what have i got myself into lol

[Colco]

i have been waiting over three years for a allotment so grabbed the first one offered.
It did'nt look so bad 5 weeks ago when i viewed it (late evening).
looks like i have my work cut out lol.

[rustylady]

OK, start collecting thick cardboard. You can use this to cover the bits you're not planting up at the moment. It's obviously fertile soil (the grass and weeds are growing well)

[taff]

yeah, once you knock that building down it should be fine....

KIDDING!!!!

good luck <--not kidding

[Kleftiwallah]

Bit late now, but. . . I've always been under the impression that you can refuse an allotment if you think it is going to be too much for you or it is not in acceptable state and not lose your place on the list.

Possibly you could approach the 'demigod' in charge for a re-think?

Cheers, Tony.

[donnakebab]

It's lush.

As RL said start covering. When you've dug and fed (compost and the like) cover again until ready to plant. One piece at a time.

[donnakebab]

If you appear too fussy they'll think you aren't committed and will give it to somebody else. I think if you have to start from scratch you get a real feel for the land/soil and know what you need to do with it.

Just MHO.

On our site new tenants are invited in November. How late is that?

[Pa Snips]

On our site new tenants are invited in November. How late is that?

Sounds perfect, Donna, it gives new tenants all winter to prepare the plot in readiness for sowing in Spring.

Sorry, forgot to say, congratulations on getting a plot Colco, I'm sure it will be fine if you follow the cardboard advice on here and just tackle a section at a time.

[donnakebab]

Sounds perfect, Donna, it gives new tenants all winter to prepare the plot in readiness for sowing in Spring.

Sorry, forgot to say, congratulations on getting a plot Colco, I'm sure it will be fine if you follow the cardboard advice on here and just tackle a section at a time.

Exactly. Gives you time to plan what you want to grow where and to suppress weeds. Though I have to say did take me a couple of years to get rid of weeds but still grew crops in between.

At this time of year I'd cover and dig a patch a bit at a time and just plant something to see what happens. By attending to what you've planted you will at least get a feel for weather and soil conditions. It's a massive learning curve with lots of fun on the way.

Like the new avatar PS

[Bren In Pots]

Hello and welcome to the vine Colco
Those building are pigeon cotes so I wonder if any crops were ever sown on that plot.

[Kleftiwallah]

It all boils down to allotments laying fallow for far too long. Cheers, Tony.

[Colco]

Hello and welcome to the vine Colco
Those building are pigeon cotes so I wonder if any crops were ever sown on that plot.

I have been chatting to a couple of the neighbours and apparently the elderly chap who had it last mainly kept pidgeons ,but liked his cabbage,leeks and onions, (plus beetroot to feed the pidgeons).
He also grew some prize winning roses (just to be seen in front of the large building under the weeds)
He unfortunately died last june and had no family to take over (as is usual around here). So the plot has been left to go to seed. On the plus side there are some leeks and cabbage starting to flower so will hopefully get some free seeds.
I will be knocking at least three sheds down Taff there are five in total two have collapsed roofs and the other no side left on it . The big cote is sound though so will probably clean it out and put some big windows in to make a potting shed/ store and somewhere to start seedlings off.
great idea RL will start collecting cardboard and maybe invest in a flame thrower lol

[Moo's Mum]

Hello and welcome Colco!

I know you've got your work cut out in your new lottie, but I'm sure it will all be worth it in the end. Good luck with it all

[Two_Sheds]

It all boils down to allotments laying fallow for far too long.

It takes less than a year to get in that state


imo, it's really not so bad.

Get covering, get mulching: gather all the cardboard and newspapers you can get your paws on