Allotments 4 All

Hi all

I have only got a half lottie so need to use as much space as possible. 
(Un)fortunately got large mature cooking apple tree at top of the plot which takes up a lot of space. 
Does anyone have any suggestions for stuff I can grow under it?  The ground there is pretty good but is almost entirely in the shade.  I thought about ornamental stuff but decided against it as bit of a waste really as not there to see it and would be an unproductive area to weed.  So really looking for food items!!

Ohh, how about getting some mushroom logs and putting them under it - if it's damp and shady enough. I fancy that myself.  Not sure if they would work???

how about salad leaves? they don't like it too hot and shady. Or squashes, which will also appreciate the shade.

Or even maybe a green manure.

I think some types of rhubarb will grow in the shade.  My grandma used to have a few crowns growing right in under an enormous pampas grass plant! ;D

Tim once posted a page for shade loving veggies.  Hold fast, I shall go hunt!

Found this one.

http://www.oldhouseweb.com/gardening/Detailed/686.shtml

More than you would imagine!  ;D

also spinach, as it's prone to bolting in the sun and heat

Good little article here:

http://www.hdra.org.uk/todo_now/faqs_topic.php?id=79

Jerry

brilliant - thanks all.   ;D Forgot about Mushrooms and just remembered that I have some spawn somewhere that I put away when we discovered that they make son sick!  I love em though so will definately have a go.  Will also try the rhubarb as mine has practically died this year and has not produced a single edible stem.  Will dig it up and try again under the tree.  Whatever goes under there will have to have little hard hats though from the windfalls!

Wild garlic- or maybe just normal garlic

you could get some grass seed that is specially for shaded areas and have a little picnic or sitting-down-to-admire-your-plot area??

haha- just thought- is that what newton did maybe? :D

I grew spuds under my apply tree last year in my turned out compost from my bin and they were fab :)

i didnt realise qwuite how much shade our smallish ash trees and field maple provide-so everythings going to be an experiment in those areas... :o

Truffles?  I hear you can buy maiden apple trees that have had truffle spores spread around their base that then crop a couple of years later.  Maybe the spores are available for you to add to your own mature trees.  Can't think where you might get them though?  Just a thought.  Lance

You should get plenty of apples, if nothing else. Is it Bramley's or what?

don't know what sort it is as inherited it.  Last 2 years have had tons of apples and looks like this will be a bumper year too.  They are quite big apples sort of greeny/red.  Cook quite nicely but always run out of things to do with them as most recipes call for eaters.

Just had a thought - small pond.  I would love to have a pond for frogs and as drinking spot for wildlife so could be good place?  How small could I realistically get away with - I have a small son so don't want anything too big.

you could have a white sink-we've got a big aluminium bath tub as a pond-its good!

hi there
two things
one : Ponds, I think water and any young child is a accident waiting to happen, but if you do make a pond as they are nice and do surve a important role with the wild life i wood look into puting some sort off solid mesh on top so that the wildlife can get to it and that the child is stopped from entering the water as a child can drown in a slight puddle!!!!
I no you can get building mesh that is used for supporting concrete at most building merchents and that is quite strong and well if you paint it say dark green ( hamarite ) it will not rust and you will hardely see it
Two anyone no where you can get truffles!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Sorry to waffle and my spelling aint that good
Matt  ;D

Frogs like water 1-2 inches deep to lay in; they'll often lay in a rain puddle if there's one beside the breeding pond. Toads like rather deeper water. You have to provide space for the tadpoles to live in, and no fish; they're predatory.

If those apples are large and green/red they could well be Bramleys, in which case they should be ready from about November onwards. My Bramleys produced its first three apples last year; I'm hoping for enough for a whole crumble this year!