introducing my allotment

[lmayhow]

Maybe we're mad but we have taken on an allotment to join our veggie growing we have managed in the garden. Its a big size but simple shape with raspberry, blackberry and rhubard from the previous owner. A tin hut I might ask if I can paint in the summer and open compost section. They have already done a basic dig over before I took it on. The actual field looks generally really well maintained, free water and friendly people!

Just going to concentrate on getting my onions in and deciding whether to risk putting in the garlic or keeping it at home in individual pots and the planting in the lottie in March... problem being I did the pot thing last year as soil is quite clay at home but out of 20 cloves most rotted and I only had 4 to plant in March... whats does everybody else do?


I have tried to add photos like a million times today with no luck not had a problem before, strange....

[Bigmallly]

Many Congrats, I hope you both have many happy years together..............looking forward to the pics.

[Jay-ell]

Hello IMH and welcome to the vine.

So the first thing to do is put the kettle on, make yourself a cuppa and have a browse through the forum.

Scratch that - the first thing to do is grab your camera, get your coat on and run down the plot to take some photos - we're a nosey bunch on here.

After that you can have a cuppa. And upload the photos. Then you can browse.

What type of garlic have you got? I know that some (like Marco) can be Autumn or Spring planted (although I got small bulbs with spring planting)

I can see why you would want to spend time over winter thinking about how to plan the plot, but is there a bit where you can do a garlic bed now which won't scupper any reorganisation/layout plans you come up with?

This year I'm trying a couple of different ways of doing my garlic. I have three heads of Marco garlic so I've split one up and planted that already, I've planted another complete head which I'll split and transplant in spring and the third will be spring planted. Haven't tried it before but I have a sneaky suspicion that the individual cloves which have already been planted will have the edge.

[lmayhow]

I have 4 garlic whike the company have said all autum a little internet searching has lead me to believe one may be spring

>Edenrose an Autum Hard Neck HN
> Prinanor Spring/Autum HN
> Germidour Spring/Autum soft neck SN
> Messidrome Autum SN

Still won't let me upload doing the usual, choose file and then try to upload nothing grrrhhh

[bobbin]

IMAYHOW...

It looks like The Hanging gardens of Babylon compared to some of the plots on on my Allotments!
You'll just love it. Fresh air, lovely veg. Smug "I grew this face" Lottie banter...oh and slugs, couch grass,weeds and unwanted bugs...sorry but I'm afraid we have to share them out fairly!
I think all GYO contributors will agree, having an allotment is one of the nicest ways you could use your time. Just don't fall in the trap many folk do. You need to pace yourself. It's jolly hard work I'm afraid,so don't go at it all at once until it's a chore or you'll lose heart as I've seen many do. There's something magic about growing stuff. Take your time and some days you'll think "why do I bother" on others "yippee look at this. You'll even be chuffed with things like compost ...which is really sad! Ha ha.
Sweet corn/ these beans/ beetroot etc.!

[bobbin]

Actually IMAYHOW. I got carried away. I didn't mean to suggest you're a beginner. Hope I've not offended you. What I did mean was an allotment is a bigger commitment that's all. I found that out myself even though I grew veg in my garden. But it's a different type of gardening..
Right,I'll shut up now. . Sorry.... really.

[Jay-ell]

IMH how are you trying to upload your photos?

[lmayhow]

Your all good bobbin definitely going to be harder work than my area in the garden! Already said to the husband that I dont want to rush and chuck anything in, this year looking at placing items in lottie that dont need lots of TLC or frequent picking and leave those for my garden.

Jay-ell I am trying the usual way that I have always up loaded....

Clicking on the image tab, from computer, choose file and then up load button. Usual that code wording appears but today nothing

[Jay-ell]

Have you tried using the "Manage Attachments" button underneath the editor after youve gone advanced?

What about the file size? Have you tied scalling it down a little see if that works?

[lmayhow]

Whoop whoop the joys of mobile data and taking them whilst uploading....

This is mine 10 pole they describe, basic but fabulous, little tin hut and compost area. Raspberry in the middle with blackberries and rhubarb down the end. Just 110 yellow onions in will put my 60 reds in over the weekend....

[Bigmallly]

Nice looking Plot, I don't think you will have much to do on it preparation wise. Me?..........I'd do sommat wi' that shed............

[Jay-ell]

Looking good

If you've already got the onions in what's stopping you putting the garlic in now?

[ESBkevin]

The Shed looks less than pristine, but if the frame is solid I'd venture to suggest it will be standing for another 20+ years. There are gaps visible so it might be prone to the odd damp spot in driving rain, but otherwise apart from pretty it lacks nothing in an allotment shed. Making it posh might attract the wrong sort of attention too! At least vandles can't burn it down!

[lmayhow]

The thing with the garlic is that I grew last year at home put them singularly in pots as the soil is a little clay like and I was told they may rot without drainage. Well they rotted in pots anyway opps, soil at lottie appears similar I am worried that if I try ground drainage is an issue but obviously didnt have joy in pots either....

I guess really I have just answered my own question what do I have to lose, tried one way that didnt work last year so try a different way this year....

Definitely struggling to not beg husband for new shed no door on other side so no security been walking to and from plot with tools in a wheel barrow, have left over paint from painting garden shed at the very least get it looking brighter....

[Deano's "Diggin It"]

Nice looking Plot, I don't think you will have much to do on it preparation wise. Me?..........I'd do sommat wi' that shed............

Think I am in total agreeance!

Let the fun commence!