Knee Deep

[Sue]

Hi
I might be exagerating a little, but not much, parts of my allotment are underwater, it's so depressing.
Naive new allotment owner given the allotment in the corner, the lowest corner so all the water runs down from the other allotments, merry rills trickling through the earth etc etc. Shed about to float away etc etc

Apart from ripping up the whole thing and putting in drainage ditches, way beyond me in terms of cost, digging etc is there anything I can do?

Had thought of planting a stand of osier willow, which likes the wet, would it suck up enough water? There is certainly plenty of it in the worst corner.

I am, of course, digging my way through the allotment, half cultivated at the moment and adding organic matter like mad and I see from my diary I was depressed this time last year, tearing my hair out when it snowed in April but it is far worse this year, all waterbutts (7) filled to the brim and overflowing adding to the problem. At least this year it has happened before the bees starting to nest in the earth only to get flooded out which was even more depressing
Can't do anything at the moment, ohh I could shoot myself. I'm sick of checking the weather reports only to see rain and more rain.
Sue

[smallblueplanet]

What does your diary say for later in the year Sue, was all your early season misery worthwhile?

I guess you just have to try and work with it, not necessarily plant rice, but start things in modules. Can you make raised beds, so it drains a bit? Install mason bee 'boxes'.

Hope someone can offer you some good advice.

[sewer rat]

Sue
If your problem is surface water run-off from the allotments above you, it will normally create a little gully that it will follow each time it pisses down. If so, all you need to do is to dig the gully down about 9 inches, fill it with gravel and divert it past or out the side of your plot. Ask the plotholders above you to help if you are not up to the digging yourself - given that their plots are shedding the water, I'm sure at least some of them would help.
If however, the water is seeping your way underground, ask your lottie secretary about getting some drainage work done, again assisted by the plotholders above you. You might also wanna check in case there are tile drains already in situ and the outlets for them could be overgrown, choked and blocked.
The willows will soak up a hell of a lot of water, as will most trees, but could eventually become a nuisance, and in your case may not be the best plan of action as from your post, I think you're biggest problem seems to be surface run-off and this will quite happily skip past the willows too - they work best in an area that is permanently wet.
Sorry can't be of more help - if I was closer I'd come and have a look and sort it for you no problems, but it's a bit of a hike from up here.

[Alice]

OH Sue I do feel so sorry for you. I see allotments near here and they are semi permanently under a foot of water. I know the guys say dig drains and do this and that, but I think this will be a year on year problem. I think I would cut my losses and start looking for another allotment. Sorry to be so pessimistic.

[madderbat]

Hi Sue,
I can't really better Sewer Rat's advice, but would suggest that maybe you could talk to some of the oldies and find out what grew on the plot previously, whether the problem is a new one or not may make a difference. Maybe your landlord can do something to help.

There are some positives though, if you have 7 full water barrels, the drought won't be a problem and just remember that you don't need to plant a lot of stuff until early May, by which time you will either have sorted it or it will have dried out.

Keep breathing, and believe what the Aussies say: 'Its all the same in thirty years.' One day you will look back and laugh about it.
Just remember, the world is NOT out to get you.

Positive thoughts coming at you
Best wishes

[NOG]

don't complain, build a 6" wall rould the three down hill sides of the plot and onve its full plant rice.

Think of all the puddings

[Nicos]

Maybe you should follow the above advice, but also 'go with' the problem?

At the moment my watertable is only 6 ins below the surface and does from time to time create a flooded area. However ,in the summer there is no problem and the plants we grow in the worst area don't need watering.

If you can create a few raised beds and avoid planting winter crops/fruit bushes /asparagus etc in those areas, you should be fine.
I have to do my autumn mucking yet as the nutrients would be washed away if I did it at the 'right' time!
'Go with' your plot but do see if you can sort the drainage out a bit.
Should be interesting to follow your progress!

[supersprout]

Hi Sue,
I can't really better Sewer Rat's advice, but would suggest that maybe you could talk to some of the oldies and find out what grew on the plot previously, whether the problem is a new one or not may make a difference. Maybe your landlord can do something to help.

There are some positives though, if you have 7 full water barrels, the drought won't be a problem and just remember that you don't need to plant a lot of stuff until early May, by which time you will either have sorted it or it will have dried out.

Top advice from MB, you have LOADS of time before serious outdoor planting season. I can't advise on run-off from other plots, just a few words of encouragement about increasing the absorbency of your soil and the way it behaves when it rains, which you're already doing!

A good heavy mulch will make most types of soil more absorbent in the medium to long term, and will also put a stop to surface hard pan if this is a problem after run-off. A good thick (8 inches) mulch can protect the soil surface, allowing water to trickle into the soil, rather than get slammed in by raindrops - I think of it as moisturiser, can't imagine going out without a layer on ... Try a small section to see if it behaves any differently? Just make sure it's a really THICK mulch!

The regulars say it takes a good three years to get to know your plot, so it's VERY early days - and it's early season too There's little to be gained by forcing early sowings - see if you can apply a few of the different suggested solutions to the fundamentals. For now, could you identify a few drier areas to sow and plant from April or May like MB suggests, with crops sown in modules from next month? In the year I took on my plot, I really only started sowing in June, and we were well veg'd up after about six weeks. Your neighbours may offer you surpluses of e.g. early broadies if you let it be known that you're sorting out the fundamentals first

BTW if you had to choose between a plot with too much wet and a plot with too little, you'd not want the latter. With luck and trial and error on your part, your neighbours will be watching you with envy as they break their backs watering during the summer. If you can get your soil to co-operate as a giant sponge, you'll be cropping big fat fruit in drought conditions without any of that palaver

[Sue]

Thankyou for your encouragement, I think I was just very depressed after spending three days on the allotment slithering around. Yes, you're right it does dry out and went to the other extreme by August, set like concrete. Although I have been mulching, haven't been putting as much as 8" on, so that's something I can do, like the thought of my allotment as a giant sponge.
I think the chance of getting someone, ie the council to do something is virtually nil, there are drains where the allotments back on to housing, one across from me and they're blocked, which might not be helping. They've been up and put cameras down etc but no work over the past year, so the water is causing problems in the gardens and actually running under someone's garage.

On my top path where I can see the water running out of the earth and moating round my raspberries, I can't see how to dig a channel, I'm against a road with a hedge in between so any pipework would have to go uphill.

I am growing in modules and I do have some raised beds but I will have to replan my fruit garden, I can't see my apple trees wanting their roots in a lake.

I shall have to dig out the lovely pictures I took in the height of summer to remind myself it won't always be like this, but bless you for your advice and words of comfort, it has made me feel better and stiffened my resolve.
best wishes
Sue

[Stroppy scotte]

Hi
Just to make you feel better, met a lady on the lottie yesterday who has just been moved having flooded with sewerage 3 times this year. Thames Water assured her that the food would be safe to eat as long as it was well washed and thoroughly cooked. Suggested she could invite them around for a meal!!
Hope you resolve your problems in some way and soon. Nothing worse than having a plot you can only look at for part of the year!!
SS

[Two_Sheds]

I think the chance of getting the council to do something is virtually nil, there are drains where the allotments back on to housing, one across from me and they're blocked, the water is causing problems in the gardens and actually running under someone's garage.
Sue

Sounds like you're not the only one it's affecting, which is good. Can you talk to the residents and get them all to sign a letter (you'll have to write it yourself I expect) to the council & local paper? The trouble with councils is finding out who is responsible for what...problems tend to get passed onto someone else's desk. But, everyone's aware of flooding these days. Blocked drains are a constant problem here - they fill up with sand off the beach, leaves, rubbish, and the council never bothers unblocking them. The one outside our front door absolutely reeks of rotting sewage in the summer.