Hello, I'm new, and have never grown a thing...

[oliveoyl]

Hi Which site are you on? I'm just down the road from you... I'm in Cleethorpes on the Beacon Hill site.

The sand bed sounds like a good idea... if you do that, make sure you cover it over when you're not there though otherwise it will turn into a cat + fox toilet - bleugh!

[Pumpkin Becki]

Welcome to the Vine from me too OberonK.

I grow on raised beds, their benefits are multiple:
1) I don't compact the soil by walking on it
2) Weeding is so easy, I don't get weeds/grass encroaching onto the beds from the paths as my neighbours flat beds do.
3) Soil warms up quicker because its a bit higher than the ground level
4) I can control the content/texture of the soil by filling with my own compost/soil mixture from the outset - a real boon when your on solid clay/chalk like me!

[OberonK]

Hi all again,

Yup, we went to our patch, it's actually one of 4 in a block, with the outer 2 being clutivated, so there's a bit of a problem where my plot ends and the one 'empty' plot begins.

The sandbox idea is pretty good, I think I'll have to use that!! I'm going for raised beds, Boyfriends making them for me as a birthday present, going to cost him about a tenner in timber from his suppliers per bed so I'm pretty happy with that.

I'm on the Carr Lane site OliveOyl, it's massive and virtually empty . It's a shae when some people are waiting years for one, and there must be at least 200 plots going. Looks just like grassland.

So far we've finished off getting our seeds - had quite a few under the sink, some duplicates which I'm going to put on the seeds swap board. Plus got some compost and trays, so the next weekend the kids are at home we'll get some stuff in soil! Exciting times. I'll pop some pictures of my current, uninspiring bumpy lawn (cos that's what it looks like). Just wait til I get my (childsize) spade on it!

[OllieMartin]

Welcome to the Vine from me too OberonK.

I grow on raised beds, their benefits are multiple:
1) I don't compact the soil by walking on it
2) Weeding is so easy, I don't get weeds/grass encroaching onto the beds from the paths as my neighbours flat beds do.
3) Soil warms up quicker because its a bit higher than the ground level
4) I can control the content/texture of the soil by filling with my own compost/soil mixture from the outset - a real boon when your on soild clay/chalk like me!

We love your lists Numbers!

Welcome the the Vine Oberonk. I knew nothing about gardening when I started, but then I only started by putting some old potatoes in a bucket of soil. Now though I've practically planned how I'm going to cook everything in my garden and I've barely started planting yet.

I'm sure you'll get plenty of mileage out of the Vine.

[HeyWayne]

Sounds like you're off to a good start there OberonK - and with an expert on tap too. Cool.

Like Ollie and many amongst us, I knew pretty much nothing about gardening before starting out with an allotment 3 years ago now (wow, doesn't time fly!). I'd intended to get myself to a point where I was fairly proficient with what to grow, how to grow it and when before we had children so I could do the same as you, and teach my children about home grown food, and home made produce in the hope that it would stand them well growing up.

Well, I'm nowhere near proficient yet, but with the help of the vine and it's fine inhabitants I'm getting there - and with a nearly 1 year old I need to get a wiggle on.

Good luck with yours, oh, and welcome aboard.

[Pumpkin Becki]

We love your lists Numbers!

Why thank you Mr Martin **takes a deep courtsey**

[oliveoyl]

It's strange that the Carr Lane site has so many vacancies yet the site I'm on has a waiting list... as it's only 5 minutes up the road you'd think folks would take up a plot there instead of waiting who knows how long.

What are you sowing at the weekend? I haven't started anything off yet apart from putting some seed potatoes on the windowsill to chit. I might start some chillis off this week.

[OberonK]

Hey Oliveoyl,

I didn't actually get around to it, but definately this weekend the chillis, possibly some tomatoes and the salad leaves for indoors. Think it's time the peas were started off, but I'll have to check the packets and forum. Haven't got down to the plot all week, with the weather being so foul, so this weekend we'll all off down the allotment, funky wellies on and spades (trowels for the babies) in hand. I'm getting fat and so need to do some excersize!

[Ringo Grumio Nibbler]

Hi everyone,

I'm a newbie here, took on half an allotment at my local site in Grimsby. I've never really grown anything, apart from some pots of herbs, but I wanted something to do with my children (2 and 5) and to show them where food comes from. Obviously being able to grow stuff that costs a fortune in the shops is a bonus!

So I shall be going tomorrow to mark out some beds - luckily my half plot is very well maintained compared to some I've seen - basically just covered in short, fairly weed free grass. Then I'm drawing up a list of what we want to grow, looking at easy to grow varieties and planning a crop rotation scheme. Then I might get around to putting stuff in the ground! Looking at a raised bed scheme to make it easier for the kids not to stamp all over everything in their enthusiasm

You guys can expect a lot of possiby dumb questions. I apologise in advance lol

Me too, exciting innit?

[sweetiepea]

Hi OberonK. Welcome aboard!

[pip1954]

hi welcome aboard,we all started somewhere so if you have a question ask away some one will answer
can't beat the flavor of your own grown ,that first bite of your own veg is fantastic
best of luck pip

[northepaul]

My 5 year old loves eating peas from the pod and digging up tatties... like buried treasure and digging in the soil together, pure heaven for her

Red Thorn....I am really looking forward to doing those things this year with my 6 year old! (well the spuds anyway )

Welcome OberonK, sorry its a bit late, hope you enjoy it here

[jackyspratty]

Welcome oberonk, I'm in a similar situation, new plot, planning a compo bin and raised beds etc. Kids off school so cant get there at the moment to have a look But cat wait to get stuck in again and as said before, nothing like eating stuff straight from the ground Cant wait..