Good morning all, a few allotment home growing tips would be most great fully received ☺

[**bustysinclaire**]

Well, not sure whether I've bitten off a bit more than I can chew but I'm going to give it ago.

I've acquired an allotment very very near to my oh's on my new home it is in a very bad overgrown state so there's a lot of work to be done to get it ready before I can do any type of planting, so it looks like it is unlikely that i will be able to grow much if anything this year.

I have been told that doing a bit at a time is better than trying to get the whole lot up and running straight away, so what I would like to ask is.......

If there are any home growers out there could you give me any tips on what type of things I could try to grow that don't mind being planted late in the year.

Any allotment tips would be most appreciated and one thing I could do with knowing is how to tackle slugs and snails effectively without using harmful chemicals etc.  As I have noticed the allotment next to mine have lost some lovely newly planted young plants already.

[023mjc]

If you try to do it all it will overwhelm you.  It'll be like the forth bridge - by the time you get the last bit done, the first bit will need doing again.

Section it off and do one bit at a time.  Once you have a patch done, it's easier to keep it done, while you start the next bit.

Broad beans can be planted in the autumn for beans in the spring - and they freeze well.

[**bustysinclaire**]

Broardbeans, I love those.  Thanks for the tips 023mjc.

Well thanks to a very kind and friendly gardener I had the pleasure to meet at my allotment, I have now got a nice sized strip of my plot rotavated​

I was down at my allotment over the weekend and as I wasn't able to use my petrol strimmer myself because it is too big and heavy for me I used garden shears and a rake and a bit of brute force (and ignorance lol) and cut down and cleared a strip of weeds. A couple of days later I walked past taking my new little dog sky for a walk and saw threw the hedge the patch I had worked on had been rotavated.  

How kind was that. There are some lovely people about I'm really touched.

Makes me even more determined to get it up and running.

My own new toy arrived today too so I will be able to try it out once the rain stops.

[**bustysinclaire**]

Just spent 3 hrs at the allotment, got my little green house up, my 2 council discounted compost bins, planted my corgette, cucumber and tomatoes and even got some quick grow carrots in.

Feeling pooped and got major back ache but hay ho its a gorgeous day.  Xx

As you can see loads to do, but my son in laws coming to help tomorrow xxx

[mikes*corvettes]

The first time you eat something that you've grown yourself, all the backache and hard work that you've put in will soon go away..

[javikha_4]

It looks quite a good plot, and although it's not entirely clear, the weeds look mainly annuals, and grass.

[vamo48]

Our daughter took over an allotment recently and our advice to her was to strim the grass down and cover the strimmed area with black plastic or tarpaulin, which will slow down the growth of weeds.  Don't try to do too much at a time or you will end up with what we call "Spring Allotment Back" - you get this when you go back to digging etc after the winter break a bit less fit than you thought!  Clear a small area and start off with something like lettuces or radishes, they are quick growing and will give you some much needed encouragement.

Keep the edges of your beds clear of weeds as that is a popular hiding place for unwanted creatures.  Salt is good against slugs but as someone has said earlier keep it to the edges, or on the grass if you have grass paths.  Slugs and snails are also supposed to not like crawling over eggshells, so we save all ours and after the oven has been turned off after use, put them on a tray and leave in the hot air for an hour or two, then put them in a bag and tread on it, the crushed shells can then be sprinkled around plants you want to protect. 

[vamo48]

Just seen the pictures, it really doesn't look too bad!  The grass and weeds (not bindweed though!) can be composted.  Good luck with your plot and don't forget to let us know how it goes.  When you have a glut of courgettes, there are lots of lovely recipes available...

[**bustysinclaire**]

Morning everyone what a wonderful day xxxx

Mike.  Yes so looking forward to some "FRESH".  Veg.  Xxx

Javika. Hope you are right about the weeds, although there is a bit of bindweed and some beautiful nettles xxx 

I know though you can eat nettles so maybe I could start a trend round our way lol xxx

Vamo thank you for your tips, and encouragement.

I love corgette, so versatile.xx

My thought for today though, I am just wondering how I could cope with the extreme weathers,. Firstly torrential rain has stopped me working and clearing plus the weeds are lush now lol,. and now today it is so hot here I'm gonna be baking me buns off. Xxx

I went to water my plants today and already were as dry as a bone.

Tips on how to conserve water would be good too TIA  I've still got to invest in a waterbutt but our allotment rules state no hosepipe use xxxx

[theelench]

Vamos tip about the egg shells is a good one.  From what you said about the ground drying out you might have a clay soil,  the egg shells are very high in calcium and "floculate" clay --- helping to keep it open.

A tip for watering your courgette plant.  (They like lots of water).  To get it to the roots quicker and less will evaporate from the surface in hot weather dig a hole (or several) close to the plant and put an upside down plastic bottle with the bottom cut off in.  Fill in the soil around it and leave an inch or two sticking up to keep beetles from falling in (they eat pests).  Pour the water into the bottle, as the soil surface stays dry it helps keep the slugs away as well.

[**bustysinclaire**]

Well, slugs have been at it already and eaten my corgette plant. 

I'll definitely have to decide how to deal with them. I really don't like the thought of nematodes though,.  Blergh!!!!!

One debate I'm having (with myself is) have I got an apple tree or have I got a plum or damson tree. A chap with an allotment near mins says he thinks it's damson but I'm not so sure, the leaves seem too big for damson trees. 

What do you think? I'd be grateful for any views. TIA. Xx

[theelench]

With the serrated edges and rough texture of the leaves it looks like an apple to me.  Another clue would be the young fruit, a Damson would have a very thin flexible stalk attaching it to the tree.  An apple would have a more rigid stalk.  An apple has the dead remains of the flower scales at the opposite end (the little brown bits, but this early they may still be green), a Damson is smooth skinned all over.

Don't despair with the Courgette.  Try again with another plastic bottle trick,  this time with the top cut off.  Push the cut end into the ground and put half a brick (or similar) on the top to stop it blowing away.  If you can get any from the local sweet-shop, loose sweet jars are even better.  Might keep the blighters off until they are too tough to eat.

[j_uk643]

I would agree with the above and look at any fruits that are visible. Leaf shapes aren't definitive.

[**bustysinclaire**]

My update is that I have managed to get about half the plot plots weeds cut down and weedkiller, someone with there own allotment down there said round up is brilliant stuff as it's harmless when hits the ground.

I have also been able to plant some 20 of runner bean plants.

The trouble is now I'm lad up in bed with virtigo and can't get to tend my new efforts 😥

[Anonymous]

Roundup is far from harmless.......................................Here are a few links, but look it up for yourself.

http://www.cbsnews.com/news/lawsuit-accuses-monsanto-of-manipulating-research-to-hide-roundup-danger...

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/03/14/business/monsanto-roundup-safety-lawsuit.html

https://www.ecowatch.com/15-health-problems-linked-to-monsantos-roundup-1882002128.html

[**bustysinclaire**]

---

@Anonymous wrote:

Roundup is far from harmless.......................................Here are a few links, but look it up for yourself.

http://www.cbsnews.com/news/lawsuit-accuses-monsanto-of-manipulating-research-to-hide-roundup-dangers/

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/03/14/business/monsanto-roundup-safety-lawsuit.html

https://www.ecowatch.com/15-health-problems-linked-to-monsantos-roundup-1882002128.html

---

Thank you so much for those links harry.  I will definitely be looking into it evenn more xxx. 

[theelench]

---

@**bustysinclaire** wrote:

My update is that I have managed to get about half the plot plots weeds cut down and weedkiller, someone with there own allotment down there said round up is brilliant stuff as it's harmless when hits the ground.

I have also been able to plant some 20 of runner bean plants.

The trouble is now I'm lad up in bed with virtigo and can't get to tend my new efforts 😥

---

What he meant by "it's harmless when it hits the ground" is that it breaks down when it hits the ground unlike earlier compounds that did not.  For example DDT was used as an insecticide, birds ate

[theelench]

Very odd I just got a red message "AN unexpected error has occurred" so posted what I had written.  It looks OK.

To continue.

birds ate the insects, animals ate the birds etc. etc. up the food chain, they were all contaminated with DDT.  The same with the water cycle.  Residue from crop spraying washed into rivers and seas where it contaminated the food chain.  Eventually DDT was being found in almost everything.

It's part of Monsantos argument that as Glysophate breaks down  into its component chemicals on contact with the soil it is harmless.  Personally I think that chemicals in horticulture are similar to medication in humans.  There are always some side effects, some are worse than others.    Does solving the problem warrant taking the risk of the side effects?   I use Roundup as little as possible as I do slug pellets or any other chemical and if I can try a non-chemical solution I do.  I don't think any of the evidence for or against is conclusive, everything in nature is connected in some way or other, who can tell where a side effect may show up in the future and how far into the future before anyone recognises it as a side effect.  You have to draw your own lines in the sand. 

[**bustysinclaire**]

Thank you quibono, interesting post,  I do feel the same and would prefer to use natural means first.  Xx

[**bustysinclaire**]

Talk about back breaking work.

Still battling on on my own to clear the plot, and have got a fair chunk of it cleared to the large clump of old carpet that's lying on the ground.

It is rather disheartening now though, carrots were coming up lovely but now all shoots have been devoured.

Runner beans were put in and started well, but now almost half have been eaten.

Love me little rotavator but the ground is too hard for the little thing.

Good news though my little pvc greenhouse survived the 50 mile an hour winds because I had the sense to anchor it down lol 

So my cucumber and new corgette plants and tomatoes are growing ok.

At the moment I feel like I am flogging a dead horse the weeds grow so quick lol xxx

[**bustysinclaire**]

Good glorious evening all xxx

Another 4 hrs of glorious time on the plot today, I'm suffering now but oh how much fun it's been.

Such a great feeling it is to be in this beautiful sunshine.

I may not be having much luck growing bits at the moment but I think I'm making a dent I the clearing.

The worst bits yet to come as there seems to be quite a bit of rubbish and rocks and stuff underneath it all but I feel a bit more confident now that I may just do it. Xx

What I would like to know if someone is looking, how good is the soil likely to be, will I have to or is it best to add anything to it to make it richer, or will planting things in it as it is be ok xx