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New Allotment on the horizon

Last post 05-08-2012 12:46 PM by Deb. 4 replies.

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  • 01/08/2012 04:51 PM
    • Debr4
    • London
    • 01 Aug 2012
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    Hi everyone I'm a brand new poster who is very excited that after four years on the waiting list I am to view an allotment on Friday morning. I am of course expecting it to be overgrown but to what extent I will have to wait and see.  I'm thinking though that with all of the rain we have had recently I may be faced with a jungle.  My first question is about clearing the ground, obviously this time of the year everything is growing full pelt - would the advice be to use weed killer or is that dangerous to other allotments? Would it be better to cut it all down and wait until autumn to start to dig.  I do have a very small garden and have grown runner beans and some other veg in pots.   I am really looking forward to the challenge and may well start a blog or at least a diary of how it all goes .  Obviously the allotment society will have some advice as well as other allotment users, but I would like to get a ahead of the game and start planning now. I would love to get something in that I can crop this winter if feasible.   Any tips at this stage would be very appreciated. 

    Thank you
  • 01/08/2012 06:01 PM
    In reply to
    • Deb
    • Somerset
    • 18 Jul 2012
    • 96
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    Hi there. I'm a fairly new gardener so others might disagree with what I think. I wouldn't use weed killer for a number of reasons. Assuming you want the whole thing clear, I would just start at one end and dig out as much as you can manage in a fairly systematic way to give yourself some space to get some plants in as soon as possible. Then move on and do the next strip that you can manage while keeping on top of your planted bit. If its not long since it was neglected it will probably be easier to dig over than you think, and it might have some useful stuff growing in it already. Sounds great and hope you enjoy it as much as I have been enjoying my new found passion for veg gardening.

  • 05/08/2012 07:33 AM
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    I agree with Deb, there's nothing so good for morale as seeing the bit you've already cleared, start to produce your first crops, and there's still time to get your spring greens started, although you may find buying small plants from the numerous producers the wat to go, now that it's August and you've so much ground preparation to do, to get things like rhubarb, perhaps raspberries, strawberries etc in.

    The very best of luck on your new plot.
  • 05/08/2012 08:53 AM
    In reply to
    • Debr4
    • London
    • 01 Aug 2012
    • 2
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    Thanks for your replies, I had a choice of 3 plots, 2 extremely overgrown one of which had a dead apple tree that would have to be removed and both were bery close to neighbouring gardens   I chose the 3rd option, it is 2.5 rods and has been negleted somewhat this year but it was in a better location in a more central position, the current tenants have some young fruit bushes that I believe they are going to dig up and take for pots, it has a few other  things cropping at the moment a couple of Marrow/Courgette plants a random raspberry stuck in the middle all alone, some general weedy bits and an awful lot of bindweed? I was delighted to discover that the site manager has the plot next door and informed me that some of the neighbouring plot holders are a little miffed about how the paths in between have been allowed to get overgrown and also that a row of what i assumed were blackberries are encroaching on to the plot next door and making life difficult for that plot holder to get to his crops. The site manager said she thinks it is a Boysenberry,it is  bursting with ripening fruit at the moment and delicious so I am intending to keep it. I am unable to take over for another 2 weeks to allow the current tenants time to remove what they want to keep, I have armed myself with a new book which will no doubt turn out to be my bible which talks about cutting out old wood and tying in this years growth  but what do I do about keeping the neighbour happy now and tidying it up before it has finished fruiting?

  • 05/08/2012 12:46 PM
    In reply to
    • Deb
    • Somerset
    • 18 Jul 2012
    • 96
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    Usually the best course of action with neighbours is to talk to them. So perhaps explain about the ripening fruit,offer them a share (or a pot of boysonberry jam) and let them access their bit via yours until you can get out there and clear it. Must say it all sounds pretty exciting and you obviously can't wait to get in there and get going.