Sorry Alwayshopeful... I would like to reassure you and make everything OK, and will probably get flamed for this frank reply (kudos on everyone else for giving some positive support), but this is what gardening and GYO is all about... some things work and some don't.
I don't want to kick you when you're down but everyone has failures, even the old boys who have gardened for their whole lives - difference is they have learned what works and what doesn't and they realise that if it doesn't work this year then there's always next year.
My plot doesn't have soil as such... instead it's just shale and ash from when the land was used as a dump. I keep digging up whole concrete slabs, wire, buried clothes
![ohmy :ohmy:](https://chat.allotment-garden.org/Smileys/green/ohmy.gif)
plastic bags and other things dumped by previous allotment holders. it gets me down because the soil isn't fertile and is probably harmfull. As a result a lot of my crops need extra care to make sure I get the most out of them.
The recent dry spell meant I ran out of water for my plants and lost some of my seedlings and had to start again. weeds are invading my paths dispite me hoeing them every weekend... if the hens get out they decimate my salad stuff.
My point is that it is an ongoing battle against things that constantly fail but you have to make the best of it, learn from your mistakes and find ways to minimise the problems you have had in previous years.
Sorry, not very good at motivational speeches
![Roll Eyes ::)](https://chat.allotment-garden.org/Smileys/green/rolleyes.gif)