New Allotment

[Orwell]

This is looking excellent! Are you planning on having any raised beds?

[Sheneval]

Eventually I will edge all the beds with 6" wooden boards and as they can all be reached from the paths on either side, they do not need to be trod upon and the addition of compost and mulching should raise them above their present level. I also have a square of boards that I will fill with compost this year, which will provide a small 1m sq raised bed which I will use for carrots.

On my grandkid's plot I have created what used to be called a lazy bed, which is effectively a raised bed without boards. in which I have planted 200 onion sets - I copied this from my friend on the allotment as this year he took over 200 onions from this arrangement and if it works for him, I am hopeful it will do likewise for me

Some of the plots round about have raised beds boarded by scaffolding at various heights but none of them are filled up to anywhere near the top of the boards although they may get there over time.

[Bigmallly]

Nice to see the young 'ens are still enjoying it Shen.

[Sheneval]

Yes - he worked well today and enjoyed it - he volunteered to go and get the wood chip - first time he's been up in a while, not since we planted the onion sets in the kid's plot/s - he missed the family day out -but he puts in the effort when it's just the two of us - he was great when we were preparing for the allotment show helping with the soil for the base for the new shelter and he worked really hard on his own plot when we got it in June and he was up with me at every possible opportunity thereafter, planting, sowing and keeping the weeds at bay.

The weather has not been great at the weekends for a while, but hopefully we will get the odd couple of hours free of rain on a few days before he goes back to school. makes it a lot easier and quicker when two of you are working it

[Sheneval]

Spent just over an hour at the allotment this pm between showers collecting more wood chip in preparation for the remaining planned paths.

My grandson disposed of two old pallets I had been using to hold down the wood chip previously collected thus partially tidying up the bottom end of the plot which still requires to be weeded.

Ground was wet and soggy in places so no further progress on 2nd part of the plot.

[Sheneval]

Thanks to a break in the showers was able to spend 3 hours on the allotment today accompanied by eldest gson, this being his 3rd day in a row.

After considerable effort which involved many docks; previous occupant had obviously dug them up and piled them and many other weeds in a large heap with a little soil on top, perhaps thinking they would rot down. Alas most of them were well rooted.

Despite this we managed to get the 4th bed, first in the 2nd half of the plot, and another path
(4th), completed using all the wood chip in the largest bag. Also dispersed a nearly full large bag
70L of compost from one of my large flower tubs on beds 2 & 3. It seems to disappear very quickly

2 beds and 1 path to go Fingers crossed for some rain free afternoons

[Aberdeenplotter]

you are doing great Shen.Hope we get a decent growing season in 2013 to make all the graft worthwhile

[Sheneval]

Thanks AP :-) I know this year was bad, although my friend on the allotment did ok with his onions and potatoes, though his beetroot were all eaten by mice as happened to two others adjacent - I'll need to get the traps out early.

In any case it has been worth it for the exercise - I had been getting very lazy over the last couple of years spending far too much time on the computer and watching TV. The exercise over this last 5 weeks has been excellent for me and I have shed some excess pounds - not quite back to my hill walking days but if I can keep this up till spring I should be fighting fit :-)

[Sheneval]

New Allotment

Managed to get another couple of hours at the allotment this afternoon despite heavy winds, which did cause some problems and resulted in the loss of a bag I have been using to dispose of docks and other weeds - I had filled this bag with the remnants of the alyssum and lobelia plants I had grown in a bed in the front garden and had taken them plus about 60L of compost removed from a large tub up to the allotment to use on bed 4. After I had dug this material in I noticed both bags were no longer where I had put them. One was in the adjacent path but the other was nowhere to be found.

As the wind was from a SW direction it probably had taken off in the direction of Aberdeen so if AP finds it he can keep it.

However, despite the wind I did manage to create an area covered in wood chip which will serve for storage of Compost Bin, Water Butt etc. see pics.

[Sheneval]

Was unable to get to the allotment yesterday but had a good 2.5 hours today with the family and apart from needing to get a roll of weed suppressant to finish the 5th and final path managed to complete the last two beds and used the remaining 240L of organic compost on them.

Will go up tomorrow and complete the job

[Sheneval]

Got up for another 2 hours with the family today and completd the 5th and final path. Also added another 400L of organic compost over the plot.

Now looking ready for some planting which we intend to do tomorrow as weather looks like clearing.

[Bren In Pots]

Does look good Shen and I hope the weathers fine for you tomorrow.

[veggiechicken]

What will you plant Shen?

[Sheneval]

I am going to have a go at Garlic - I know it's late but I have seen a method on the Internet whereby you cover it with straw and fleece, presumably until it catches up with where it should be, had it been planted before the frosts started - they claim it works every year for them so why not - if it doesn't work this year, I'll try again at the end of the year

I also want to put in some bulbs - Alium and a few others - Again I know I'm a little late so I may use the same process to give them a head start

I have a great rhubarb plant in the garden but as I'm a lover of same. I want to split it in 3? and replant in the allotment where I can give it some TLC - it has been neglected in a corner for the last 4 or 5 years and still does well.

[veggiechicken]

Just curious Shen!! There's always spring planted onion sets if these fail.