Just taken on an allotment

[DonSpillacy]

Hello All. After a few years of growing greenhouse tomatoes and chilies, I've slowly been taking over our garden planting onions, shallots, cabbages and the like. So, I've just got myself an allotment and the garden can now be reclaimed.

I've attached pictures.

As you can see, it's a bit overgrown and the shed and greenhouse are rickety to say the least. However, compared to some pictures I've seen of new allotments it's not as bad as it could be. It also comes with two apple trees, two rhubarb plants and a wildy overgrown bunch of rasberries. The shed however is badly leaning so I will need to do some work on it until I get the chance to build a new one.

These pictures were taken before a weekend of digging and unfortunately the soil is very compacted clay, so I think it will take a few years, much manure and a broken back to get it how I want it. I have however managed to plant a few rows of onion sets and broad beans.

[Bigmallly]

Welcome to the vine DS, I'm sure you will get there in your own time. Look on the bright side.......Summer fruit pies with ice cream...........

[Samurailord]

Welcome to the Vine

Have you considered using raised beds to avoid the clay?

It might get you up and running far faster than all that digging!

Andy

[Bren In Pots]

Hello and welcome to the vine Don

Can you add your location please, only it makes answering any questions easier if we've a rough idea where your from.

[DonSpillacy]

Hello all.

Bigmally - We've already had a good lump of rhubarb, it was very nice too.

Samurailord - I've thought about raised beds. An allotment along the back a few rows down has all raised beds and mulched pathways which must be a lot easier to maintain. I can get a good supply of free wood too, but the time isn't there to build beds this year. I'll probably cover half the plot with black polythene to keep the weeds off and dig as I sow this year so am not expecting great results. Next year though, I've got big plans...

Bren in pots - It's in north Derbyshire, near Alfreton. Hopefully the snow has finally gone now!

[veggiechicken]

Hello Don and welcome. Try covering your plot with cardboard, rather than plastic. It'll keep the weeds down and you can plant through it. Eventually it will rot down and you won't have the hassle of picking it up that comes with plastic. Its also Free

[Sheneval]

Hi - welcome and enjoy

[DonSpillacy]

Thanks Veggiechicken and Sheneval.

I hadn't thought of cardboard, what a good idea. The site can get a bit windy, so I'll have to find some way of holding it down.

[veggiechicken]

Containers full of water, bags of compost/leaf mould, bricks, planks,........the list is endless
Bike shops are good sources for large cardboard boxes!

[DonSpillacy]

Thanks again Veggiechicken. We get some cardboard at work that goes in a recycling skip, looks like I'll be 'borrowing' that along with the pallets!

[Bren In Pots]

Containers full of water, bags of compost/leaf mould, bricks, planks,........the list is endless
Bike shops are good sources for large cardboard boxes!

I use tent pegs they seem to work well

[DonSpillacy]

An update after two weekends of work, and more pics. I Did about 6 hrs a day over the weekends but this included getting to know neighbours, drinking tea and some shed repairs.

So far I've planted red onion and white onion sets (a few rows of each) and 2 rows of broad bean seeds. As you can see from the black plastic, I'm only going to dig and sow just over half of it this year while I plan it properly for next year. Hopefully this weekend with the bank holiday I'll get a few rows of potatoes and parsnips in.

[Florence Fennel]

Hello and a very warm (if somewhat late) welcome to the Vine

[DonSpillacy]

Thank you Florence Fennel. I'll update next week with more pics after this weekend's digging and sowing.

[Scarlet]

Well you've made good progress so far DS- did you get your spuds in? More pics are good...