oh no what have I done!

[Percy T]

thing I might need a little help.

Only had my half a plot a year and have had several failures, need to learn lots thank god for all the old hands willing to give advice. But then the half a plot at the end of mine has been vacant for some time so asked the council if I could have and they said yes.


running before I can walk springs to mind.

[rustylady]

If it's workable then grow lots of spuds. Provide a good crop, shade out the weeds and the roots break up the soil. Good luck.

[Percy T]

Thanks rusty at the mo waist high in weeds, think they should lock me up and throw away the key. OH has already banned me from all the local garden centres

[bubblewrap]

I took on a full plot(300+ sq yds) it took me almost a year to get into shape but still managed to get some worthwhile crops whilst doing so.
So take your time P.T. it's not a race. It will all come right in the end.

[pigletwillie]

I think most alotment holders soon realise that " half a plot just isnt enough", fools that we think we are.

[Percy T]

Thanks chaps will try but have been busy on excel planing everything and now need a magic wand tee hee.

No seriously thought I might just cut the weed down and dig some of it over for spuds as Rusty lady said. The rest will come over time and thing next winter will be the time to put the full plan into action, am just a little inpatient.

[SarzWix]

Lucky you PT, to get the extra space without a wait!!
You'll be fine, just hack it all down and cover what you can't manage with scrounged cardboard (local supermarket might part with some?) so it shouldn't cost you too much. Good luck!

[Percy T]

Thanks Sarzwix

not really as the site has a lot of unculitvated plots.

[SarzWix]

I got my plot in February this year, and I'm already coveting more space..! Where to put my fruit canes etc? I have no space left after putting a greenhouse up Our site has a waiting list, although some of the plots are a total disgrace!

[Percy T]

oh thats a shame Sarzwix Im really sorry to hear that, maybe you could contact the council and say that the plots are not being worked.

[SarzWix]

The site is in the middle of changeover from Parish council run to self-managed. I expect when that finally gets sorted out, we'll see some progress! In the meantime, it's what my Dad calls 'character-building' - having to be patient!

[JanieB]

I took mine over in April. Supposed to be shared with a friend but she has now backed out. We spent most of April digging what we could and planting stuff. Only got about half of it dug, but as everyone says slowly, slowly.

THEN

It rained.....and rained......and rained.

Very disheartened at the mo. It's now covered in weeds 3 ft high. Time to start again. Not helped by working full-time and sprained my ankle a month ago (it still isn't right).

I bought a petrol strimmer (I have a garden to deal with as well), but can't work out how to start it.

[Snadger]

I bought a petrol strimmer (I have a garden to deal with as well), but can't work out how to start it.

Most petrol strimmers are two stroke, but not all! If its a two stroke it will need a 50/1 mix of petrol and oil. Because of the oil in the fuel the plug tends to oil up. Two strokes are notorious bad starters especially when hot.

Make sure the petrol is turned on and if there's a little rubber 'tit' in the fuel line give it a few pushes to prime the carb. Lock the trigger and turn the choke on and pull the cord a few times, it should start, and once started, knock the choke off. Start again without choke and it should run ok.

If it still won't start, take the plug out and make sure it's gapped correctly, is clean and dry. (Putting it in the oven for a while to dry it off and warm it up a bit before replacing sometimes works.)
If it still doesn't start, check for a spark by taking the plug out, putting the plug into the HT lead and earthing it against the cylinder head. Pull the starter cord, if no spark suspect the plug needs replacing, reasonably cheap option!

If it's a new strimmer take it back to the shop you got it from and ask for a refund!

[Sue]

PT
I started with half a plot, had my shed right on the edge so if someone took over the next allotment, I'd only be two feet away from them, so before I even got half way through the first plot, asked for and got the second one, so now have a tennis court sized plot which I'm still slaving to get into full production, but I love the challenge and the extra space, would never have crammed everything in the first plot and I've got the privacy I wanted. Very muddy privacy at the moment but still.
Sue

[Percy T]

Love the challenge too Sue, so now with my new half plot currently undug and my old half plot part way ready for the spring. have a few little questions if I may................ I am a newbie.

I have decided on a bed system (think I am the only one on the site to have opted for this) (it is a very very small site).

Any way quetions are from reading etc root veg such as carrots and parsnips dont like beds manured recently before sowing, how recently is recently? If I manure a bed now can I plant carrots and parsnips in the spring? If not can I use compost instead?

Also from reading I believe some veg in the brasica family like the bed "limed" what does this mean I know you have to buy a substance to add to the soil but what for?

sorry such silly questions