Winter projects

[heebiejeebie]

Make more raised beds for the allotment and some cages to keep the birds & butterflies off.
Fix fence at back of garden now that the jungle is gone, remove the stumps of long-dead trees & shrubs.
Level off garden behind pond and build some kind of retaining wall to keep the garden out of the pond.

[Snadger]

I need to re-commision a hen hut and run which I inherited on the allotment!
Both my allotments were run down so I have spent this season trying to get rid of pernicious weeds and growing crops!

I intend getting some 'point of lay' chooks next March so need to have everything ready for them.
Also intend to build an ark(No. not the Noah variety!) I have about 20 beds all 4 foot wide and roughly the same length so the portable ark will fit one of these so that after I clear a bed of veg I can then put the chooks on it to add a bit of manure and clean the ground for me.

Because I am presently using the chicken house as a shed, I need to build a shed and also a small summerhouse complete with veranda and rocking chair in a sunny position!

Enough to keep me occupied there methinks!

[Alison]

Finish clearing the front garden, repair the fence and prepare a bed for creating a kitchen garden effect which still looks smart enough for the front of the house - not quite worked out the plan yet but it's the only space I have left as the back is already pretty much fully committed to growing stuff!

[JennieAtkinson]

Having just bought a sit on mower, we have just determined the "turning angles", so I will have to dig out the beds in order that they have a nice gentle curve around them, thus reducing the amount of area I will have to strim.

..... and move the strawberry bed.

[Sue]

I still have all the plans from last winter, when the rain stopped digging, so I'm behind with my fruit cage plans and will be digging a path and beds for blackcurrants to go in - if I don't get waterlogged again.
Then there's the rhubarb patch to prepare and this autumn am determined to get to grips with the greenhouse, get everything out, put some sort of flooring in, scrub everything down and put up bubblewrap.
I was also going to experiment with sowing fitted covers for my raised beds, less waste of enviromesh that way - I hope.
Then there's hundreds of pots to wash and hundreds and hundreds of labels to scrub clean.
Sue

[Farmer_Gyles]

i'll be doing a lot of digging over the winter - just preparing ground for next year and sheeting it over to keep it weed free - i have most of the seed trays and pots etc ready for next year - i'll need more canes - greenhouse is mostly ready - need to get more water butts and possibly a soaker hose
also going to prepare beds etc for shrubs - and got to do a fair bit of work on the lawn

[big digger]

Im going to set out four beds for proper rotation and build a poly tunnel, set aside a fifth bed for seedlings and plant more fruit trees and some poplars and bushes to face up to the wind that cuts across here any time of day.

[TPeers]

Get a machete so I can cut a way to the shed to get the strimmer to cut the six foot high evil!!!! borage that is killing my entire garden!!!!!!!!!!

Might then think about buying the odd shrub to shade out said borage, build another raised bed to increase the veg growing area, clean/renovate the greenhouse, work over the rather tired looking herb bed and replant, clean and renovate the pond.....

Anyone got Alan Titchmarsh's phone number......

[Patsy]

To dig over the bottom half of my allotment which has resembled a paddy field several times this year and create raised beds by digging out the top soil from the paths between and using it to raise the beds. One of the allotmenteers said they used to have an Irishman on our allotments who always did his plot like that as it was the only way to grow things on boggy land. Done two beds already and it's amazing how much top soil it produces. I know they always tell you to use manure, compost or bought in top soil but who can afford or obtain enough to cover beds over a full size allotment plot.

[Sue]

Patsy
If you can't afford to get in compost etc (although have you tried horse riding places for free manure?) then you just have to make as much of your own as possible. Beg stuff from family and friends, try the greengrocers, get the free coffee grounds from Starbucks (other coffee shops ie Costa will give it away as well), Shops will give you cardboard, hair from hairdressers, anything you can get - it won't be long before you've got a good load of prime compost to add to your new raised beds.
And as for the paddy field bit, sympathy, have one of my own, raised beds are the only way to go, although there were times when I thought they might float away...
best wishes
Sue

[Peter]

Thoroughly dig all appropriate areas in my two plots, incorporating fym, ready for a better (Oh how I hope so) growing year in 2008.

Set up thirteen large noticeboards across nine allotment sites for our association.

Finish replacing the northern fence on my site.

[Sebbster]

I really have to start the path between my plot and the next, which as yet is not taken. Needs levelling and clearing. Not completely sure what I'll be using yet, I'd like to use paving but we'll see.

I will also be planning my brassica beds better next year, with an easy removal netting system for weeding.

[mad_djg]

- Need to finish digging the plot.
- Put in various fruit bushes
- Put in a couple more raised beds
- Sort out the paths
- Plan my planting for the coming year (too much 'empty' space this year)

- Oh need to go to work as well ....

[simplyjoy]

As i'm a newbie both to this board and my newly aquired plot the winter projects are numerous and arduous.....but I know i'll love it all.

battle the 6 foot nettles and various weeds.

cover the ground after weeding, probably cardboard as i'm in the lower budget bracket.

build shed and possibly poly domes...

rescue soft fruits inherited from previous owners.

if possible plant over wintering veggies....(must re-read threads on same)

Squeeze in any crops possible on only bit of plot that was covered in plastic.



great board by the way, was reading this long before i actually aquired the allotment. it's been a great help in many ways.

thanks.

roger the dodger.

[seasprout]

New Shed.

Well.. after discovering I have Rats under/in the shed again this year, Its going to have to be a new shed this winter. Going to have to remove the heap of soil from behind it, which has caused current one to totally rot away, this was left by previous household occupants, and make a proper base (however you do that i have yet to discover).

It is going to be quite a major job.

I have been growing all sorts of stuff to store overwinter in the shed and it is a waste of time unless I get rid of the rats from the area.

It appears they might have been enjoying my courgettes, tomatos still on the vine in the greenhouse and digging through the compost heap.