Update

[Nicos]

Good for you …remember to take lots of photos so you can show how much you have improved/ maintained it! Just in case….

[lottie dolly]

well done you,everything comes to those who wait,all the best for a good season next year

[cariann88]

Good afternoon,

I went to the plot at dinner time to have a proper look around. Started to pull some weeds up. There is a pathed area so need to take my gardening tools down at the weekend.

I met with another plot holder and he was telling me that the plot has been emptied for 2 years. There is a pond at the bottom of the plot(When I can get to it).

But the guy was telling me that I should just leave the weeds and let them die and just sort the paths out. What you reckon? I was going to make a compost bin and chuck the weeds into there.

Can anyone identify what this is? I thought rhubarb but the guy who was on my plot said it's a dock leaf.

[Andraste]

hi cariann88

congrats on your plot exciting times ahead & ideal to be able to get the structural/prep stuff out of the way now to give you a free run in the spring.

I don't know what that is in you pic but I'm sure it's not rhubarb if that helps at all

I second the recommendation to take pics to evidence progress. I was looking back at some of ours the other day & it was really affirming to see how much progress we've made, not just since day 1 but year on year too.

In the very early days of taking on our plot, before OH commandeered me to get involved too, there were a few mutterings that he hadn't been 'seen much' but it had been a case of him being around on days/at times when others weren't (once the heavy work was done it's not always so obvious to others poking their noses in to see what you've been doing in late autumn/winter). He took to taking selfies so he could show he had been visiting but no one ever mentioned it again lol.

[Nicos]

I think- pretty sure, ( but do please check !) that it’s coltsfoot.
In which case it can be consumed under certain circumstances.
Again…be VERY sure if you do

[Snoop Puss]

Glad you've finally got access to your plot, Carrie.

That plant is definitely not a dock leaf. Well, it's certainly not like any dock leaves I've ever seen. What does the underside of the leaf look like? How about the stem? And what's the texture of the leaf (soft or snappable, for example)?

As for the paths, the more you walk on them, the less they like it. So I'd go with your first instinct and start on the beds. But cover as you go, either with some kind of biodegradable material or with cover crops like broad beans, peas, spinach or lamb's lettuce. It's a bit late to hope you'll get a crop off them soon, but come next spring, you might be in luck. Bren in Pots has just started some peas (Douce Provence overwinter quite well even in atrocious conditions.) Plus anything growing will make it look like you're working the plot, so you'll pass any supposed probation period. You can sow masses of broad beans and spinach if you want. No need to consider them as a cropping plant, just more organic matter to chop and drop or even work in if that's your style a few weeks before you want to put in your 'real' plants next spring.

Good luck.

[cariann88]

Thanks, I will try and take a better picture of it on Sunday. But it has like a rhubarb stem. But not to sure. I wont be eating anything I dont know what it is ha.

I found some biodegradable covering in the shed but don't think there is much of it. I will start some peas and broad beans and some spinach.

I did notice a blackberry bush, couldn't see no thorns on it. But that's half way down the plot. I will see what it is when I get to that end.

We are not really meant to be burning anything on the allotment site, but another plot holder is lending me his burner bin so I can burn some of the weeds.

And another plot holder is letting me have some of his manure when it arrives.

[lottie dolly]

Wow free manure,glad you got it,the main thing is to enjoy what you do on it,little steps is better than a few long one's,do not rear yourself out,defo not dock plant,and i be shocked if that is rhubarb,the leaves are not big enough or crinkly,and the stem looks far to thin,my guess is a weed,look up on google and see the differance,

[Snoop Puss]

Brilliant about the manure. (Sounds like you've got the other plot-holders on your side.)

Also, don't forget you could put in garlic and onions for harvesting next year.

Exciting times ahead. Hope you have lots of fun.

[Florence Fennel]

Is it Burdock weed Carrie? Glad you're making progress

[cariann88]

Is it Burdock weed Carrie? Glad you're making progress

I don't think it is. I will try and get a better picture on Sunday.

[cariann88]

Thank you

First I am going to start at the top near the shed and clear the grass and that so I can see the pathing stones so I know where I am stepping on the plot ha(Nearly fell today trying to look down the bottom of the plot)

Was told that the previous plot holder(from 2 yrs ago) put a pond in at the bottom. When I manage to get down that end I will have to fence it off so that when I take my dog, he don't fall in.

I will take plenty of photos and update you all on my progress

[cariann88]

BTW......ive already for my onions/shallots and garlic just need to make space on the plot for them

[cariann88]

Spent 2hours on the plot this morning. Don't feel like I have done much as ive got a sore knee so had to be careful in what I was doing.
But this is what I managed to do while I was there. Here is a before and after picture.

[Bren In Pots]

A good before and after photo, keep the photos coming you know how we like to peep.