My new allotment - pics

[thecornflake]

So I have finally managed to confirm, after some confusion caused by the previous holder merging and then splitting up plots, exactly what my plot includes. There are two large beds, 4m by 14m, edged with wooden boards. In between the two there is a gravel path and at the bottom end there is an area with a couple of large pallet-made compost bins and space for a reasonably large shed.

The first bed is mostly covered with low level plants, I think some sort of green manure as the plot was only recently given up as the holder is moving away from the area.

At the top I have found some random potato, leek and fennel plants so far. I've planned out a 4-year rotation with the growveg.com planner and put in some potatoes on one side, and sprouts in the other which another plot holder gave us on our first day there.

The other bed already contains some well established raspberry and gooseberry plants, then the rest of it is starting to overgrow a bit. It has some plants at the bottom end which I'm not sure about, possibly fuschia. If posting pics works I have included one of these plants. There is also a rather large rose for some reason (quite a few people seem to grow ornamentals on their plots as well as fruit and veg).

The plot seems to get sun most of the day (there's a large treeline at the bottom of the slope and then there's a road the other side but the sun comes from the other direction) and apparently drains well but also stays quite moist.

Soil is very easy to turn over and apparently the previous guy dug in loads of compost etc so I'm considering myself very lucky, and am now off to order a load of plug plants and seeds, and possibly a shed and a large fruit cage

Trying to attach pics, hope they work

[veggiechicken]

Your plot looks really good, Cornflake! You should keep taking photos at regular intervals to remind yourself how much you've achieved.
The flower looks like Aquilegia (Granny's bonnets). It self seeds freely but is very pretty! I have lots of them!

[Sheneval]

Looks good - enjoy

[crannman]

keep up the good work

[thecornflake]

Thanks, just ordered some brocolli and strawberry plants and I started off some kale recently plus my Mum is donating a load of runner beans she sowed a couple weeks ago. Oh and loads of seed potatoes.

The taller raspberries are blowing all over the place so I need to get them supported asap, is it better to use bamboo canes like I would for beans, or horizontal wires between stakes, or something else? Also looking into protection, planning on doing something with cames using those flexiball things and some netting as fruit cages seem to be horrifically expensive for the size I need!

[Dotty Sarah]

Great plot, good luck. I agree with VC, definitely looks like Aquilegia in the last picture.

[thecornflake]

Thanks for all the positive comments. Having gone to Chelsea on Friday with my Mum (bit of a plant expert) the plant mentioned above is definitely an aqualegia and has just started flowering properly.

Have done a bit more digging, staked out some more of the raspberries, discovered 2 compost bins and a huge blackcurrant bush, and sown carrots and spring onions. Couple more pics to show the fruit bed and tiny amount of progress -

[out in the cold]

Looking good so far Cornflake.

Remember to pace yourself with the new plot though. Good luck

[Vince G]

Speaking from experience, don't use flexiballs to support canes/netting on anything above about 2 feet high. You'll be slotting everything back together each time you go down the allotment after there's been a strong breeze. They're best for constructing something to cover low growing brassicas and lettuces.