4m x 3m Omlet pen, cube, new auto door still boxed and coop light

[Helly Welly]

Today we emptied out our allotment shed as i'm having to give it up. I'm only just mobile enough to get around the house nowadays so there was just no way i could maintain an allotment. OH works in Reading so the allotment had become my responsibility.

 

Ironically, i've been all day so i couldn't even help, the result of a busy Friday and Saturday.

 

I'm going to stick with the front garden as that is mostly fruit bushes that take care of themselves. I've also got an asparagus bed and a couple of rows of peas out there.

 

So that's the end of the self-sufficiency dream. We gave it a good go, but could never have predicted that my hypermobility syndrome would get to the point where i was disabled.

 

I'll just concentrate on the chickens and fruit from now on. At least we all like jam

[Karen & co.]

I'm sorry you had to let your allotment go but chickens and fruit are much easier and very enjoyable

 

Karen x

[Ain't Nobody Here]

Sorry to hear that . I think you're amazing to have even kept all these things going till now . Just think how much time you can spend with your girls now .

[Egluntyne]

Sorry to hear that Helly.

[Olly]

Sorry to hear that, it must be a disappointment. Still, as someone has already said, it will give you more time with the girls!

[Tara.F]

I had to give up my allotment at Christmas...also due to encroaching disability so I know how gutted you must be feeling

 

However, now that I have had time to get used to the idea, I am finding a host of innovative ways to grow veggies that I find easier to manage.

You'll be amazed what you can fit in a hanging basket, strawberries, tomatoes, half pint peas, cut and come again lettuces, beetroots....the list goes on and on.

Runner beans over a rose arch at the gate, new potatoes one per small black bag!

make yourself a nice place to sit, a comfy chair and a small table. Then, one sunny morning sit in your spot and work out exactly how far you can reach in every direction without getting up. Then plan how to fill that whole space with lush edible plants, will you need to raise planters using a second hand coffee table? is there somewhere to fix a hanging basket? maybe even a small trellis?

Self sufficiency may be out of our reach now, but I still share the joy of growing food with my children and I still love to sit in my beautiful, productive garden. So can you.

good luck, Tara xxx

[Lesley]

Sorry you've had to give up the allotment Helen

 

some good points from Tara though - I'm sure you'll find yourself filling pots with veggies, is your daughter interested in growing veg.? - I'm sure she'd be very helpful!

[Tina C]

Sorry to hear about your allotment. What a lovely reply from Tara. I understand that raised beds, at the right height, can work well for disabled people too?

[Snowy]

What a shame Helly, I always wondered how you managed to cope with it all Definitely good ideas from Tara - will be using some of those myself!

[Tina C]

Tara with your knowledge and experience you should write a book about gardening for the disabled - or has it been done already?

[chickencam]

A sad day for you, good luck with your garden at home.

 

Someone out there will be pleased though because allotments ate getting like hens teeth to find so comfort yourself with the knowledge that it will soon be growing things again.

[Mrs Frugal]

So sorry to hear you've had to give up your allotment. We had to do the same thing 10 years ago when I couldn't manage it when I was on crutches but we grew no end of things in pots, tubs and windowboxes in our little garden so the good life never goes away. It just means you're not having to deal with gluts of things and get to appreciate what you are able to grow all the more as it's even more special . We've now got half an allotment which is more manageable - maybe there's someone who you could share with who could help out with the more strenuous things while you pot up seedlings etc? You never know, there may be someone with poor eyesight who can't cope with the fiddly things now but who is happy to dig and hoe?

[Helly Welly]

Thanks for all the kind words, and a special thanks to Tara for all her suggestions. I have planted some spuds in a tub already and i've also got a strawberry planter. I've got just the place for a hanging basket or two, DD would be gutted if we didn't grow tomatoes

 

I feel a bit more positive now, time to get planning again

[TheGirlsMum]

Sorry you had to give up the allotment but time to change tack and see what you can do. Good luck.

[chickencam]

Two good varieties of tomatoes to grown in hanging baskets are Tumbler but they are hard to get hold of this year, we did find some in Homebase at the weekend and Tumbling Tom you will get loads of cherry tomatoes and they tend to ripen earlier than bush and large varieties.

[Cinnamon]

You can also try 'Hundereds & Thousands' which is a new one out this year & looks amazing.Loads of teeny tiny little tommos.

Its mail order from,I think, Suttons.

Mine arrived a week or so ago & I have potted them on & they are really doing well.

 

Just got to dig out the baskets now......I know I have seen them somewhere

[Helly Welly]

Thanks guys, i'll give them a try

[fairy&cake]

So so sorry to hear of this. Being disabled is tricky isn't it.

 

Ross and Seth both have disabilities, but you just find fun ways to get around them. Like window boxes or hanging baskets. Ive built him a raised veg bed so he can sit at it.

 

I dont think we would manage without helpers

 

Im sure it will all pan out, and you will be growing more than you thought you could. Have you thought about a poly tunnel with waist height tables either side?

[Guest]

sorry to hear that helly Good luck with your garden veg and fruit. you'd be amazed at what you can fit into a small garden! We were

[The Dogmother]

Sorry to hear your news Helly, I know it meant a lot to you, but you can create your own little veggie kingdom at home instead. Do you have raised beds so they're easier to reach?

[Helly Welly]

Unfortunately no, the chickens have the run of the garden

 

I do have a greenhouse though, going to get some tomatoes in at the weekend.