New Allotment

[Hazel at the Hill]

Thank you, Mikey

If you do have access to fresh seaweed, it is a useful substitute for farmyard manure, and does not need to be rotted down before use. It is best dug in fresh before it has had time to dry. Although seaweed is salty, the salt is not usually present in sufficient amounts to damage crops or soil, and the salt will in any case leach out readily with rainfall as it is highly soluble.

Answering my questions nicely.

[Bill HH]

i suppose it wouldnt hurt to hose it down before use, the salt would only be external would it not?

[Sheneval]

Bill,

I never bother - it has been lying on the beach since the last storm washed over by both the tides and the rain. The winter rain will wash it well down into the soil long before planting time.


Mikey,

Good link


Hazel,

I have never had any bother with wind blowing it away - this site is very well protected from winds by the surrounding trees - whenever I leave the site I always feel as if the temperature has dropped by 5 or 10 degrees - makes it easy to work the plot during the winter - I will dig it in a month or so before planting.

[Sheneval]

A friend has arranged with his brother to drop off a load of used fencing that is being replaced to the allotment entrance for me - a check this afternoon revealed it was not yet in situ but a lovely big pile of woodchip has been left at the entrance by the treefellers so should be able to get more than enough to cover the paths on my own, daughter's and grandkid's plots - a busy weekend ahead.

[Sheneval]

Yesterday I moved 22 loads of woodchip from the pile at the gate to my own and my daughter's allotment plus a couple to the grandkids' plot.

[Feral007]

Wow, I'm tired just reading that Shen! That's their christmas present then?

[Sheneval]

Feral - For some reason they didn't want any biggies this year so it is likely to be a very cheap Christmas this year in comparison to previous ones. However, Andrew (no.2 gson), will soon be needing his own laptop so his next birthday present in July is liable to make up for Christmas and the wee one Euan usually gets what the other two get at a much younger age as he picks up what Andrew is doing years earlier than Andrew did with Calum

[Sheneval]

Another couple of loads of woodchip uplifted today and put on part of this years brassica bed to act as a mulch. Also collected the last of the Brussel Sprouts - will grow more next year

[Scarlet]

I could do with you on my little plot! Fancy a weekend in sunny Wiltshire?? My kids and all their school friends say I make the best brownies EVER!

[Dorothy rouse]

After Wiltshire, you can carry on driving down to Kent!

[Sheneval]

Scarlet and Dorothy - thank you kindly ladies but over the years I have had suggestions aplenty of this type, originally from neighbours and now on the allotment, from both males and females, although the males tend to offer drink as an inducement rather than baking; nevertheless it is nice to know my efforts are appreciated although, as far as the allotment is concerned, I am still in learning mode

[Sheneval]

Paid a quick visit to the allotment today and found a load of old fencing had been dropped off for me so a busy time ahead.

Also noted that a fresh load of woodchip had been deposited outside the gate topping up a previously delivered load so plenty for all.

One of my cages has been blown off its normal perch and noted that one spar has been broken and will need repair - secured it temporarily adjacent to the one on the pea bed.

Neighbouring allotment holder was the only one present so we chatted for a bit then had a quick walk round the site but no great damage found.

Oops forgot to mention, managed to get enough brussels sprouts for tonight's meal

[Aberdeenplotter]

managed to get enough brussels sprouts for tonight's meal

satisfying innit

[Sheneval]

Indeed it is - I thought my last pick had got the lot but there was still enough hiding to do the whole family - meant I could justify sponging off them for another day's meal

[Sheneval]

Couple of hours up the allotment this afternoon - got another 12 loads of woodchip and did a little weeding/tidying up which enticed a robin to come and see what it could scavage - I got one very large juicy worm which I threw over to where it was standing about 2 feet away - it immediately snaffled it and flew behind the compost bin - after a few minutes it re-appeared and I threw over another one which it ignored for a minute or two and then condescended to grab hold and go behind the compost bin again - I am wondering if it has found a watering can lying on it's side and made itself a home - I will need to take care when spring arrives.