Hobbit Allotment!

[horticultural_hobbit]

Carnage

Am rather hacked off with the elements today.

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?f...type=1&theater

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?f...type=1&theater

Not a happy hobbit at all. Perhaps I should start looking for fishies and froggies.

[veggiechicken]

So sorry HH So much effort for so little thanks - ungrateful weather. Good thing you have your raised beds - they should have more chance of coping with the deluge.

[horticultural_hobbit]

At least eighty per cent of the half plot is under water. Not just a couple of centimetres. But a few inches. Covers my wellingtons. I despair, really. So much is most likely written off.

[Bren In Pots]

HH it does look a sorry sight so no wonder you're feeling how you are. but like VC say your beds are holding up fine so not alls lost.

[horticultural_hobbit]

Nothing in the beds yet, just leaf mold. What is planted, shallots, garlic, onions and tulips, is all in the flat. Some of which is sending up green shoots. Not many, but a few. It will take Epic dry to wring the whole thing out.

[snohare]

How difficult would it be to start digging an outlet to the nearby stream ? Is the stream downhill from the plot, would the water drain away ?

[horticultural_hobbit]

Stream runs in parallel to the site. Think plot neighbour tried this but to no avail. Apparently my plot is on a higher incline, and water drains down and away. I disagree.
It doesn't drain in any direction!

Hard to describe. If you were stood by the water butt facing the Wendy house, the slope goes up on your left. The steam is behind you, behind the fence. And water will also drain towards you. So from you left, and straight at you. Apparently. I don't know! My brain is female, it doesn't do spatial awareness.

[snohare]

My brain is female, it doesn't do spatial awareness

I thought it must be male, it does excuses very well !

I shall ponder on a way that you may find the gradient of your plot easily and without specialised surveying equipment (I don't suppose you have access to a theodolite, do you ? )

Meantime, remind me - did you ever dig a soakaway pit and fill it with stones ?

And fear not - alliums at least can survive submersion perfectly well ! "Chicago" means "swamp of the wild onions"...

[horticultural_hobbit]

I didn't, my sweet. All the more reason in doing so in the future, eh, uncle Sno. I just don't like playing with wet clay.

[Aberdeenplotter]

Crikey, I think I'd be looking for a different plot. My plots are on a steep slope, 1 in 8 in parts so I'm not usually bothered with standing water except at the very bottom against the retaining wall and where I have raised beds.

What is clear is that you have a major problem which you really cannot resolve yourself. On the assumption that the site is Council owned, get them to come in and have a look. A few hours with a JCB will do more than you could physically do in several months.

[horticultural_hobbit]

I think there is definitely a drainage problem in the site. Mine is not the only one to be under water. Up to now, I have been advised to move plot. I really don't want to, and will be raising everything! yes, a JCB probably would be useful. All in all, I am probably snookered. After all the hard work, I really don't want to move. Very, very demoralising; but there has to be a way of playing with it.

[veggiechicken]

:
I shall ponder on a way that you may find the gradient of your plot easily and without specialised surveying equipment (I don't suppose you have access to a theodolite, do you ? )

A pole at the lowest point and a spike at the highest, with a bit of string between the two on a level? Wouldn't that give an indication of the fall of the land?

[Aberdeenplotter]

believe it or not, water is the most natural spirit level. If you measure the depth of the water over your plot, that will give you an indication of the slope if there is a slope.

[veggiechicken]

...but only if there isn't a person-made depression as that would create an artificial slope - wouldn't it

[Aberdeenplotter]

yes me dear but I did say over the plot and not just in one spot. Measuring several points and plotting the depths will give an indication of the natural slope if there is one