eek! Offered new allotment in Barnsley - not sure whether to accept!!!

[Two_Sheds]

One plotter...suggested I asked to see if I could have that one.

See, that's why it's good to go there in person and talk to the other plotters

(I was told my site was full: so I went up there and found at least 7 uncultivated plots. I took the worst !)

[~kirsty~]

See, that's why it's good to go there in person and talk to the other plotters

(I was told my site was full: so I went up there and found at least 7 uncultivated plots. I took the worst !)

Definately, and I found out the site is generally left unlocked during 'frosty' season but the keyholder lived opposite (presumably they lock it at sunset as it had been locked last week when i visited). The vacant one may already have been offered to someone else as it is council managed, but I never know if I don't ask. The plotters were saying the vacant one would be fertile (ducks and geese grazing ground). Sometimes taking a new plot from scratch in the long run, might be better, as I can make it my own over lots of years. I'm guessing majority of my crops will be potatoes for this season if I take bramble plot... unless when the snow melts I get a surprise and actually its not brambles everywhere and I can get a lovely bed dug quickly (but not holding out any hope on that one). I did container veg growing last year, so could get courgettes/squashes for instance done that way again, and planted out if I'm able to get a bed in place. It looks like 3 new plots have been created from the disused ground, so hopefully will have neighbours clearing ground next to me. The plot is currently unfenced... not sure if the council has plans to fence the part next to the track (they appear to have put security fencing up the rest of the plots by the track). Tp start with I don't mind, in the long run I may pop a makeshift fence up, but its not a priority. Its unfenced between plots too, but again I'm not that fussed to start with.

[ecoprincess]

I turned a plot down once because it was so overgrown and teeming with spiders in the grass and at the time I was working full time and didn't think I could manage it as there was only me to do it but I regret it ever so much now that I'm on the back of the waiting list for another! I say go for it, if it does become too much you can always pass it on.

PS: Yay for another Grape from Barnsley!

[~kirsty~]

went down to it today... all the other plot holders smiles seem to fade.. and they warned me its hard work and i'll need a axe for the bricks... the part of the plot I've started on the weeds are just pulling out and the fork is slipping in easily.. not too many bricks yet.. Whereabouts are you on the waiting list for - which area? There are 3 more plots next to mine with lots of potential... and I know the waiting list is short! I'll post pictures once I work out how!!

[~kirsty~]

[~kirsty~]

Just a wee question, the weeds I'm pulling up, would people burn them, or attempt to compost,, or to pop them into the councils green waste? Its mainly brambles, thistles, couch grass from what I can tell, so far.

[Aberdeenplotter]

noxious stuff to the tip. Burn the brambles

[Glutton4...]

I've only just seen this thread and whilst I'm not a plot-holder (or even a Veg. grower at present). I was going to post "TAKE IT!!!!!" when I started reading. If it doesn't work out, or you don't like it, you can give it up - you won't know if you don't try. But, it looks like you have decided to, anyway. Well done.

Just do what you can, when you can. Listen to advice, but don't necessarily take it until you've 'researched' further (here, or gurgle - but gurgle will probably send you back here anyway! ). Don't be pressured into keeping up with other plot-holders, just work at your own pace, or you'll find it stressful. Make a note (written/camera/phone) each time you go to the plot - of your plot and others, and record everything, that way you'll have a reference for next year.

Spend some time reading the 'blogs' on here of folk that've been doing it for a while - Two_Sheds says 'Compost everything' for example (no waste, or carting away, that way). Dig and cover if you can't use straight away, is another tip gleaned from a regular, that many now follow.

I'm rambling now, aren't I!? Sorry.

Anyone would think I knew what I was talking about...

[Feral007]

Sounds like you've got a good start Kirsty. Definately cover as you're clearing or the weeds will be growing up behind you as you move to the next section.
Probably get rid of the couch, but either burn, or just lay the others on top of the ground and cover so they can go back into the ground from whence they came, and take all the nutrients they were using with them.
Definately have a look at some of the blogs, altho they make me feel quite useless some of them are soo awesome

[~kirsty~]

So this is my kinda my plan... clear, cover a bed, and dig once I've got a bit more covered.. I think the ground may still be frozen further down for digging too much yet... although I'm keen to try and double dig and fertilise one or two of my beds and stick a potato or two in once frost has gone... trying small 4ft by 4ft beds with the intention of square foot gardening but will have loads of space and beds it would seem, so may just use small beds with single crops. None of the other plotters seem to do smaller beds. Todays update pic... I 'think' my beds are too close? The covered bits are roughly 4 by 4, so I may increase my gaps next time i'm up. I've started bagging the weeds until I've made a decision, i'm considering burning I think - presumably, the burnt ashes can be added to compost heap? Not yet worked out where the compost pile will go... Not sure whether to invest in an incinerator bin thing or compost dalek bin yet either... my council doesn't do cheap compost bins!! Met another plotter who told me I need a medal for taking it on...and I won't have anything from it this year... I then mentioned potatoes and he was YES chuck potatoes in everywhere... (so that means I will get something!)i'm going to do first earlies in a few beds and try to plant something else later in the season, and maybe prove a few regulars wrong on that count too. This guy also said all I need is a few geese to flatten it... I've no intention on getting livestock just yet - not sure I've time for animals as well as plants. Oh and in defiance of being told yesterday it was too late to plant bulbs I planted some summer bulbs along one of my edges... I'm thinking I'm not likely to fence off until after the summer, so may make my edges of my plot pretty for at least this season. Although, the lady next to mine (the one which said its too late for bulbs!), is going to get me a spare key for her plot, so I can leave barrow and tools secure... she's warned against leaving anything on my open one. I was planning on buying a storage bench as I'm not sure if I've the expertise to think about shed building yet, but may think again on that one. I've not yet met anyone who hasn't warned me against this plot... yet the frost is making it easier work than the regulars are making out. The weeds just pull up and so far I haven't come across the bricks and stones which apparently need axing out. I still smile and nod and appreciate all the fuss they are making of the new girl.. I think they think I know what i'm doing... deep down I aint a clue. I'm aiming to spend 20-30mins after work tomorrow, I think its still too frosty in a morning to do anything first thing, can't wait till later in the season!

And if you got to the end of my ramble... THANKS EVERYONE for your advice! It does mean a lot... And the blogs on here are amazing. I still don't think this plot is bad compared to what some of you start with, although I took gut feeling to accept it as I couldn't see the ground due to the snow!! I'm going to hunt out a beginners allotment guide for some more tips I think... I don't even know what all the weeds I'm pulling up are. No bindweed yet I do not think though...

[out in the cold]

Kirsty, I actually don't think your plot looks that bad. (My BIL's looked a right mess when he got it)

Some hard work needed this year, but by next year this will look great.

As you say, a small scale approach will return dividends for you and allow you to help keep things well managed until you need to stretch out into the next section.

[~kirsty~]

Thanks. And agreed the plot is fine... not sure what I was in a tizzy about - just wish the regulars would stop saying the plot is bad. I know the plot hasn''t been used for years (i'm digging crisp packets from 1996!) so it would be nice to have conversations nearer to: lovely to see you, i'm bill and ben and this is my plot, just let me know if you need anything... I'm getting the let me know if you need anything bit, and they are friendly (and naturally nosy) but I could do without the negative vibes the first time we meet..

[Feral007]

If you have a wheelbarrow make the paths that wide. If you don't have one yet, measure the one that you like in the shops, and make it that wide

You can get some stuff this year. Things like potatoes and squash and pumpkins, that look fabulous and green, and also give you a crop at the end, and cover up the ground so it improves. And don't forget to compost in a pile or on the garden at the end. Get yourself into the pallet section to see what compost bins you can make out of pallets.

Also short growing things like chard and lettuce, you can grow huge amounts of it first season! First season is the best, because you have such low expectations! After a few years you just expect impressive things no matter what the weather.

[binley100]

Cardboard.......and lots of it . Cover with it and plant through it . Best invention ever

[~kirsty~]

lol... I do have a barrow... its pink... I was quite happy to leave it onsite today,, but the caring neighbour suggest I didn't, hence the offer of a spare key to her allotment once she finds/cuts a key. I don't think anyone else has a pink barrow. I do think the gap is wide enough for the barrow though. I was considering that when laying the weed membrane stuff.

I definitely wanted to do squashes/courgettes - love a courgette glut.. I think I was going to try and pop the courgettes in after some first early potatoes, but not sure if that's giving enough time.. might be late on to plant out in june time although I planted into containers late june last year, and they wouldn't stop producing into autumn! I'll trial a few beds with planting in without doing the spuds... maybe my pumpkin/squashes.... Trial and error I think. May even try a hardy broadbean up near the fence... I've broad bean seeds which do need using up as they are old. I think my compost pile is going down near the bottom somewhere.

Another question with rhubarb - Do people grow this in a specific bed, or just a random patch of unused land? I've a crown to plant, sometime, somewhere...