Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat

Welcome => Welcome to the Forums => Topic started by: pigeonpie on January 23, 2018, 14:28

Title: It's been a while...
Post by: pigeonpie on January 23, 2018, 14:28
I've just realised it's been over 5 years since I was last active on this forum. Life somehow got in the way, and for the last 3 years I've been growing very little veg due to various commitments and life changes.

However, we've recently moved to the Outer Hebrides and now I'm desperate to pit my wits against Mother Nature once more. I'm hoping to get a polytunnel in place by the end of the year, and am looking forward to trying out the peaty ground to get some vegs on the go. I also can't wait to get some more chickens, I lost the last of mine over a year ago and didn't re-stock due to the move. Bought eggs are just disappointing after years of having my own fresh from the girls. I've no doubt growing up here will be a fair challenge and I'm sure there'll be a great deal of trial and error, but can't wait to get muck under my finger nails once more!

Title: Re: It's been a while...
Post by: mumofstig on January 23, 2018, 16:15
Welcome back and good luck with the new start!

Be a good idea to change your forum location, as well  ;)
Title: Re: It's been a while...
Post by: pigeonpie on January 23, 2018, 17:52
Ah yes, good point!

Done!
Title: Re: It's been a while...
Post by: New shoot on January 23, 2018, 20:05
Hi and welcome back  :)
Title: Re: It's been a while...
Post by: Yorkie on January 24, 2018, 21:03
Welcome back and what an exciting challenge!  I remember that one of the Island Vicar series on BBC2 recently came from one of the Scottish Islands (Shetland??), and that they showed lots of polytunnel growing.
Title: Re: It's been a while...
Post by: pigeonpie on January 25, 2018, 11:16
I think the main factors of growing anything up here is going to be the lack of daylight hours in the winter (on some days in December the sun rise wasn't until about 9.15 am and sunset was at 3.15pm!), and the wind.

Having said that we've had a fairly settled winter so far (famous last words!), but even the positioning of polytunnels is going to take some serious planning, and also the type of tunnel.  The thin plastic varieties wouldn't last a day up here.

I can't wait to start, and it's going to be really interesting to see what happens, and what does and doesn't grow. I'm quite glad that I'm reasonably experienced in growing my own veggies though, think it would be rather daunting if I was a newbie starting out up here.