Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat

Growing => Grow Your Own => Topic started by: Lynne on January 30, 2008, 10:36

Title: Just some photos.
Post by: Lynne on January 30, 2008, 10:36: Here is the allotment in July 2007 when I took it on, some of the rubbish cleared and now. It helps to remind me that I have done quite a lot really when I have those days when I think there is still so much to do. :roll:

The free shed I was given can be seen at the bottom, and if you look carefully just in front of the shed, you can see the bath I have got hold of which is for my carrots. :D

(http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x153/Lynneddr/DSCN0393-1.jpg)

(http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x153/Lynneddr/DSCN0419.jpg)

(http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x153/Lynneddr/DSCN0594.jpg)
Title: Just some photos.
Post by: paintedlady on January 30, 2008, 10:42: are those nettles in the first picture :shock: You've done well but I know about putting yourself under pressure - you have to keep reminding yourself that it is still only winter and there's still time.

PS A bit of advice about the bath - make sure the plug hole is cleared and there is a definite drainage. Mine turned into a giant mudbath last year but the squash I had growing didn't seem to mind too much!
Title: Just some photos.
Post by: Lynne on January 30, 2008, 11:02: Yes painted lady, the whole plot was covered with nettles, brambles and ground elder. Also a vandalised and burned shed and two greenhouses, so lots of broken glass as well as car wheels, ironing boards, old furniture etc. I've probably cleared about two thirds now leaving the bit you can see on the right hand side of the plot to finish.

Thanks goodness for mattocks and azadas.

I've checked that the bath is free flowing and I might put a couple of bricks at the bottom to help with drainage too, thanks for the tip.
Title: Just some photos.
Post by: Trillium on January 30, 2008, 14:35: Well done, Lynne. And nice to see the old clawfoots put to good use. For the bottom of your tub you could try a layer of gravel, probably from your plot, for good drainage. And lots of sand in the soil mix.
Title: Just some photos.
Post by: jolly jen on February 01, 2008, 16:32: oh my god it looks far worse then my new plot,,,which i have to clear.

i have a bath and a oil drum ,i plan to grow a herb garden in the bath once i empty the rain water and put some drainage holes in.will follow the tip about the bricks ,thanks
Title: Just some photos.
Post by: wildeone on February 01, 2008, 17:10: Gosh you've been hard at it!!! All the work that goes in makes me nervous. I hope i'm as good at it!!! :oops:

Well done 8)
Title: Just some photos.
Post by: Selkie on February 01, 2008, 17:14: :shock: I've never seen so many nettles in one place!
Title: Just some photos.
Post by: SkipRat on February 01, 2008, 22:48: Well done on your plot it looks great. I noticed that you had a lot of nettles, it may be worth checking your soil ph as nettles are known to thrive in soil which is on the acid side. :D
Title: Just some photos.
Post by: SnooziSuzi on February 01, 2008, 23:38: I heard/read that nettles mean fertile soil so you've got a good one there Lynne!

Congrats, that's a lot of hard work done there!
Title: Just some photos.
Post by: Rob the rake on February 02, 2008, 07:55: Quote from: "SnooziSuzi"
I heard/read that nettles mean fertile soil so you've got a good one there Lynne!

Yes, nettles are a good indicator of soil fertility. You may want to invest in a decent pair of gardening gloves, as you will no doubt have many nettle seedlings to deal with this growing season.

If you don't mind the odd nettle sting, it's meant to be a good remedy for aches and pains, rheumatism in particular.

I've included a couple of interesting links explaining the use and history of the humble stinging nettle. It's reckoned to be one of natures great medicines.

http://susunweed.com/herbal_ezine/march04/wisewoman.htm

http://www.botanical.com/botanical/mgmh/n/nettle03.html
Title: Just some photos.
Post by: Salkeela on February 02, 2008, 09:01: We are plagued by nettles here too. When I first started gardening I found nettle stings really terrible, and the site of the sting would have swollen up that night.

Several years on and they have much less effect on me. I have even been known to pull them with out gloves.

Interestingly I also suffer less back pain after gardening too (although that could just be a fitness issue).
Title: Just some photos.
Post by: SnooziSuzi on February 02, 2008, 10:07: Re being stung by nettles; my plot was covered in them last year so I was being stung all of the time, but I found that if you don't rub the area that was stung and just leave it alone it doesn't itch or come up in raised lumps.

Now all I do if I get stung is get on with what I was doing and I know that the sting won't get any further in because I'm not rubbing it into my skin!
Title: Just some photos.
Post by: Deano on February 02, 2008, 12:04: I think the 'sting' in nettles is caused by a small sac of formic acid on the end of each point. The same stuff (formaldehyde?) that is used to embalm dead bodies. So careful you don't fall in a big patch!!

Well done on your hard work and i hope all them nettles went on the compost heap.
Title: Just some photos.
Post by: WG. on February 02, 2008, 12:25: formic acid / formaldehyde are two different chemicals. Sorry to be pedantic but someone else would have been if I hadn't. :wink: :D

Where is mushy anyhow? :lol: :lol:
Title: Just some photos.
Post by: Deano on February 02, 2008, 12:30: Quote from: "WG."
formic acid / formaldehyde are two different chemicals.

So i can't use my nettle patch to embalm in the future....shame!
Title: Just some photos.
Post by: littlemisssunshine on February 02, 2008, 14:19: I used to go camping in Dentdale and an old fella I knew got his wife to thrash him with nettles on the backs of his knees and his knuckles :shock: .

He went from 2 sticks to walking unaided. It was amazing the difference. She had to keep doing it from time to time - an odd request from a spouse but if your brave enough he said it was better than anything the doctor prescribed! :wink:
Title: Just some photos.
Post by: Selkie on February 02, 2008, 14:21: That's probably like how some people use bee stings to treat arthritis
Title: Just some photos.
Post by: Lynne on February 02, 2008, 15:38: Like some of you have said, the nettles certainly gave us a lot of stings but we quickly got used to them. We have dug as much of the roots out as possible, some of them went down several feet. I am sure we will still have a load growing again this year though.

Its one reason why we have decided to go for 'open plan' instead of raised beds after all, we will no doubt need to dig several times.

The soil is great and has a lovely loamy texture, it is slightly acidic though as someone said.
Title: Just some photos.
Post by: SnooziSuzi on February 02, 2008, 17:28: Quote from: "WG."
Sorry to be pedantic but someone else would have been if I hadn't. :wink: :D

Why so out of charachter, Wiggy!? :wink: :lol:
Title: Just some photos.
Post by: WG. on February 02, 2008, 17:32: Oooooo !!

I hereby deduct one point from your Broadband Quiz tally for being cheeky. You now have -1 points. :wink:
Title: Just some photos.
Post by: SnooziSuzi on February 02, 2008, 18:51: :tongue2: :lol:
Title: Just some photos.
Post by: gobs on February 02, 2008, 20:20: Quote from: "Deano"
Quote from: "WG."
formic acid / formaldehyde are two different chemicals.

So i can't use my nettle patch to embalm in the future....shame!

Does not make much difference as formaldehyde's been banned in the EU, and so has been trading with nettle extracts of some sort. :lol: :lol: :lol:

So you might need to go to Egypt on your last journey. :lol:
Title: my new allotment
Post by: jolly jen on February 04, 2008, 20:00: this is my allotment taken on this week.(http://i244.photobucket.com/albums/gg14/curlyhair33/102_2573.jpg)

(http://i244.photobucket.com/albums/gg14/curlyhair33/102_2571.jpg)

(http://i244.photobucket.com/albums/gg14/curlyhair33/102_2577.jpg)

bit of a mess,ehhhh