Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat
Growing => Grow Your Own => Topic started by: littlemisssunshine on October 29, 2007, 09:58
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I just thought I'd say hello, I finally got hold my own allotment last week. It has its own greenhouse and shed. Unfortunately it has not been cultivated for many years therefore is thick with Bindweed and other delights.
At the moment I am digging, digging, digging.
Does anyone have any good advice for a first time allotment holder?
:D
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Hello LMS,
and congrat on your lottie. Our Munty wrote a very good piece for beginners and how to start, I would read that sticky, if I were you. :)
Good luck and keep us posted. :wink:
I just cannot find it now :? Someone will sure let you know, where it is. :)
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Thank you - I am still getting to grips with this site.
I have spent time chatting to the other allotment holders. Apparantly clubroot can be a problem.
I never thought I'd get so much pleasure from donated pallets. I am going to try to make a compost bin tonight. Hopefully I will have enough left to make a leaf mould box.
Does anyone have any suggestions about important structures I need to make my life easier?
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Hiya LMS welcome to the forum
Yep agreed you need a leaf mould bin I have used wire mesh rather than pallets as the mechanism for leaf decomposition is different and work better in that type of bin. 4 posts about 4 ft long hammer them about a foot into the ground to form a square with each side about 30 inches long Now some wire mesh start at one post and staple it to the post doesn't matter if it's not to the top stretch to the next post and staple again so on till the wire mesh is stapled to all 4 post . Now a loose bit of wood about 3 foot long Hold this against the first post and staple the wire to it this make a gate to get into the bin Put a second piece of wire up to the top of the posts the same way and you have a leaf bin Couple of large nails to hook the gate over job done.
Other main thing water butts basically anything you can get hold of that will hold water, the bigger the better. Set 'em up behind the shed and direct the water from the gutter into them. If you have more butts tahn rof build a small structure with just a roof over them and collect the water off that.
Sound s a lot of work but well worth it Good Luck
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That's great, thank you. I was given a free water butt as part of the eco-village project where I live. I have already hooked this up to my newly re-roofed shed.
I am going to search the hedgerows for old butts as many of the allotments have been abandoned.
I have plenty of chicken wire and post and will use your method Celtic Eagle.
I have never ever had so much satisfaction from finding things and being inventive. I cannot believe how much I have thrown away and wasted over the years!
Thanks a million
LMS
P.S. I am having a digging party - free beer, any takers??! :D
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I would suggest NOT using a rotivator. It will chop up all the worst perennial weed roots into small pieces, which will then cover your allotment in even more weeds - I know, through bitter experience. The only way is dig, dig, dig! Which is what you're doing by the sounds of it. Good luck, and welcome from me - I'm new here too!
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The rotivator is definately out! Thanks for the advice Tallulah.
I am just going to have to be patient and do a bit at a time - I just wish I didn't have to go to work!
What are you growing first T?
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Well I got the plot in time to put in potatoes, garlic, and soft fruit. The potatoes rotted in the ground, as did the garlic, but the raspberries were grand, and the strawbs not bad either, despite being newly planted. The constant rain I guess was the cause of the rotting. Also, I didn't enrich the soil enough, and just stuck things in. I do however have a marvellous crop of brambles. I now have my trusty fork at the ready, plus heaps of v well rotted manure. Unfortunately have just done me back in heaving heavy pots from the patio into the conservatory. Idiot! Should've waited for the hulk to come back from work. now I'm nursing my back and consoling myself with gardening books and this site!
I know what you mean about work. I recently switched from full time to part time - its a blessing, it really is. I love it! I still resent going in tho!
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Congratulations Sunshine!
I'm in my first year at my plot and it was a whole new world to me. I am concerned about your digging party though - make sure they can identify weeds and will actually remove them or they could make things worse for you. I don't want to put you off, just speaking from my experience. But do read the Information section and the Stickys on the Welcome page.
Are you completely new to this too?
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Being the ever anarchist and rebel I will ever so slighlty disagree with the rotovator remark, this is a great system and will clear the plot, but and there is a big but, you need to do it over time and regular so in other words you need to either have or be able to have access to one. The idea is as soon the plant/weed start to grow you knock them back, yes you will chop the roots to small pieces but that means they have less stored energy so they will exhaust. It does work and I know Shaun will back me up on this, I used this method for the first time this year and have made major inroads into the problem weeds, I must say that I also fork through every so often to get to the deeper roots.
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Congratulations Sunshine. I just got my first allotment last week. Like yours it is very overgrown. I have one bed which was ready for planting thanks to my neighbour. He had covered it with polythene to protect his polytunnel from weeds :) Today I double dug it and planted some red onions. I am waiting on some garlic arriving and hope to get that planted soon too. After that it will be just a matter of clearing the rest of the plot of weeds ready for spring. I also inherited a small home built shed made from wood and perspex, just big enough to grow tomatoes in. That too, however, is filled with nettles and weeds.
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Congratulations SUNSHINE and LASS, I'm sure you'll have hours of enjoyment from your new plots!
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Wow, it is wonderful to hear so many people are getting stuck in. Funnily enough I have had no takers for my digging party so I am left alone, slowly getting to grips with my weeds.
My shed is in good nick, an old chicken shed that I have cleaned out and refelted. My greenhouse is marvelous, on a concrete base (the only one to survive undamaged after the high winds in 2005). There is even spare glass.
Nast - I am new to having my own plot but my father has always had an allotment. He is on hand to give me advice but is nearly 70 so I have to keep stopping trying to dig for me (he still thinks he's 21!).
I am also Sky+ a series called the 'big dig', all about allotment holders in London and Wales. It is excellent.
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Sounds like you're really lucky, got a really good opportunity what with a greenhouse and all. I could have really done with one this year as it was so dull and wet, it woulde have made the growing season last and avoided all those tennis ball sized pumpkins.
My Dad was also a keen gardener and it's helpful to have someone on hand to ask for advice. My problem was that I didn't have enough experience to recognise what was a weed and what was a plant!
Another tip - don't walk on the plot too much - we did that (children particularly enjoyed it) and regretted it when in April (was it?) we had a really dry spell and it was all trodden down.
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Hi Littlemisssunshine :D
Good luck with the new plot, :wink:
Little and often, dont do yourself a nasty :(
Totally agree with THE BIG DIG, great series, just a shame there are not more like it.
Sounds like your digging party is like mine (a party of one) :roll:
Dont let it get to you, it has taken me 7 months but have almost reached the end, only another 10 feet to go :D
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Forgot to say, a good place for blue plastic barrels (AKA allotment waterbuts) is your local bus depot. They have bus wash delivered in them,and if you ask nicely will normally part with a couple :wink:
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Being the ever anarchist and rebel I will ever so slighlty disagree with the rotovator remark, this is a great system and will clear the plot, but and there is a big but, you need to do it over time and regular so in other words you need to either have or be able to have access to one. The idea is as soon the plant/weed start to grow you knock them back, yes you will chop the roots to small pieces but that means they have less stored energy so they will exhaust. It does work and I know Shaun will back me up on this, I used this method for the first time this year and have made major inroads into the problem weeds, I must say that I also fork through every so often to get to the deeper roots.
just this once I will back you up mate but i'm not making a habbit of it :wink:
most gardening books say dont use a rotavator has it will spread the weeds from A to B ,doing it once then that is correct but over a season with regular rotavating the weeds will vanish,once you have gone full depth in the spring,then all you need to do is scratch the surface every couple of weeks,werks for me no roundup here :wink:
all done with a rotavator and a rake
(http://i119.photobucket.com/albums/o152/shaungill/P9090003.jpg)
(http://i119.photobucket.com/albums/o152/shaungill/READYFOREARTHINGUP.jpg)
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Looking reeeaaaaaaaaaalllllly good Shaun :wink: :wink:
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it dont look like that now sawnee it looks very bare now :wink:
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I have to agree with Aidy and Shaun. Only complete novices spread weeds with rotavators. Mainly because they only use the once a year.
All to often on this site I read posts from sadists that like using a shovel condemning the use of machinery. Only to repeat, "Shaun" use the machine regularly all year shallow, this is proven to kill even the most resilient weed. And your ground is prepared in double quick time. After all if machines are so bad why do you think farmers use them ? so they can grow more weeds :shock:
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why do you think farmers use them ? so they can grow more weeds :shock:
depends on what kind of weed :lol: we grew medicinal maryannie a few years back ..we had " rabbits " eating it from the roadsides ,they took whole carrier bags lolo
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i have got to back up the use of the rotovator when i got my plot this year it was six foot high in weeds once strimed it was turned over with the rotovator, at the end of each strip i had to stop and clear the tines of weed root i must add it was used at a slow speed so pulled the weed root more then chopping it, after the first time each week i walked the plot and pulled what was showing then put the rotovator over again now it is as clesn as any plot on the site, ask Aidy
befor
(http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j122/andy625/000_0258.jpg)
after
(http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j122/andy625/000_0259.jpg)
not the lastest shot of the plot as it looks a lot better than this just to give you an idea
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you guys have great soil up there in lancs 8)
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it looks fine have yet to see what it grow like as it is my fist year on the site so fingers crossed for next year
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i'm sure it will be better than our cold wet clay :wink:
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just dont know what it will be like in a hot summer i think it will need a lot of water
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well andy you cant have it both ways theres no pleasing some people :wink: it is very sandy up your way
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Hi LMS. This time of year is great to get the plot cleared, as there is not much else you can do.
Having said that I'm looking forward to getting to the end of mine (could be a few months away yet.) I've got plum trees popping up everywhere, amongst the brambles, nettles, dock etc! I have had my plot for about 6 weeks now, and it's a very steep learning curve, but looking forward to the spring!
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six weeks whats holding you up. well i did get mine in the summer so light nights but its good to look at when its done and you td get that good fealing inside and move the belt in a hole or two
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Three young children, tummy bugs, weather, other commitments.......
I'll get there! Eventually!!
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best of luck all the work is worth it in the end
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Thanks for all the encouragement. I am now rethinking the rotivator. However I do not have access to one regularly.
Sawnee - I think my plot will be like yours - I am setting myself a goal, half dug this year and the rest next year.
I must take some photos and I'll figure out how to add them.
:D
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photo can be added by useing photobucket i think there is a guide on the site
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if you have webspace with your internet provider, it's an idea to periodically record progress, then upload the pics. Mine is here (http://allotment.reiteration.net/). It helps me not to get too despondent with the task in hand, especially comparing the photos at the very beginning against the latest ones. It also helps with planning, thinking about future layout, etc, and importantly, where what was planted, important in rotation.
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You had your job cut out there, Mushy, you could have even set fire to all those huge grass!
Have you put any manure in this year?
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you guys have great soil up there in lancs 8)
Huh? I thought Lancs was sat on one huge bed of clay, this contributing as much to the dampness and thus the rise of Cotton Industry, as anything that comes out of the skies? I must have drawn the short straw cos it certainly is where I am.
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there on the flat bit near the sea tinbasher :wink: you need to go west a bit towards ormskirk or east a bit towards rainford :wink:
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there on the flat bit near the sea tinbasher :wink: you need to go west a bit towards ormskirk or east a bit towards rainford :wink:
Oh yeah I see. St Annes eh? Luxury. Don't know they're born. :D
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You had your job cut out there, Mushy, you could have even set fire to all those huge grass!
Unfortunately not - fires are restricted to bonfire night, as we are surrounded on 3 sides by houses. They don't count a BBQ as a 'fire', though. In the latest photos, the grass is stacked in a pile on the left. It's dead and dry, it will burn.
Have you put any manure in this year?
nope. I've been looking for somewhere local but not found anyone who will deliver yet (I don't drive). Luckily, the soil appears to be in good condition anyway. I will manure the last section, after it is cleared - but i can't clear it until after I've burned the stuff I can't compost.
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Yes, a lot of people won't deliver any as they are not allowed to(classified as dangerous waste) you need special license to transport it, etc.
Fellow allotmentiers should know though, who does.
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that special licene to deliver manure is a new one on me and the chicken farm office . and also the dairy herd farm at black street knows nothing it may be down to your area if that ths case
Manure produced by horses that are kept privately within the curtilage of a dwelling house is classified as Household Waste and as such, is not subject to the regulations that apply to manure produced at commercial sites.
http://www.surrey.gov.uk/sccwebsite/sccwspages.nsf/LookupWebPagesByTITLE_RTF/Manure+wanted+and+available?opendocument
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Might be local, but all those stables and farms I approached around here,gave me that very same answer, you come and help yourself, we are not allowed to transport it. :?
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Ii guess they are misinterprating the rules or are a commercial stable :wink:
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Hi, i am sharing an allotment with a friend just outside brighton, i've been on the waiting list 2 yrs now and it'll probably be another 2yrs before i get one in brighton, still its nice to get out to the country.
I've pretty much finished the digging and covered some plots in polythene ready for use in spring.
I've just bought a small poly tunnel and would like some advice on what i can plant now!!!
Also is ok to just use last yrs compost (left on site) or do i need horse manure. I don't drive so i go everywhere on the bus (bike in summer)
Thanks.
PS; this is also my 1st time on a forum/chat room! :
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welcome and yes you can use last years compost and thank the person who left it for ya . pop up to welcome forum and tell us a little bit about your self and area :wink:
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hey emma,
welcome to the site! :D
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Hi Emma and welcome to your first forum - only one you'll need! :D :wink:
You might try a few lettuce in your polytunnel. You can plant garlic and Jerusalem Artichokes now but they don't need or want a tunnel.
I have sent you a Private Message too - you will see this in your InBox by clicking on the messages prompt in top LH of screen
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Thanks to all for quick response!
Any more advice idea on what to plant now is much appreciated!
Ta Ta for now.
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[/QUOTE]He is on hand to give me advice but is nearly 70 so I have to keep stopping trying to dig for me (he still thinks he's 21!).
Let him dig as much as he is able. I am 72 and my husband is 80 next yr. We dig and do all the hard work ourselves which also includes barrowloading lots of seaweed up from the sea shore. We sleep the sleep of the exhaused in spite of the aches and pains that maturity brings!
The rewards are great. There are always the rainy days when we can`t get outside to have a well earned rest and of course winter days to recuperate and dream of next year`s hard labour.
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True, true...I just feel guilty when he gets stuck in the classic digging position!
His enthusiasm is infectious and we sing our hearts out - it was the Irish Rover last weekend!
Sounds like you both have a great life together. :D
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True, true...I just feel guilty when he gets stuck in the classic digging position!
His enthusiasm is infectious and we sing our hearts out - it was the Irish Rover last weekend!
Sounds like you both have a great life together. :D
Sounds like you have a great time too :D
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It is amazing actually, we are spending quality time together and really getting to know each other...even though he brought me up I am only starting to understand him now. I hope that doesn't sound too sentimental!