Snowy Posted April 3, 2008 Share Posted April 3, 2008 I've just got my letter offering me a plot! They haven't even been officially opened yet, they are new to the village, but someone has dropped of the list already and I'm in!! Digging commences in May! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted April 3, 2008 Share Posted April 3, 2008 Brilliant news Snowy - you will have to blog your progress. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted April 3, 2008 Share Posted April 3, 2008 Fantastic! The boys will love helping you! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christian Posted April 3, 2008 Share Posted April 3, 2008 Wonderful news Snowy!! Have you been waiting long? Our plasterer is the local councillor and was over the other day quoting for damp in the utility room Anyway, I asked him about allotments as there aren't any locally. He said they are trying to find land locally and would put my name down for one!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chelsea Posted April 3, 2008 Share Posted April 3, 2008 good for you!! sounds like you are going to be busy! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
missuscluck Posted April 3, 2008 Share Posted April 3, 2008 Thats brilliant snowy. Please, please let us know how you get on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redhotchick Posted April 3, 2008 Share Posted April 3, 2008 Yay Snowy! Good news! If digging commences in May..what will you grow? Will it be a case of clearing the plots. making fences, paths, things like that, or will it all be done so you can plant straight away? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowy Posted April 3, 2008 Author Share Posted April 3, 2008 Yay Snowy! Good news! If digging commences in May..what will you grow?Will it be a case of clearing the plots. making fences, paths, things like that, or will it all be done so you can plant straight away? Do you know, I really haven't a clue! I was too excited to ask. I did remember to ask if I could have chickens on, but we can't (at least not yet ) Although I may be tempted to take a couple with me when I go down to help me dig I am hoping that, as they are new, the whole plot will be rotorvated to give us a head start, it's just rough field at the moment OH has been charged with collecting surplus pallets from work for raised beds/borders and cardboard from the skips. I might be able to get some fruit bushes in ready for next year. Oooh, I need to draw up a plan!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eyren Posted April 4, 2008 Share Posted April 4, 2008 Great news, Snowy! May's probably a bit late to be getting summer crops in if you have to clear the ground a bit first, but you probably will have time for some French beans if you sow them ahead of time and then plant them out, and by July it'll be time to plant out autumn/winter greens like broccoli and cabbage. I'm going to be sowing mine soon, in modules at home - there are lots of slugs on my allotment so direct-sown crops are a bit hit-and-miss Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted April 4, 2008 Share Posted April 4, 2008 Excellent news Snowy! You'll have plenty of work to do as it is just rough field at the moment - be careful with rotovating ..... if it is weedy, it will chop weeds into hundreds You could have a trawl on Amazon for books on starting a new allotment - and then buy through Marketplace to keep the cost down, or try Green Metropolis etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jules. Posted April 4, 2008 Share Posted April 4, 2008 Woo Hoo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickencam Posted April 4, 2008 Share Posted April 4, 2008 exciting We have had our allotment for 9 years and it is great, i hope you get yours in time for a few late summer crops of beans and courgettes etc and maybe a holloween pumpkin or 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hillfamily Posted April 4, 2008 Share Posted April 4, 2008 That's brilliant news Snowy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matthew Posted April 4, 2008 Share Posted April 4, 2008 http://www.chat.allotment.org.uk/index.php Is a good place to ask questions Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted April 4, 2008 Share Posted April 4, 2008 Try asking Dilly, Snowy - she's the Allotment Queen! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eyren Posted April 4, 2008 Share Posted April 4, 2008 The Grow Your Own forum is also very good - nearly as friendly as here (though they don't know much about chickens ): http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/grapevine/ Books I would recommend: * The Half-Hour Allotment, by Lia Leendertz - how to get your new allotment off to a good start, and how much of each veg you need to grow in order to get a decent supply. Emphasis is on crops that are easy to grow but expensive to buy in the supermarkets and/or much nicer fresh, rather than self-sufficiency in basics like spuds and onions. * Organic Gardening the Natural No-Dig Way, by Charles Dowding - down-to-earth introduction to working with the soil and seasons to get great veg with minimal effort - what more could you want? Not so vital if you have a full-sized plot, but still a useful reference: * Grow your Own Veg, by Carol Klein - very well laid out, with a nice double-page spread of growing instructions per vegetable type, and lots of tips on growing stuff in a small space Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ubereglu Posted April 4, 2008 Share Posted April 4, 2008 Wow, that's great news Snowy. Good luck with growing and you'll have to get sowing your seeds later on in the month! I've already got some on the go myself. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheGirlsMum Posted April 5, 2008 Share Posted April 5, 2008 Exciting times a head Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowy Posted April 5, 2008 Author Share Posted April 5, 2008 Oooh, thanks all of you for the great advice! And thanks for the book list Eyren, they look really interesting, might have to invest in some of those! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowy Posted May 21, 2008 Author Share Posted May 21, 2008 Just a quick update - as you know, up to now my 'allotment' was nothing but a field with 20 allotmenteers waiting impatiently for the council to pull their finger out and put a gate into the field so we could start work. Well today when I went past - Result! There was a big hole in the hedge and a large JCB busily stripping the top layer off and piling it up! We'll be digging sooooon!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted May 21, 2008 Share Posted May 21, 2008 Exciting stuff Snowy!!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christian Posted May 21, 2008 Share Posted May 21, 2008 Good news Snowy and it still gives you time to get planting Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
little chickadee Posted May 21, 2008 Share Posted May 21, 2008 Hurrah Snowy - Exciting stuff Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Helly Welly Posted May 22, 2008 Share Posted May 22, 2008 Brilliant news Snowy Let me know if you need a rotovator, OH bought a brand new one only for me to give up the allotment a few months later Poor thing, he only got to play with it once. I'll have a root through all my gardening stuff and let you know if there's anything i don't need anymore. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted May 22, 2008 Share Posted May 22, 2008 If Snowy doesn't, I could find a home for it Helen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...