tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6235841642149423068.post8197721509851369208..comments2024-03-16T14:03:19.116+00:00Comments on Above the River: Lessons learned - one year on the allotmentCJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14311693185700341580noreply@blogger.comBlogger20125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6235841642149423068.post-84427439164198805532013-09-01T22:05:35.891+01:002013-09-01T22:05:35.891+01:00Thank you for that, I shall definitely use weed co...Thank you for that, I shall definitely use weed control fabric for the strawberries. You are right about some new allotmenteers. Apparently there was someone at our site who only came once! Such a shame when so many people are desperate for plots.CJhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14311693185700341580noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6235841642149423068.post-75124007113375261632013-09-01T21:59:57.235+01:002013-09-01T21:59:57.235+01:00Thank you Caro for your lovely comment. The aspar...Thank you Caro for your lovely comment. The asparagus was on the plot when we took it over, so we were very lucky. I do have a couple of fruit trees to put in - a dwarf Cox apple and a Morello cherry that lost its top half, which should help with the height restriction! They are in pots at the moment, so it would be nice to release them. Thanks for the manure tip, I will try and get hold of some and put it down soon. I have a small fenced area at the allotment which would be perfect for carrots, so I'll put them in there next year. I think that reading veg catalogues in winter is one of gardening's great pleasures! The anticipation, the possibilities, the triumph of hope over experience...CJhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14311693185700341580noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6235841642149423068.post-9544139849187850812013-09-01T21:54:48.518+01:002013-09-01T21:54:48.518+01:00Wonderful! Nobody does it better.Wonderful! Nobody does it better.CJhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14311693185700341580noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6235841642149423068.post-61507346889717736432013-09-01T21:54:24.485+01:002013-09-01T21:54:24.485+01:00Thank you Annie. The classes sound like a great i...Thank you Annie. The classes sound like a great idea, I will definitely have a look and see if I can find something similar.CJhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14311693185700341580noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6235841642149423068.post-82365889199810832002013-09-01T21:53:37.625+01:002013-09-01T21:53:37.625+01:00Four more today! I have learned quite a bit alrea...Four more today! I have learned quite a bit already I think. But lots more still to know.CJhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14311693185700341580noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6235841642149423068.post-26348352970853235892013-09-01T21:52:44.448+01:002013-09-01T21:52:44.448+01:00The old bath idea sounds wonderful. I have heard ...The old bath idea sounds wonderful. I have heard of one being used for a wormery too. The beans were great, but most of the crop was ready at once. Next year I think I need to stagger it more.CJhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14311693185700341580noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6235841642149423068.post-57207893094231975332013-09-01T21:51:44.493+01:002013-09-01T21:51:44.493+01:00Thank you Flighty, that makes me feel more positiv...Thank you Flighty, that makes me feel more positive. I do have a compost heap at home, as well as a wormery, so I shall add what I can from there.CJhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14311693185700341580noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6235841642149423068.post-29743624569901879912013-09-01T21:50:45.420+01:002013-09-01T21:50:45.420+01:00This morning was a good one. Boys helping, the su...This morning was a good one. Boys helping, the sun on my back, lots of produce to pick. It was indeed worth it. I shall have to give some thought to what to grow next year.CJhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14311693185700341580noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6235841642149423068.post-90675062016285680802013-09-01T21:48:58.645+01:002013-09-01T21:48:58.645+01:00Thanks for the tips Sue. I pulled four of my carr...Thanks for the tips Sue. I pulled four of my carrots (I only have about twelve!) today and they were surprisingly good, so I think you are right, I should keep trying.CJhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14311693185700341580noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6235841642149423068.post-6804605153955318222013-09-01T21:47:37.771+01:002013-09-01T21:47:37.771+01:00I know exactly what you mean, time just disappears...I know exactly what you mean, time just disappears.CJhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14311693185700341580noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6235841642149423068.post-87719043796481605552013-08-31T12:55:28.674+01:002013-08-31T12:55:28.674+01:00I think you need to come and give lessons to some ...I think you need to come and give lessons to some of the new starters on our site. They obviously don't think allotmenting should involve any hard work at all.<br /><br />If you don't watch Beechgrove Garden check out this link http://www.thebeechgrovegarden.com/images/factsheets/FS_18_final_version_PDF.pdf<br />of how they grow their strawberries using weed control fabric. I think it could be adapted to any size bed. Might try it on the plot when we redo our strawberry bedMartynhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05245774393957298668noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6235841642149423068.post-50084826602975750882013-08-31T07:02:03.382+01:002013-08-31T07:02:03.382+01:00Hi CJ, Fabulously interesting post and congratula...Hi CJ, Fabulously interesting post and congratulations on really making it work in your first year! So many unused allotments tell a tale of the holders being overwhelmed by the hard work involved - even here in London where there is a mammoth waiting list! Amazed that you had asparagus in the first year, I'm growing this for the first time (6 years into the veg patch timeline) and looking forward to a proper harvest next year. I've had little spindly growth this year, as expected. I've been through the glut experience but have many neighbours to share with (except my raspberries, they're all for me!!) Fruit trees will be rewarding if you can wait (apples within 2-3 years, other fruit longer). With your garden soil, you should find out what's underneath if it hasn't improved with well-rotted manure (although you do need to dig in lots of this in the autumn and let it overwinter). Try growing carrots between rows of onions or garlic and fence off to keep rabbits out. Carrot seed is best used fresh (within a year of buying) regardless of what it says on the packet! <br />Sorry, been banging on for ages! Hope this is useful and I suspect that you'll have a lovely time reading the veg catalogues this winter!! Carohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11317388242574705433noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6235841642149423068.post-45422585930704450952013-08-30T23:18:15.660+01:002013-08-30T23:18:15.660+01:00Just thought, do you know Tim Curry's 'Zuc...Just thought, do you know Tim Curry's 'Zucchini Song'?<br /><br />http://www.rockymusic.org/showvideo/08a0e86c4b5fb231114e995a60b7fe9f.php<br /><br /> Annie Cholewahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17608057589525908147noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6235841642149423068.post-42352695675317817762013-08-30T23:07:43.115+01:002013-08-30T23:07:43.115+01:00It does look like a fabulous plot. When we thought...It does look like a fabulous plot. When we thought we were getting an allotment I did a couple of really cheap classes at a local agricultural college that were aimed at allotmenteers. I learnt so much ... I wonder if there's anything like that near you?Annie Cholewahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17608057589525908147noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6235841642149423068.post-29739159437834288072013-08-30T21:12:13.503+01:002013-08-30T21:12:13.503+01:00I understand how you feel about courgettes. I don&...I understand how you feel about courgettes. I don't grow them any more!<br />You have obviously learned a lot (e.g. about soil) from taking on the allotment.Mark Willishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04558305122821209520noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6235841642149423068.post-42021385989919916212013-08-30T19:34:31.411+01:002013-08-30T19:34:31.411+01:00I think learning as you go is something which cont...I think learning as you go is something which continues year on year. I got so fed up of Carrot Root Fly attacking my crop that I've grown them in an old bath which was left on the plot when I took it on for the past couple of years. They haven't been attacked at all. I will have another go at growing them in the ground at some point though. I don't know about being overrun with courgettes, it looks like your beans are doing very well too.Johttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17436932004631816039noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6235841642149423068.post-67925136345577666932013-08-30T18:31:01.587+01:002013-08-30T18:31:01.587+01:00A good post which shows how well you've done, ...A good post which shows how well you've done, and what to think about for next year. You've made a good start and you'll notice how it all changes and improves year on year. <br />I have little luck with carrots but always sow a packet or two in the hope that they'll be good.<br />I agree with what you say about the soil. In your garden add compost to just those areas where you're growing things rather than all over. I presume that you have a compost heap on the go there as well as at the allotment. <br />I agree with Rusty Duck about spacing, and perhaps growing a bit less but better. Flighty xxAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6235841642149423068.post-36258189969878173422013-08-30T11:26:50.337+01:002013-08-30T11:26:50.337+01:00It is a lot of work, but it is worth it. Even thou...It is a lot of work, but it is worth it. Even though I sometimes do wonder. Especially as a rabbit appeared on the lawn this morning.. <br />I have also learned the lesson of spacing. Last year the beans put on very little growth. This year they have exploded. But I planted them too close and it's very difficult to get at them to pick. Next year I will grow less but hopefully expend my energy on better crops. rusty duckhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12238493821002258459noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6235841642149423068.post-85707841447286067002013-08-30T10:13:19.137+01:002013-08-30T10:13:19.137+01:00I agree with all you say about fruit.
New plots a...I agree with all you say about fruit.<br /><br />New plots are often very fertile. Each of our plots grew things to an enormous size in the first year of growing.<br /><br />As for courgettes - round one are good for stuffing too but do try sticking with the carrots - you can't beat the taste. How we grow them is here http://ossettweather.com/glallotments.co.uk/carrotfly.html which may be of some interest. Didn't put the direct link in case you thought I was spamming :)Sue Garretthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08164518448098182276noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6235841642149423068.post-50362488448220629902013-08-30T09:56:32.372+01:002013-08-30T09:56:32.372+01:00Looks like you're having a great year for harv...Looks like you're having a great year for harvest. I'm always surprised by how long it takes to pick things, I have in my head that its "just some beans" and then 10 mins later I'm still finding more on the plant!<br /><br />the-urban-cottage.blogspot.co.ukJennyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09877883607133338348noreply@blogger.com