New Lottie Pictures and a Question

[Keep It Green]

My bit of land look like that last year...... In fact it still looks a bit like that. My soil is really just hard core so I had to import soil and grow in raised beds. I'm expecting big things this year with two Greenhouses and a Polytunnel on the way (and a fair few tons of top soil).

Best of luck with it all. Start a blog so you can watch your progress.

[seasprout]

Looks like Keepitgreen is offering to help you out Lavenderblue.

Crickey Lavenderblue I hope your not paying too much rent for that plot, in-fact I hope they are paying you at the moment.

All the best. Hope the weather holds.

[Tracey]

Hi Lavenderblue

Looks like a lovely location for an allotment.

Kind regards
Tracey

[Lavenderblue]

ohhh anyone with any spare time is welcome to have a bash at it The whole site in fact is in a hideous state, only a few lotties have been looked after so there are a few empty plots.

I think we are going to split it into little sections and deal with a bit at a time, though we will borrow a bush cutter and a rotivator - I don't think there is couch grass on the site - its not on the list of possible site hazzards and I talking to another allotmenteer who has never seen it there.

Anyway, i fancy trying early peas - i've just managed to blag some closhes that were going to end up on the tip so the next pictures you see will be some closhes in a pile and a pile of dead weeds and me looking like this

[Glasshousevirgin]

A bit at a time being a good approach so you enjoy it. I only suggested my approach with heavy equipment being impatient and lazy as I am(with back problems in the past to moderate my efforts).
From my experience I have got to know my soil and its varies even from one part to another. Additionally it has changed since I started so I occaisionally check PH and consistency etc and make notes for future reference.
All the best!

[Glasshousevirgin]

I've also been given permission to grow veggies on a friend's farm field but I'm only going for 20 feet by 6 feet worth of bed space (can't take no more). Compared to your site, mine isn't that wild (just that the grass did grow up to 6 inches high) and I'm ashamed with myself for the moaning and groaning at the prospect of digging and clearing the grass/weeds roots from the soil. As Greenhousevirgin has pointed out, it may be worth getting a digger/ploughing machinery.

Interested in the corner of a farmers field references. My dream is to have a place near some fields and use a corner for some commercial production for Farmers Market perhaps.
How you score the patch you mentioned if I may ask

[Glasshousevirgin]

was quoting Veg461 re corner of farmers fields but it didn't quite come out as expected..confused so am I lol

[Woofster]

My suggestion would be to get the whole plot strimmed, either by yourself or someone else. Rake up all the cut stuff and burn it. It will look a lot better and give you hope. Then cover some or all with black plastic/carpet/cardboard. Make a plan of where the beds are going to be and start digging. What I have done on a very unpromising plot is to gradually build raised beds. In some cases I have built them on horticultural membrane stuff thus suppressing weeds. As many other grapes have said, do it bit by bit. All the while, keep it strimmed - it impresses people no end - that's my experience.

[veg4681]

Interested in the corner of a farmers field references. My dream is to have a place near some fields and use a corner for some commercial production for Farmers Market perhaps.

How you score the patch you mentioned if I may ask

Pretty good with brown loam with mixture of sand, silt and clay (I had to ask my DH on that , he's the one with brain) but of course it can never be as glamorous as our home garden soil. To be able to sell off surplus veggies would be useful because feeding just two and a child can be tricky but no doubt the farmer would be fed too...he thinks he's getting asparagus.

[Glasshousevirgin]

So you just trotted along to a local farmer and promised him some vegies at some point?
Assumed you were fluent in Strine; score means to acquire. Must admit the soil wouldn't be like most gardens.
Now I have a rotovator any good local field could be fair game around here lol
Hope he gets the asparagus eventually

[veg4681]

So you just trotted along to a local farmer and promised him some vegies at some point?
Assumed you were fluent in Strine; score means to acquire. Must admit the soil wouldn't be like most gardens.
Now I have a rotovator any good local field could be fair game around here lol
Hope he gets the asparagus eventually

Sorry to disappoint but the relationship goes back a long way, farmer's mother and my mother-in-law played together as children. Doubt I'd have the courage/audacity to ask out for veggie-land just like that . I'm hoping to borrow a rotovator too, should be one around. Good luck with your 'veg market' dream.

[Glasshousevirgin]

oh well bit late for me to cultivate a farmer relationship now at my age. I may just have to find a house in country and move my fenceline lol.
Can't wait to get my rotovator into action, just have to get well enough. (Had pneumonia over Christmas).