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Hello from mid Suffolk,
Carol and I have had our lottie for just over a year now, in fact we took a half plot last year but the lady claiming the other half dropped out and it was offered to us. We held out until September to see how we got on with a half plot. You guessed it, we went for the other half too.
First year dig involved pulling out all the bind weed roots as I dug it, took three times as long as normal digging but it proved to be largely successful. We were blessed with 5 rhubarb crowns nicely established and a couple of dozen late raspberry canes (in a patch full of bindweed.
First year was good although we suffered onion blight (as did all the plot holders that year) and made a few errors trying to be too soon with some plants. This year we have the benefits of not having to heavily cultivate the first half and so the second half plot got my attentions and a rotavator for the later parts of the cultivations. We are well into planting now too.
At the end of August last year the landlords placed a slab on concrete so we could place a regulation 6x4ft shed on it. I got loads of pallets and packing wood and with the aid of my sawbench built a shed, the only timber I bought was for the long uprights, everything else was recycled. We finished erection in November which made schlepping tools back and forth a little easier. sadly some piece of dog muck broke into some of the plot holders sheds just after Christmas although we were lucky and escaped any loss or damage.
We mainly grow in open ground but have one small raised bed and are planning another soon. We added an L shaped 'orchard' to be grown espalier style on two wires this winter with two apple and a cocker, plumb, pear, peach, cherry and apricot. They will be maintained in a tight pattern and although they look to have fruit this first year we expect little and are anticipating more next year.
Some pics of progress.
Heres the starting point last January
<iframe width="480" height="360" src="http://s1188.photobucket.com/user/ESBlonde/embed/slideshow/Our%20Plot"></iframe>
What we managed that season
http://i1188.photobucket.com/albums/...pstx50rqiz.jpg
Machining tongue and grove planks for the shep
http://i1188.photobucket.com/albums/...pscbfea628.jpg
Shed arrives flat packed
http://i1188.photobucket.com/albums/...ps98c64bc1.jpg
Shed erected and L shaped orchard in the ground.
http://i1188.photobucket.com/albums/...psr0uvq9hz.jpg
The lottie gives us both lots of enjoyment, exercise and fresh home grown food. Love it.
Kevin.
Carol and I have had our lottie for just over a year now, in fact we took a half plot last year but the lady claiming the other half dropped out and it was offered to us. We held out until September to see how we got on with a half plot. You guessed it, we went for the other half too.
First year dig involved pulling out all the bind weed roots as I dug it, took three times as long as normal digging but it proved to be largely successful. We were blessed with 5 rhubarb crowns nicely established and a couple of dozen late raspberry canes (in a patch full of bindweed.
First year was good although we suffered onion blight (as did all the plot holders that year) and made a few errors trying to be too soon with some plants. This year we have the benefits of not having to heavily cultivate the first half and so the second half plot got my attentions and a rotavator for the later parts of the cultivations. We are well into planting now too.
At the end of August last year the landlords placed a slab on concrete so we could place a regulation 6x4ft shed on it. I got loads of pallets and packing wood and with the aid of my sawbench built a shed, the only timber I bought was for the long uprights, everything else was recycled. We finished erection in November which made schlepping tools back and forth a little easier. sadly some piece of dog muck broke into some of the plot holders sheds just after Christmas although we were lucky and escaped any loss or damage.
We mainly grow in open ground but have one small raised bed and are planning another soon. We added an L shaped 'orchard' to be grown espalier style on two wires this winter with two apple and a cocker, plumb, pear, peach, cherry and apricot. They will be maintained in a tight pattern and although they look to have fruit this first year we expect little and are anticipating more next year.
Some pics of progress.
Heres the starting point last January
<iframe width="480" height="360" src="http://s1188.photobucket.com/user/ESBlonde/embed/slideshow/Our%20Plot"></iframe>
What we managed that season
http://i1188.photobucket.com/albums/...pstx50rqiz.jpg
Machining tongue and grove planks for the shep
http://i1188.photobucket.com/albums/...pscbfea628.jpg
Shed arrives flat packed
http://i1188.photobucket.com/albums/...ps98c64bc1.jpg
Shed erected and L shaped orchard in the ground.
http://i1188.photobucket.com/albums/...psr0uvq9hz.jpg
The lottie gives us both lots of enjoyment, exercise and fresh home grown food. Love it.
Kevin.
Looks good 
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