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.

[**bustysinclaire**]

Makes me wonder what stuff we throw away that could be perfectly good to eat.

[**bustysinclaire**]

Very interesting quibono, thank you.

I h ave left the dead pea plants in up to now, I had actually decided to deal with them in the next couple days as I have started some serious weeding and ckearing now I have started picking and harvesting more veg. So your tip has come just at the right time ta muchly.

As for the hailstones, they were almost as big as my cherry tomatoes and devastated the pumpkin and squash leaves and finished off the broad bean plants. I didnt mind about the broad beans as it is only me that eats them and I had actually had enough of them. Xxx

[**bustysinclaire**]

Sorry to have to report.

It is with a sad heart that I have decided not to keep my alotment and I am handing back the gate keys.

Ive sold the equipment and the pollytunnel is going to dear Brian across to the other side.

I have still got 5 huge butternut squash to use up, I had what seemed like tons of red and white potatoes, which I finished only a couple of weeks ago. I still have runner beans and courgette in the freezer, carrots wer huge and gorgeous but all gone we shall have the last of the parsnips with our roast chicken tomorrow.

We had tomatoes by the ton and the leeks and onions, beetroot and spinach were amazing.

I can honestly say it was absolutely fantastic to do and im so glad I gave it a go.

It was well worth all the hard work and I had everyone tell me they were so impressed with how the plot turned out. Someone will have an easier job this year if they take it on as none of the weeds have come back. It is still lovely and clear from when I left it after harvestingh the last bits.

Gonna miss it but my back is so bad I cannot do it on my own any more.  

[**bustysinclaire**]

I don't regret it though, as I'll be moving to Wrexham and increasing my hours in the Ministry xx. 😇

😉

[theelench]

Sad to hear you're back is bad, I think most gardeners suffer from back problems of one sort or another.  It must be frustrating to give up after doing the most difficult year and all the hard work.  I admired your dedication, the progress you made and shared your joy as you reaped the first fruits from all the toil.

Growing things, edible or not, is fantastically up-lifting and I'm sure steadies the body and balances the mind.  Having done a project like yours successfully, you've learnt lessons that will stay with you for years.  How to grow things is like riding a bike, once you've done it you can always do it again. (But perhaps next time on a smaller scale).

All the best for the future and thanks for sharing your experiences with us all.

[**bustysinclaire**]

Thank you theelench, kind of you to say so.

I have been given some treatments and physio routines, hopefully it will help with my back, so I possibly might get better enough to try again. I do plan to keep my fruits and do a few large grow bags in the garden.