Allotments 4 All

I live in the newly-created village of Cambourne near Cambridge. The developers, with surprising foresight, have created a brand-new allotment with 60 plots. They brought in topsoil, built drainage channels and surrounded it all with secure fencing. Hurrah, their house-building might be a bit crappy, but the allotment is ace!

I took over a 50x20ft plot at Easter. The soil, though new, is actually very heavy and I decided to build raised beds, forking the top 6-12 inches as best I could and laying on multi-purpose compost from the local garden centre.

My potatoes that I planted on Good Friday are doing well and are starting to flower. Everything else is looking a bit pathetic though. I sowed lots of seeds of a whole range of things from carrots to courgettes. Most things germinated, grew 1 or 2 sets of real leaves and than just sat there doing nothing. For instance, I've got carrots sown about 2 months ago that are about 1 inch high.

I'd really like a bit of advice on what might be wrong - or is this normal? The things I have thought of are:

• The site is very exposed and windy - could this slow things up? It's a new site, so no trees, no sheds etc
• Maybe I didn't prepare the ground well enough
• Maybe the compost I put on is quite acidic - the pots like it but nothing else

The weeds are growing well on untended plots and some peoples plots seem to be doing OK (I'm quite jealous).

Any clues or do I just need to be patient?

Robin

This is really good, that they've created a new allotment site!

You're doing the right thing, bunging on lots of organic matter, which is the remedy for just about every soil problem there is!

50x20' - more or less same size as my first half plot (53'x23') so a nice size for a beginner.

ok: given where you are, I'd say your problem is just the cold, dry weather we've been having. Things need a bit of warmth to get going, and the seeds probably germinated in one of the warm periods and then our stop-start-stop-start spring got them. I guess where you are you get it cold anyway... had friends in Cambridge who were always complaining of a bitter wind.

Weeds are growing so your basic soil fertility must be ok (remember they are native to our climate - a lot of vegetables prefer it hotter...)  Which leaves sun, rain and temperature as the possible culprits.
Have you tried cloches/pop bottle covers?  Or put fleece over the seeds.  Given the temperatures are just about to go upwards for a few days,  make sure the seedlings have enough water then wait. There's a good chance they'll shoot up (as inevitably will the weeds).

That's my best guess

moonbells

Thanks for the reply, moonbells.

We managed to get on the front cover of the Times property supplement with an article about the new allotment. http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,587-1588027,00.html

I think you're right with what you said. The seeds germinated in the lovely warm April we had and then got hit by icy winds in May. The whole area suffers badly from gales. It was all open agricultural land before they built the village. They've done lots of landscaping and tree-planting but 1 foot high saplings don't do much to stop the wind.  :)

Anyway, it's going to be fantastic when it's established. The allotment is situated in our country park and will be surrounded by a wild flower meadow and wildlife reserve.

Robin

Your soil may well need building up a bit but there's obviously nothing wrong with it. The bad spring's done for me too; my site's been there since 1840, and a neighbour wins endless prizes in veg. shows. We both had a dreadful spring, with veg either failing to germinate or not growing properly.

Do you sow seed direct into the soil, starting many things off in pots is a good way to get them past the difficult early stages, they seem to be able to cope better with soil that is less than perfect, assuming you have somewhere to grow them indoors that is, ie. windowsill, greenhouse or cold frame

Thanks for the advice, peeps.

I've ordered some windbreak fabric off t'internet and I'm collecting plastic bottles for cloches.

Robin

I'm in Cambridge Robin so know Cambourne well.  Definitely best to use any windbreak material possible as I know you get the odd howling gale up there.  Best of luck - I can't believe they have put an allotment there through choice - that's great!  ;D

Quote from: robsa on June 16, 2005, 13:34:01
..... Most things germinated, grew 1 or 2 sets of real leaves and than just sat there doing nothing. For instance, I've got carrots sown about 2 months ago that are about 1 inch high.......

Better than my efforts on a well established, sheltered site in Hampshire.

I think the bulk of the advice seems sensible - Have you asked the plot holders who appear to have better results what they did or sowed?

I raise most of my plants in modules and then plant them out, with plastic bottle cloches to help them get established

Best of luck

Phil

Things are starting to get going now - potatoes, peas and beans seem to be doing the best.  I guess I just needed a little patience. Next year I think I'll start things that have smaller seeds off in modules.

There is one guy on the allotments that seems to be miles ahead of everyone else - I'll try and catch him when he's there next and quiz him. In the two months that the allotments have been open he's built fancy raised beds in a geometric pattern with gravel paths, a potting shed, a lawn, and a huge compost bin that looks like it is handcrafted from mahogany.  Plus he's got cabbages about 4 foot across. Not that I'm jealous or anything....  ::)

I am also in Cambridge & know Cambourne well - there's not alot around there to stop the wind! - I got my allotment at the beginning of May - So far I have started off most things at home then planted them out as plants - So far courgettes, runner beans, sweetcorn, mange tout, peas and some green manure - we are on clay & the plot has not been touched for years. Good luck with your plot! :) :D ;D

Ekitteridge - you give me great hope!  I'm in exactly the same boat as you - got plot in May (late), soil is clay and has not been touched for years!  Was worried that nothing will grow.  Like you have started stuff off in pots at home - courgettes, runners, peas, squash, sweetcorn.  Did you incorporate much into the soil first?