Another new plot

[nickson71]

After waiting for about 15 months I've final got of the waiting list and on to a plot. The plot is about 7m wide
and 30 meters long with a small shed (that looks like it leaks), a small plastic green house complete
with a collection of dead tomato plants, a plastic compost bin, a metal bin, two plastic deck chairs (one is currently holding a panel of the green house in place) a plastic table and a few shelves.

Overall the plot is not in too bad a condition but it does need a bit of work. The beds have been dug over in the last year but the previous plot holder has had to give it up due to ill health. I've attached some pictures At the front of the plot there is a an open topped steel box that is full of looks like well rotted manure (under the layer of weeds and plastic sheet) Not to sure how deep this box is but it is deeper than 40cm below surface level. Also at the front I think we have got a small comfrey bed and a tap. After this there is a large area cover in a blue tarp (not look under this yet) followed by a small oak tree that slap bang in the middle of a narrow bed. After this there are 4 bed running the width of the plot before getting to the green house and then the shed.

The pictures show the view from the front, a picture of the metal box and the view from the green house.







The plan is to pick up some tools this week as I'm missing some bigger garden tools due to living in a terrace with a flagged back yard. Then weather permitting next weekend I'm going to attack the big bed under the tarp clear this and maybe double dig it and get some manure in as I'm aiming to pop some spuds in there next spring. After that I'm thinking of removing the small oak tree then attacking each bed in turn all with the aim of getting planting next year. The beds will all be either double dug or mulched using paper/cardboard and manure except the beds for the root veg which will treated with the bit of compost from the plastic composter and maybe the content of the steel box.

Finally due the the previous plot holder giving the plot up I don't have to pay anything till next April and there are regular deliveries of manure to the site.

All in all I'm very happy and looking forward to getting stuck in next weekend

[SarzWix]

That looks cracking You must be sooo pleased after waiting so long

Your plan sounds good, I'd just say, make sure you let some rain soak into the potato bed for a while, and then think about covering it up again as spring approaches - that way you'll warm the soil up a bit before planting, and stop the first rash of weeds that will spring up as soon as the weather gets slightly warmer

[pipkins]

Brilliant

Looks great and have fun after all that waiting

[geoff]

Ask around friends, neighbours, colleagues at work, and your new fellow plothohders for tools
Many people have all sorts of stuff lurking in their sheds and garages that they don't use anymore, and would be glad to give it a new home

If you do have to buy new see if your local garden centre would offer you a discount if you bought a package of several tools at the same time

[Snadger]

Well done nickson71!Seems like a canny plot!

[nickson71]

Thanks for the replies


And I've been gethering a starter collection of tools from the family

so far I've got 2 spades, 2 forks, a hoe, 2 hand forks, a trowel, a slightly rusty wheel borrow and one pair of secateurs

So we are good to go ..... Just hoping for reasonable weather this weekend

I'm thinking of taking out the small tree first then taking it from there.

[RobintheBobin]

Looks like a great plot Fingers crossed for some good weather over the next few weekends.

[ladylottie]

Congrats! You must be thrilled to bits after all that waiting. And it looks a great plot too. Bet you can't wait now for the weather to stay dry for a bit so that you can make a start. In the meantime, enjoy planning what to put where.

[nickson71]

Well we got down to the plot for a few hours over the last two days and managed to get a few things done whilst dodging the rain

On Saturday I managed to get out the small tree from the middle of the plot whilst the other half dug up a few strawberry plants she found in one of the old beds.

We then spent a bit of time fixing the panels back into the plastic green house and pulling up the old veg and starting the compost heap. The small wooden edging strip were pulled out and stacked up for later use too.

Today we removed the tarp from the front of the plot then marked out how we are going to be laying out the beds (after a quick trip out to get some string). The comfrey patch was trimmed back and popped into the composter by the OH and we also cleaned up the shed a bit. Unfortunately the rain stopped play on both days as it was just too wet for digging and the paths on the plot are getting very muddy (something that has to be sorted out sooner rather than later).

We also met 4 of the other plot holders who seem to be a helpful bunch. All in all we both enjoyed our selves over the weekend and the wait of better weather continues. Here's a more up to date picture of the plot taken as we were leaving.

[binley100]

Looks like your getting on really well. That metal bed looked like an old soft water tank to me, could you use it as a raised bed?

[Madhouseof5]

Looks like a fantastic plot! I bet you are chuffed to bits after your wait! Looks like you have made good progreess. I like looking at everyones photo's, it's inspiring.