Allotment and newborn baby

[TrixC]

We’ve had our allotment for four years and really enjoy it. We’re expecting our first child any day now and people have said “oh you’ll have no time for gardening now”. However I’d really like to keep the plot going, even if we have to focus on low maintenance crops for a while, I’m thinking squashes, potatoes, soft fruit.

If anyone has any tips or positive stories about gardening with young children I’d love to hear them.

[Aberdeenplotter]

TrixC, whatever you do to make things easy, keep a patch you can work on. There will be times you may even get to the plot with your little one who will undoubtedly want to sleep leaving you some time to potter and unwind.

[Chestnut]

A friend of mine took a new allotment when her first was toddling and second arrived a few months later.
Now the kids are 2/4 and she’s back at work full time, so we get invited round to help/entertain toddlers quite regularly , and sent home with buckets of stuff to preserve/pickle in return for 50% share.

Low maintenance is good. Growing some crops so the harvesting bit is done during quieter season, nastutiums for ground cover (technically edible for plot inspection purposes - but no one needs to know if you don’t actually eat them).

Enjoy ��

[Atta]

Och I did it and I think newborn from May till October I was there almost everyday.Sometimes wasnt able do anything more than feed and nappy change sometimes baby slept for almost one hour
You can grow some green manures to give a soil some rest and give cover for weeds.
Congratulations on new arrival

[Mark_Riga]

As you say 'we', I assume it's not the royal we (you do live in London though) so should be fine. Sooner than you think it will be three of you doing it and your child will learn such a lot on your plot. My grandchild is 4 now and has his own plot in my daughters garden. I think his favorite vegetable is raspberries.

[Grumpy Gardener]

Congratulations TrixC,
If there's an area that you can't maintain for a period of time then just cover it with a permeable membrane. It'll keep it clean until you get back in to the swing of things.

[Jungle Jane]

Congratulations & all the best to you how exciting! You will have time,like people have time to visit friends & family. You might feel tired/exhausted so don’t put pressure on yourself take it easy down there,getting one thing done a day is an achievement! Planning will help,a lot of my time is spent wandering around doing nothing,looking at things & one minute of doing the job

[Snoop Puss]

Squash sounds like a great idea. I've been trying to come up with similarly sprawling plants, but not doing too well. Outdoor melons might not give a crop, but they would look like you were growing something if you were worried about an inspection.

One option that occurred to me is the brassica family. Seems like an odd suggestion, but you can buy them as plug plants, they can get to a fair size so occupy a lot of space, and shouldn't get too weedy if thickly mulched with hay. Easier to give away a cauli in autumn or winter than a bushel of courgettes in summer, too.

More importantly, congrats and best wishes.

[Kirk]

Just plan what you plant and grow. Do not plant baby
Expect that you will do small things as you say maintenance as much as anything. For weed control a quick hoe/rake and mulch.

Crop it seems best to plck things that can take care of themselves - maybe fruit bushes. If you get blackberries you can propogate additional from a couple of cutting in a jamjar of water.

Maybe section off a chunk of allotment and add a couple of inches of fine bark chip+compost and let it just lie for a year (assume that you are allowed to not use it). For fime bark chip I buy sort of normal stuff and feed it through a garden shredder. Lot finer after that.

Baby will likely enjoy it outside, but to repeat: Do not plant baby.
Even if at times it seems a good idea.

[lottie dolly]

Congratulations on the baby,when the weather is nice,you will find it relaxing to escape,and get to know your little one,just maybe,there is some peeps willing to go with you the odd times,till you adjust to a new time in your life,all the best lass.

[TrixC]

Thanks for all the lovely advice and comments, it’s making me feel more confident I can do this. Nasturtiums are a great idea! I haven’t had much success with brassicas due to inheriting a plot with club root, are any of the resistant varieties any good? Luckily my site is not very strict with inspections so I don’t think there would be an issue if the plot wasn’t fully cultivated. We’ve just worked so hard the last couple of years getting rid of the perennial weeds I don’t want to have to start all over again.

[Nicos]

It was the best place for a bit of sanity and 'touching base/reality' for me.
So much somwe took on the neighbouring 2plots too!!!

You'll hear people say "you'll wonder how you filled your days before you had your baby" then the second one etc.....
You always have more spare time,than you think..it's a matter of juggling and energy.

Many congrats on your news, do keep us updated!
And enjoy your allotment... just make it a bit less demanding

[veggiechicken]

Congratulations Trix

I have absolutely no advice to offer but, every time I spot this thread, I think "Gooseberry bush".

[bikermike]

heh! congrats! I put my name down for a plot when my wife was expecting. the website said three year waiting list - I got a plot the next day...

he's now nearly four. he doesn't always enjoy going to the plot, but he usually does.

when very small, make sure there is shelter for the baby, and keep an eye out for sharp etc things (they will eat anything...).
plant raspberries. in fact pretty much any soft fruit. small people will *hoover* soft fruit off the bushes. sweetcorn and toms later, too.

in general, I'd do the least you can - membrane and mulch, plant bushes and buy plants from the garden centre. i'd do nematodes though - slug pellets aren't a good idea around babies.

it will work - good luck with it!

[Gillykat]

You always have more spare time,than you think..it's a matter of juggling and energy.

That is SO true! After I lost my dog ten years ago I often wondered HOW I'd found time to walk her two or three hours a day yet, at the time, it hadn't felt like I was pushed for time.