My new (to me) allotment (with pictures)
- Thread starter Dannytsg
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Saturday 28/2/15
So the plan for this weekend was to complete a few final tasks ready for growing. First on the list was to chicken manure and thoroughly water down both poly tunnels and let them sit for 2 weeks before planting.
Poly tunnel 1
Poly tunnel 2
Once this was done I set about rerouting the 4 way electrical socket in the summerhouse and trying it with the generator
The new socket location
The generator being tested
Let there be light and flowing electricity
Next it was time to get planting up some early plants, broadbeans, sugar snap peas and onions were done along with leek and parsnip seen at home.
Broad beans
Sugar snap
Onions
In the greenhouse to be monitored.
I have some further plans and mods to do in the summerhouse which is my next focus along with turning over an outside bed for my potatoes which are chitting as I type this.
So the plan for this weekend was to complete a few final tasks ready for growing. First on the list was to chicken manure and thoroughly water down both poly tunnels and let them sit for 2 weeks before planting.
Poly tunnel 1
Poly tunnel 2
Once this was done I set about rerouting the 4 way electrical socket in the summerhouse and trying it with the generator
The new socket location
The generator being tested
Let there be light and flowing electricity
Next it was time to get planting up some early plants, broadbeans, sugar snap peas and onions were done along with leek and parsnip seen at home.
Broad beans
Sugar snap
Onions
In the greenhouse to be monitored.
I have some further plans and mods to do in the summerhouse which is my next focus along with turning over an outside bed for my potatoes which are chitting as I type this.
Saturday 7/3/15
So today at the allotment was more about checks and measures after planting last week. I've been up today and watered everything thoroughly and upon checking my greenhouse have some seedlings starting to emerge already.
We have also been toying with the idea of acquiring some livestock to raise to slaughter and have settled upon us wanting 1 pig and 1 lamb (more so driven by me than my wife). As we cannot keep such animals at our allotment we found ourselves reaching out to a local farm friend who has suitable land and luckily for us was also in the market for the same animals. We have agreed to purchase 1 lamb and 1 pig to raise to slaughter. The lamb will be raised to about 5 months and the pig to 8-12 months so within the next 12 months we are in for some really fresh, ethically raised, locally sourced meat to compliment all the lovely fruit and veg we intend and hope to grow.
We are yet to get to meet our lamb as it hasn't been born yet however we have chosen a piglet from the acquired litter which is a mangalitza cross breed to offer good meat that isn't as fatty as a pure bred mangalitza. In the picture our piglet is the one right at the front, side on with the black spot on its hind leg.
I will be weaned from mum at 8 weeks or so and then brought over to the farm with others for bringing on.
More updates in the coming days and weeks
So today at the allotment was more about checks and measures after planting last week. I've been up today and watered everything thoroughly and upon checking my greenhouse have some seedlings starting to emerge already.
We have also been toying with the idea of acquiring some livestock to raise to slaughter and have settled upon us wanting 1 pig and 1 lamb (more so driven by me than my wife). As we cannot keep such animals at our allotment we found ourselves reaching out to a local farm friend who has suitable land and luckily for us was also in the market for the same animals. We have agreed to purchase 1 lamb and 1 pig to raise to slaughter. The lamb will be raised to about 5 months and the pig to 8-12 months so within the next 12 months we are in for some really fresh, ethically raised, locally sourced meat to compliment all the lovely fruit and veg we intend and hope to grow.
We are yet to get to meet our lamb as it hasn't been born yet however we have chosen a piglet from the acquired litter which is a mangalitza cross breed to offer good meat that isn't as fatty as a pure bred mangalitza. In the picture our piglet is the one right at the front, side on with the black spot on its hind leg.
I will be weaned from mum at 8 weeks or so and then brought over to the farm with others for bringing on.
More updates in the coming days and weeks
Sunday 8/3/15
A good few hours spent at the allotment today in between the intermittent rain. I had to concentrate on mending and fixing a few things that had broken whilst my wife concentrated on planting yet more seeds to get them ready further for transplanting into the poly tunnels in the coming weeks.
So we now have kale, radish, cucumber, beetroot, mushrooms and melon to compliment our already planted rhubarb, strawberries, onions, broad beans, broccoli and sugar snap peas. Potatoes will be going in within the coming weeks as well as leek and parsnip.
A helpful tip for those composting, if you enjoy a Starbucks coffee, the next time you visit their store looks for the silver bags with "grounds for you garden" on them. Starbucks give their used coffee grounds away to gardeners for free. Add these to your compost head and allow them to compost in, it will give your compost a big nutrient boost for any seedlings you plant.
A good few hours spent at the allotment today in between the intermittent rain. I had to concentrate on mending and fixing a few things that had broken whilst my wife concentrated on planting yet more seeds to get them ready further for transplanting into the poly tunnels in the coming weeks.
So we now have kale, radish, cucumber, beetroot, mushrooms and melon to compliment our already planted rhubarb, strawberries, onions, broad beans, broccoli and sugar snap peas. Potatoes will be going in within the coming weeks as well as leek and parsnip.
A helpful tip for those composting, if you enjoy a Starbucks coffee, the next time you visit their store looks for the silver bags with "grounds for you garden" on them. Starbucks give their used coffee grounds away to gardeners for free. Add these to your compost head and allow them to compost in, it will give your compost a big nutrient boost for any seedlings you plant.
i'm impressed we have a 'no shed' allotment. although it's much cheaper the treasurer told me not to pay until they come to me and they haven't.
we have clay so we need to dig by hand before rotavating.
i highly recommend a 'digging hoe' as in BR's link far easier and quicker than a spade/fork
one way that has been recommended to get rid of perceptual weeds is to spray let the weeds die back then dig/rotavate let the weeds start to regrow then respray.
this is recommended but it does delay by months actually growing anything.
we have clay so we need to dig by hand before rotavating.
i highly recommend a 'digging hoe' as in BR's link far easier and quicker than a spade/fork
one way that has been recommended to get rid of perceptual weeds is to spray let the weeds die back then dig/rotavate let the weeds start to regrow then respray.
this is recommended but it does delay by months actually growing anything.
28/3/15 & 29/3/15
Last weekend was minimal at the allotment due to it being my birthday weekend. This weekend however was more productive, even if the rain was torrential at times.
My daughter and I donned our rain suits and along with the help of my brother achieved a good bit of planting as well as some DIY fixing.
This weekend I have managed to repair the broken panels in my greenhouse, fix some broken boards on the summerhouse along with putting in nigh on 50m of water pipe from source onto the allotment. This will offer me the chance to pipe fresh water into the summerhouse kitchenette, add a timed irrigation system into my poly tunnels and also allow me to use a hose on the beds rather than a water can.
As for planting, this weekend saw us ***** out our leeks into bigger pots, plant some peppers, carrots and gooseberries and also chart the progress of our other vegetables as show in the pictures.
Leeks before pricking out
Parsnip seedlings! One for BR as they are on the early side
Luxury greenhouse flooring
Kale coming through
Sugar snaps emerging
Broad beans
Rhubarb
Leeks pricked out
My daughter helping
Sweet peppers
Happy with gooseberries in
Carrots in the tunnel before watering in
I have some more ideas on the horizon, especially in the greenhouses as I want to install solar heating using a panel, fan, tubing and heat sink.
Last weekend was minimal at the allotment due to it being my birthday weekend. This weekend however was more productive, even if the rain was torrential at times.
My daughter and I donned our rain suits and along with the help of my brother achieved a good bit of planting as well as some DIY fixing.
This weekend I have managed to repair the broken panels in my greenhouse, fix some broken boards on the summerhouse along with putting in nigh on 50m of water pipe from source onto the allotment. This will offer me the chance to pipe fresh water into the summerhouse kitchenette, add a timed irrigation system into my poly tunnels and also allow me to use a hose on the beds rather than a water can.
As for planting, this weekend saw us ***** out our leeks into bigger pots, plant some peppers, carrots and gooseberries and also chart the progress of our other vegetables as show in the pictures.
Leeks before pricking out
Parsnip seedlings! One for BR as they are on the early side
Luxury greenhouse flooring
Kale coming through
Sugar snaps emerging
Broad beans
Rhubarb
Leeks pricked out
My daughter helping
Sweet peppers
Happy with gooseberries in
Carrots in the tunnel before watering in
I have some more ideas on the horizon, especially in the greenhouses as I want to install solar heating using a panel, fan, tubing and heat sink.
Well it has been quite a while since I updated this but I have been tracking my progress on another forum.
23/05/15
So today at the allotment the plan was to build my netting tunnel, plant my sugar snap peas and really water everything down.
I took 4 pieces of 1" blue PVC irrigation tubing and cut tem to length. I then buried them in there at intervals and lashed them at the ridge with a bamboo cane.
I then planted the sugar snap peas into the bed next to the leeks.
Once that was done I pulled the next img over and secured it in place
Then I watered everything thoroughly and took some poly tunnel photos.
Finally I pulled up one radish to have in a salad and although small they have a real kick!
It's been a nice day today although very hot. Got to keep on top of the watering as we have a thriving amount of onions, leeks, parsnips, potatoes, strawberries and other veg now.
23/05/15
So today at the allotment the plan was to build my netting tunnel, plant my sugar snap peas and really water everything down.
I took 4 pieces of 1" blue PVC irrigation tubing and cut tem to length. I then buried them in there at intervals and lashed them at the ridge with a bamboo cane.
I then planted the sugar snap peas into the bed next to the leeks.
Once that was done I pulled the next img over and secured it in place
Then I watered everything thoroughly and took some poly tunnel photos.
Finally I pulled up one radish to have in a salad and although small they have a real kick!
It's been a nice day today although very hot. Got to keep on top of the watering as we have a thriving amount of onions, leeks, parsnips, potatoes, strawberries and other veg now.
