouted.

The plants with the red stalks are rhubarb. There's a page on the care of rhubarb here:

http://www.gardenaction.co.uk/fruit_veg_diary/fruit_veg_mini_project_september_1a_rhubarb.asp

Well done, you are at the right time of year to get started before the weeds get on top.
1st make a list of what you want to grow and buy the seeds
2nd look at labels and start what needs to be sown in greenhouse or window sills
3rd make a map on paper and decide where you are going to plant them
4th start digging and preparing soil
5th plant

dont make it any more complicated just yet, your learning will come gradually, mistakes may be made, but you wont repete them

6th enjoy it

Does anyone else suspect that the green plants in the background look a bit like spuds?

could be thistles of course...

hiya, mini, welcome to the site..what a brilliant garden, so much potential, you never know what else may spring up, fruit bushes etc, strawberries..good luck with it  ;D

Not being much of a flower gardener but my bet would be irises not the bearded type but the ones from bulbs that come a deep beautiful blue with yellow. I wonder if they are called iris reticulata but certainly iris.

Thank you all....!!!  ;D

I did manage to dig up one of those green things and was none the wiser....it didnt smell of anything - well dirt really!!  ::)  I'll leave alone and see what happens.

Yes, I cant wait to get started, I'm learning so much surfing around on the website - its great!!!

The building in the background is a workshop for a local business, but used to be a blacksmiths place, so the ground has got old shoe nails in.

After several years living in a flat with no garden, to this I feel so lucky and a whole new world has opened up.  ;D  ;D  ;D

Cant wait for the weekend (work full time) to do some more!!

Hi MiniTC

Gosh you are going to have loads and loads of rhuabarb!  Lovely looking garden though!  Enormous possibilities!

Good luck with it - it looks like you are going to have loads of fun and you really planted the washing line well!

Old Bird

;D

What a lovely garden! I bet it will look even nicer when it starts to wake up.

Looks to me like there may be a few fruit bushes there too. The first year in a garden is always exciting as you discover what plants you have.

cj :)

Looks like you might have some currant bushes growing behind your rhubarb.

Might I suggest you don't get too keen to weed and dig everything up just yet. If you wait another couple of months other useful things (as well as weeds) might start popping up.

The 'garlic' could also be spring onions.

If it's growing there now and you have rabbits, then grow this next time. Obviously the rabbits leave it alone and don't eat it (well not this year).

Your garden is beautiful, I would be outside every second.  Good luck on getting it done and pls post pics when in full bloom would love to see it.  I am a first timer aswell and this site is brillaint for all info
Good luck and have fun
Linda