Oh dear...

[Drea]

Well I haven't posted on here in a while but as I've just signed my life away to an allotment I have a feeling I'm going to need all the help I can get!

It's a good plot (I think), hasn't been dug over so some hard work to come but it gets the sun all day (if it ever makes an appearance), no weeds, easy access to water. The only problem is the neighbouring plot (which will never be rented) has a big tree but I'm hoping it's far enough away that the roots won't be too much of a problem.

I don't even know where to start! Better get researching

[SarzWix]

Very exciting, if a little daunting Just take it steady, and cover some of it til you can get to it, then it's not getting out of control

[Drea]

Very exciting, if a little daunting Just take it steady, and cover some of it til you can get to it, then it's not getting out of control

Thanks Sarah do you think I should dig it all up then cover what I can't use at the moment? Or dig maybe half of it and leave the rest as grass for now? Really quite clueless as you can tell

[alldigging]

The only problem is the neighbouring plot (which will never be rented) has a big tree

So why won't it be rented? Because of the tree?

[Drea]

So why won't it be rented? Because of the tree?

Yes and they've dug a trench running through it for extra drainage

[SarzWix]

I'd gather as much cardboard as I could lay my hands on and cover the whole lot, then uncover it as you need it, that way weeds won't be springing into growth before you get to planting. It gives you a bit of time to work out a plan of how you want to set everything out too.

[Drea]

I'd gather as much cardboard as I could lay my hands on and cover the whole lot, then uncover it as you need it, that way weeds won't be springing into growth before you get to planting. It gives you a bit of time to work out a plan of how you want to set everything out too.

Beginning to wish I hadn't just got rid of loads of huge cardboard boxes in the recycling...

[Nicos]

You'll find more- try supermarkets!

...and welcome to your other new hobby of 'storing everything which may come in handy at some point in the next 50yrs'!

[alldigging]

Yes and they've dug a trench running through it for extra drainage

Is it to be covered to stop weeds/save effort of mowing? Could it be used for planting useful things like comfrey?

[Drea]

Is it to be covered to stop weeds/save effort of mowing? Could it be used for planting useful things like comfrey?

I don't think they plan to cover it, he did mention it'd be mowed regularly. I'm sure they'd be fine with me going over my boundary into it

I'm really looking forward to getting going now, although at the moment I don't even own a spade to lift the turf. It's going to be hard work but at least it's a blank canvas

[alldigging]

Ask on freecycle for tools! Bound to be someone having a clear out!

[veggiechicken]

Hello Drea and welcome back. How long did you have to wait for an allotment in Cardiff?

[Drea]

Hello Drea and welcome back. How long did you have to wait for an allotment in Cardiff?

Thank you

I think it was around 8 months, not 100% sure when I joined the list though.

[veggiechicken]

That's not long - I'm amazed!! Thought it would be much longer than that. It is a shock when you get that call. Cover up as much as you can with cardboard and do it bit by bit. You'll get there and be picking your own veg before too long

[Drea]

That's not long - I'm amazed!! Thought it would be much longer than that. It is a shock when you get that call. Cover up as much as you can with cardboard and do it bit by bit. You'll get there and be picking your own veg before too long

I thought so too, although apparently the site manager was called to rent out over 20 of the plots due to people not paying, I think it was a bit of a shock for him too

I'll get begging at supermarkets