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Greetings from my new half plot in sunny Herefordshire

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  • Greetings from my new half plot in sunny Herefordshire

    Hello all!

    After growing tomatoes, chillies and courgettes at home I came across Dan Allotment diary on youtube, after watching what he produced for a couple of years I found myself thinking "I'd like to have a bash at that!".
    Fast forward to a late friday afternoon and sending an email to the local group that runs the council allotments for them and I get a swift response telling me that the site I enquired about was full, BUT they had a half plot available closer to my home address and I could view it the following morning if I wanted.
    I sent a quick response saying I would be delieghted to go and look, so I decided to do some undercover work and take a sneak preview to spy any potential plots, I looked through the fence and sure enough there was a plot shoulder height in weeds and two busted up shed and a bunch of abandoned christmas trees and I thought oh dear I bet thats the one Im getting!!
    Next day I meet the site rep and he takes me to a weed ridden already planted out patch and says this is yours if you want it?? I was overwhelmed with relief and agreed on the spot!
    The following day I went down and began the laborious task of clearing the beds of all weeds and then decided to look at what was already there, parsnips were no good so lifted them and removed, parsley was good so lifted and relocated, cabbages where last years left in and hadnt had any success to lifted and binned those, once it was all cleared and I made sure it was weed free I forked it over and then rotavated both beds and left it at that, took me about 3 days to get this far, I then went back a couple of days later and added in a ton of well rotted muck to each bed and rotavated that in as well.
    I am now about to go wild and start putting my spuds and garlic in, got some strawberry plants off one of the chaps on the next plot over, also got some onions, cucumbers, peas, and beans in the process of germinating and although im a bit behind where id like to be I should get an ok crop this year from those, I also have my chillies and tomatoes ready to plant out once the weather picks up and this risk of frost passes.
    My other bed will see me going for some stupid large marrows, not entirely sure how successful I will be but it will entertain me and the kids and also no doubt the chaps on the plots around me, I figured this was a way of keeping the weeds down in the plot I have no plans for this year and also a way of experimenting and keeping the fun aspectof allotmenteering, I got my seeds from giantvegseeds.com so I have a genetic head start but no skills so aiming at 50lb+.. I can then make plans for next year to rotate and fill both beds with things I will use and be able to keep as I feel this year was a little rushed and not entirely thought out but was keen to do something before time escaped me.
    I will attempt to put a reply to this with pictures from my phone so you see my before and after of clearing but I know although it was hard going I got off lightly after seeing some of the posts on here.
    I will update this throughout the season both for myself and for you guys to share my seasons journey.

    Thanks for reading
    Damian

  • #2
    Pic as promised

    A before and after
    Attached Files

    Comment


    • #3
      Hello Damian & welcome to the Jungle, great introduction & I now know where to come if I need some advice...................
      sigpic“Gorillas are very intelligent, but they don't have to be as delicate as chimps -- they can just smash open the termite nest,”
      --------------------------------------------------------------------
      Official Member Of The Nutters Club - Rwanda Branch.
      -------------------------------------------------------------------
      Sent from my ZX Spectrum with no predictive text..........
      -----------------------------------------------------------
      KOYS - King Of Yellow Stickers..............

      Comment


      • #4
        Wish I could give your photos a double like. Well done.
        sigpic“Gorillas are very intelligent, but they don't have to be as delicate as chimps -- they can just smash open the termite nest,”
        --------------------------------------------------------------------
        Official Member Of The Nutters Club - Rwanda Branch.
        -------------------------------------------------------------------
        Sent from my ZX Spectrum with no predictive text..........
        -----------------------------------------------------------
        KOYS - King Of Yellow Stickers..............

        Comment


        • #5
          Thank you! it doesn't look that much to clear but the ground was very hard and I wanted to try and get everthing out so as not to rotivate weeds back into it and be in the exact same position in a few months, thats one thing I learnt from reading this forum previously as a guest, So far I have got everything from freecycle or friends, the only purchases have been seed potatoes and organic garlic and a watering can.
          I plan on getting my spuds and garlic in today and then on saturday I will make my pea frame ready to recieve my gutter peas that are currently germinating in my conservatory.. once I get some signs of life I will add a few new pics

          Comment


          • #6
            You can either post your pics on here for your own personal diary or join us on the http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...dar_92116.html

            You will note that up to late January all images are missing, this was due to a shutdown on the site so is nothing for you to worry about.
            sigpic“Gorillas are very intelligent, but they don't have to be as delicate as chimps -- they can just smash open the termite nest,”
            --------------------------------------------------------------------
            Official Member Of The Nutters Club - Rwanda Branch.
            -------------------------------------------------------------------
            Sent from my ZX Spectrum with no predictive text..........
            -----------------------------------------------------------
            KOYS - King Of Yellow Stickers..............

            Comment


            • #7
              Hi Damian and welcome
              You've done an amazing job on your new plot! Look forward to watching your progress

              Comment


              • #8
                Originally posted by veggiechicken View Post
                Hi Damian and welcome
                You've done an amazing job on your new plot! Look forward to watching your progress
                Thank you! just need to tidy up my paths and keep on top of the weeds as they show back up now, im hoping that I can just give them a jab with the hoe and let the sun kill them off from here on in but we will see.. currently researching the no dig method as im lazy, but id rather put the extra effort in if its worthwhile so just weighing up the pros and cons atm because im a big believer in adding to the soil with muck/compost each year anyway as you cant just keep taking without putting back.. but plenty more time to think about that lol

                Comment


                • #9
                  Hi and welcome to the vine.

                  Sounds and looks great, just wish my garden was that good

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    Welcome to the vine Damian. Your plot looks great to me, I'm sure I'm not the only one who isn't as far ahead as you on ground prep for this year.

                    You've done most of the hard work now it's time for the more rewarding jobs.
                    I fought the lawn.....and the lawn won!

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      Great work done in a short period of time Damian...

                      and welcome
                      I dream of a better tomorrow, where chickens can cross the road and not be questioned about their motives....


                      ...utterly nutterly
                      sigpic

                      Comment


                      • #12
                        Originally posted by Norfolkgrey View Post
                        Hi and welcome to the vine.

                        Sounds and looks great, just wish my garden was that good
                        Thanks! I'm sure its better, all I have at the moment is empty beds with soil lol, but if the rain holds off this afternoon I will be nipping in and getting my spuds and garlic in..

                        Comment


                        • #13
                          Originally posted by fiveaday View Post
                          Welcome to the vine Damian. Your plot looks great to me, I'm sure I'm not the only one who isn't as far ahead as you on ground prep for this year.

                          You've done most of the hard work now it's time for the more rewarding jobs.
                          Thanks! looking forward to getting something in the ground and my peaframe up.. then im just waiting on some bits and bobs I got germinating in the conservatory

                          Comment


                          • #14
                            Originally posted by Tripmeup View Post
                            Great work done in a short period of time Damian...

                            and welcome
                            Thanks for the welcome! yes it was all done from my first sunday down there and this sunday just gone, which was a week... sunday was a 10 hour slog but I have no patience and want everything done yesterday lol im already eying up another neglected full plot.. I will tell the site rep id take it on for a years free rent

                            Comment


                            • #15
                              Wow, that's fabulous...happy growing! Look forward to seeing more photos when things start to grow! Would you like to come and sort my garden out?
                              sigpic

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