[ruralbob]

Hi again,

Been on allotment hoeing all day, and a chap came past and said 'wouldn't bother lad, these three plots (mine and two aside), are diseased, the soils infected and nothing will grow'.

Odd thing to say and it's my first few months on plot. No-one else has said anything and my fruit bushes / rhubarb and strawberries are thriving!!!.

The plot is along a long line of them (maybe 30 in total).

Does it sound like jealousy or just and load of dodo???

[mumofstig]

well I can't think of anything that would stop everything from growing?

there may be club root that would give a problem with growing brassicas, but there are ways round it, and you could grow other veg
There may be white rot, in which case you won't be able to grow any onions, but again you would be able to grow other veg.

Is there a friendly 'old boy' you could ask if there are any soil problems, but don't mention misery guts to them - cos you don't want to start a war

[8doubles]

My first thought is he means Clubroot which is a problem when growing brassicas.
Second it could be contaminated with this, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aminopyralid

Or he may be a wind up merchant !

[gillie]

If  'nothing will grow'  Why were you needing to hoe?

[ruralbob]

I know for fact that for some reason spuds don't like the soil in the plots surrounding mine, everyone has said so, however no one else as mentioned anything else. I have dug deep today and don't appear to have and deep lying weeds. On one of my raised beds I came across the back end of the tree roots from an Oak which is near the plot, but took out what I could.

I have measured my PH levels and all appears to be ok, so I will just have to live and learn!!!

[ruralbob]

If  'nothing will grow'  Why were you needing to hoe?

Too true!, I was hoeing out small weeds that have grown since I first turned the soil 3 months back. As I also said the stuff I have inherited all appear happy!

[fatcat1955]

What weeds were growing? They can indicate what type of soil you have. i.e. nettles = good conditions.

[ruralbob]

What weeds were growing? They can indicate what type of soil you have. i.e. nettles = good conditions.

Mainly dandelions and wild poppies!. No nettles.

[JayG]

Have a nice friendly chat with your new pal ( ) and get him to elaborate on his downbeat predictions (if it is aminopyralid then ask how long since it was contaminated; even that problem doesn't last forever.)

At least you will have a better idea what you are up against (a soil problem or a miserable gIt problem!) 

[peapod]

Wow what a cheerful supportive old boy there 

Yes there could be club root but you can still grow brassicas with a bit of foresight and careful variety choice (DD manages well)
Yes there could be white onion rot, but onions are cheap enough to buy so it isn't the end of the world.
Yes, spuds can be hard to establish,but then its all about the quality of the soil.. and a good lotty owner would consistently look after their growing space anyway.
Yes, the oak roots could become a nuisance (which they could well be now) but just raise the bed higher and use it for snips and carrots

Dont let the miserable * get you down 

[ruralbob]

Small panic over!!!!! YAY 

Just had a long chat with chap who has had the plot two down from mine for thirty years!. There is no problem as far as he's aware of, the chap who said so is well known for being a misery and has told most folk on most of the plots the same dodo.  Apparently he had a plot himself years ago and fell out with most other folk over breaking the rules and was kicked off. So it's bitterness!!! 

Am back to being a happy chappy now and will continue to work my piece!!

cheers peeps

Jim x

[mumofstig]

result, I knew that an OBs would know the answer, they always do 

[peapod]

Bitter old person