Allotments 4 All

Hi every one all ways wanted one have been struggling with pots in the backyard for some time.
I thought you had to wait years but one phone call and the next day I was picking up keys.
Over grown a bit but I don't care. Complete with a bit of rubbarb.
To say i am over the moon is an understatement. Started work this morning slicing off the turf and stacking up to rot down and giving it a good dig over. Won't get much grown this year but I am sure i can get a few things in and get it in good shape for next year.
I need to plan the layout well rather than wish afterwards I had done it another way. here is a few pictures

Congratulations on your first plot.

You should be able to get a few things in:)

Tht shed looks pretty solid!

That looks very promising.  Get some potatoes in by mid-june and you'll be laughing.

Love the shed!

Thank you every one :)

Quote from: Unwashed on May 26, 2013, 20:25:34
That looks very promising.  Get some potatoes in by mid-june and you'll be laughing.

potatoes as in second earlies ?

Picked up some first and second early yesterday they were half price as they look bit rough will try and get some in this week if I can get enough dug over

Welcome to the forum, and good luck.
Also time to plant overwintering brassicas!

Ok thank you I have bought some cabbage and purple sprouting also cauliflower seeds so it is going to be a busy month of digging :)
Got some fresh horse dung in bags I know it has to rot down a bit do i leave in bags or chuck in a pile and cover some where ?

You can leave them in bags..or..if you have compost bin, empty them and cover the bin...or..once you brassicas are grown and are few inches tall, you can put some of the fresh dung on soil surface and it will break eventually giving some goodness for the plants in process...and same goes for potatoes, tough you cold put it on as soon as you get your spuds in. Once the potatoes come up..the dung would have 'mellowed out' and would not be too strong anymore.

Oh..and welcome from me too

Thank you next question there is a big 50 gallon  tin drum where the previous chap burned his rubbish it is full to the brim with ash is it worth digging in or should I dispose else where ?
Been cracking on in the evenings I will try and get some pictures up at some point. Making some head way into it. A neighbour gave me some cabbage plants and potatoes seed to get in which was nice of him

I would not use the ashes if you don't know what's been burned there. Some wood treatments/coatings and plastics can contain nasty chemicals that don't go away when burned in small fires.
If it all is ashes from untreated wood and garden rubbish then you could use it small quantities around brassicas and sprinkle in compost bin between layers of waste.

Well I have been quite busy and with the wifes and daughters help we are making some head way. Also gifted some plants from a neighbour which has been really helpful.
Now I have a few things in I can slow down and enjoy things a bit.
Had a chat with the previous owner today who showed me a comfrey plant  that I would have unknowing chopped down and also how to make fertiliser out of it. He showed me the end result which looked like an olive oil all very clever stuff.

Oh and hardly a third of the way yet :)

Clever use of the bread trays BTW, I'll have to remember that as I've got a few of them lurking about....

Handy for a quick fix I have netting over them now. The trays have gone over some broad beans I planted tonight for a while

You are cracking on well done that man, I was also going to mention the bread trays.     

I like your use of the bread trays, we can get blue trays not sure what comes in them, I use them as trays for yogurt pots but using them as pigeon protections looks a good idea. 

Courgettes like a lot of bio matter so I would mulch them up. 

I some bags of horse manure mixed up with straw roughly month old maybe more  but I was uncertain about using that or not for the courgettes. Would certainly help retain the water at the moment which would be handy

I like bread trays too ..and I use them to cover seed sowings and young plants same way. Not only that..they will turn into ideal instant staging/tables etc..so many uses. Drying onions and garlic on piled up bread trays with some cover on the top to keep rain away is working well! This year I'm going to try using bread trays for growing gherkins..planting through the holes and trailing the plants on top of the trays..keeping the growth off from ground
Blue veg trays usually contain mushrooms of spring onions..small veggie plants. Shops don't use them and they usually either returned to the source...or most often just disposed. Most shops are happy to give them away
I use them as plant trays...they hold 12x 3" pots..or they can be lined with old compost bag and salads grown directly on them..just big and deep enough for the job ....or just like bread trays, they can be use upturned over the plants and seed sowings I store dried onions and garlic on blue trays..stacked up they take little room and each variety is easily kept on its own.
Both trays are one of the most useful things on allotment...and FREE!

Well sowed a row of turnips and cauliflower today


Cabbage plants are getting a bit dark green about them and looking a bit healthier


Runner bean have suddenly shot out


made some head way down the allotment as well about 3/4's done now


peas, broccoli sown from seed have started to break through and all this in a little over two weeks. Just goes to show what a bit of nice weather does :)