Allotment and newborn baby

[1Bee]

Congratulations! I'm sure you'll find a way to do it. Mine were older, so I don't have any baby advice, but I have very limited time so I'm good at being ruthless with what I can and can't do. Maybe cover a patch with membrane and plant pumpkins, courgettes etc through that? Keeps the weeds at bay, the ground in use, and a good pumpkin patch always looks good.

Enjoy!

[Snoop Puss]

I don't have club root (at the moment, fingers crossed), but I asked about it on another thread and a couple of people commented. The upshot was grow seedlings in pots and don't transplant till a decent size, plus, sprinkle the transplanting hole with lime before putting the plant in. The thread was not directly about club root, however.

If you search the forum, you might come up with some more info. If not, start a thread of your own on club root and you'll probably get lots of advice about techniques and varieties.

[Muddy_Boots]

I don't have club root (at the moment, fingers crossed), but I asked about it on another thread and a couple of people commented. The upshot was grow seedlings in pots and don't transplant till a decent size, plus, sprinkle the transplanting hole with lime before putting the plant in. The thread was not directly about club root, however.

If you search the forum, you might come up with some more info. If not, start a thread of your own on club root and you'll probably get lots of advice about techniques and varieties.

Snoop Puss you are exactly right, you can buy brassica plants as plug plants, ( I prefer to grow mine from seed in modular trays two plants to a module or cell), I pot them on into used plastic vending machine cups from work (they changed it to paper cups last year), which was a blow. Grow them on until they are bigger and trying to put roots out the drainage holes of the pot then transplant them, the more advanced the root system is the less chance that club root can take hold. Throw some lime in the hole before planting then when firmed down throw another handful of lime around the plant then water in, that should stop any club root in its tracks and protect the plant. If you want after a couple of weeks throw another handful of lime around each plant and water that in just to be certain then let them grow.

[happyhumph]

Have a 9 year old and a 5 year old and have been gardening for years. All good ideas on here. Definitely cover up spare ground to save weeding. Some form of baby sling is a really useful piece of kit - I got quite skilled at doing all sorts of things with them attached to my chest - laundry, seed sowing (watch out for wiggly feet!), light pruning, hoeing etc. Rain cover and sunshade for your pram.

The baby will love being outside - when they're really young and can only see close up they'll enjoy looking at bright flowers (just out of reach!)

Basically don't expect too much your first year - it's about making it easier on you and enjoying your baby. If you don't get much off the plot it doesn't matter, what's important is looking after your new little family.

Enjoy, it's a really special time, and go easy on yourself

[happyhumph]

Oh, and finding time for gardening is far more important than finding time for housework beyond basic hygiene