Hello from Dublin

[Woodstock]

Hello from Dublin where it's pretty wet out there today!
Have been lurking on this forum for a while so decided to join.
I am particularly interested in allotments and growing veg as I am on the waiting list for my first allotment . Hopefully the waiting period will be painless and I will get it sooner rather then later

[peanut]

Hi Woodstock,

Welcome to The Vine! Sure you'll pick up lots of hints and tips on here and no doubt offer some too!

I don't have an allotment, do all my growing at home. I'm growing PSB, potatoes, Toms, Q's, Aubergines, Sweet Peppers, Cabbage, Peas, various Beans plus lots of fruit and probably more stuff that I can't remember!!

What about you?

[Woodstock]

Thanks for the welcome Peanut
I'm missing my families garden after moving to the city some years ago. I live in an apartment so have to be content with balcony gardening but there are just some things you can't grow.
After 2 years of growing flowers on my balcony, I have just planted tomatoes, a herb garden (parsley,basil, oreagano and chives). I am also trying a pepper and some baby leaf lettuce
Hopefully when I get my allotment I can be more adventurous

[peanut]

That sounds great.....I love growing in pots, I pretty much stick everything in them!!

Hope you don't have to wait too long for a lottie

[Woodstock]

Fingers and toes crossed

[Flummery]

Good luck with your wait Woodstock. Some people find that nagging the Allotment Officer works. Of course, now I've told you that, I'll have to kill you!

Seriously, you will find your horizons really widening when you get a plot of your own. As you say, some things really don't work in pots.

Happy growing.

[Winged one]

Welcome Woodstock - there are getting to be a few of us Dubs around (well, I am another culchie based in the big shmoke!!).

Hopefully South Dub isn't too bad for waiting - I know DLRCC had a list of 151 in March/April, and their total number of plots is 102 (only a few of those were changing hands this year). I had to wait a year for mine and got it in Feb 07. But there does seem to be a huge growth in the interest over here - Dublin - generally.

One thing for your balcony gardening - I don't know if you have everything in pots on the ground, but I grow "tumbling tom" tomatoes (bush variety) in a hanging basket at home which works very well and might give you some extra space - you can put some basil in that basket as well if you wanted.

I've also got pea "half pint" for pots to try, but I haven't managed to sow them yet so don't know how they'll do, but I have grown "meteor" for a few years up a small pyramid of canes in a pot in the garden (very small garden so I was very glad to get my plot) - that worked quite well until the toddler figured out how to open peapods and eat them straight off the plant!!

One other useful link for you might be the SDAA - South Dublin Allotments Association:
SDAAHome
Might give you some handy contacts to get an idea of the demand there and who to contact to get a plot sooner rather than later.

[Woodstock]

Thanks for the welcome Winged One
A fellow culshie,
I am missing that feeling of getting down and dirty in the garden

Seems there was a history of allotment gardening in Dublin years ago but it went by the wayside and is now being revived!
When I mentioned it to my father-in-law he thought it was hilarious that I wanted to have an allotment. "Sure thats just for auld wans" (apologies to maturer grapes on here, his words not mine..... and he is an auld wan )

Anyhow South Dublin have a few sites and apparently they opened a brand new one about 2 years ago in Friarstown,D 24. I have gone to see all the sites. Tymon Park small but lovely sheltered site ( apparently all the council lads have their plots there!) Palmerstown nice sheltered site but there is a waiting list. It seems the new site at Friarstown has plenty of room to expand and is opening new sites soon so hopefully I won't have a year to wait!My father-in-law has completely changed his tune since viewing it!
Anyhow I'm planning to contact my local county councillor on the matter of allotment provision. I really think there should be more.
Thanks for the tips for veg to grow on my balcony. I have "tumbler" and "gardener's Delight" growing so hopefully I will get some fruit in the Summer.
Might give the one you mention a go too!
Would it be worth contacting South Dublin Allotments Association?

[Winged one]

I've never contacted them myself, but it would probably do no harm, as they would be likely to know who exactly to talk to and may be give an indication of which plots are best (soil, neighbours, security issues etc).

Apparently my great-grandad had 3 plots and used to tend them all on his bicycle (Guinness's ones along the Liffey), but there are fwe enough around now. I know lots of people interested in getting one, and intrigued that I have one!! I used to grow in my own little patch at home too when growing up - Dad had a lot of veg both outdoors and in a polytunnel - but he got too busy at work so gave it up about 10 years ago. But there are plans for a new polytunnel next spring......

[celticmyth]

Hi Woodstock
I'm also on the waiting list for a plot(although i do have a small garden,apparently my grandad had a plot in Dublin !!

[bramble]

Hi Woodstock and welcome from another Dub. I am in North County Dub. which would be under the Fingal area. For the past 10 years or so i have been using my mothers garden which is hugh, but unfortunately she went into a nursing home in Feb. The house will now have to be sold and i will loose all my lovely big space. Have'nt thought what i am going to do just yet as it all happened so suddenly. However I am putting in as much crops as i can in the c oming few months and hope to have a harvest before the house sale. Will then have to make a decision. Does anyone know of allotments in the Fingal area?

[Woodstock]

The house will now have to be sold and i will loose all my lovely big space. Have'nt thought what i am going to do just yet as it all happened so suddenly.

Bramble :What a shame you will loose that garden
Have you contacted Fingal County Council to get on their waiting list and find out about allotments in that area?
I have read several forum posts on the net about "private allotments" in north Dublin.