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Re: Top 10 Things for my New Allotment.
Posted: Tue Nov 10, 2009 9:06 pm
by A&A
I think you're probably right with the grass paths & they'll look good too. ATEOTD, the cuttings, if you collect them, also go straight into compost - win/win ;)
Re: Top 10 Things for my New Allotment.
Posted: Wed Nov 11, 2009 8:29 pm
by MuddyWitch
ATEOTD???
Pardon?
MW
Re: Top 10 Things for my New Allotment.
Posted: Wed Nov 11, 2009 9:55 pm
by A&A
Sorry: At The End Of The Day ;)
Re: Top 10 Things for my New Allotment.
Posted: Thu Nov 12, 2009 6:48 am
by Millymollymandy
NHTOB
(not heard that one before!)
Re: Top 10 Things for my New Allotment.
Posted: Thu Nov 12, 2009 2:06 pm
by MuddyWitch
Thanks MMM, I don't feel so daft now!
MW
Re: Top 10 Things for my New Allotment.
Posted: Mon Nov 30, 2009 9:51 pm
by Harasimow
I've took on an allotment in October heres what I've used
1) A spade (suprise) for digging a compost hole, double digging and removing weeds (borrowed off parents)
2) A wheelbarrow from a builders merchant not homebase big, sturdy £25
3) A petrol brushcutter for taking down the weeds (borrowed from work)
4) A mattock for double digging ("borrowed" long term from work)
5) Weedproof matting (gifted from a friend)
6) old carpet (gifted)
7) Hazard tape for marking out areas (borrowed from work)
8) Manure (free from local stables)
9) onions + garlic (special offer at garden center)
10) Spring cabbage plants (gifted from another friend)
See what you can scavange!
Re: Top 10 Things for my New Allotment.
Posted: Thu Dec 03, 2009 8:57 am
by Peggy Sue
It will depend I supoose on the condition of the site and the type of soil. If I didn't have a spade it wouldn't be the end of the world on the allotment, the soil is quite light and easy to turn with a fork. If I didn't have a spade at home with the clay I might as well give up!
You do need at leasty one or the other.
A trowel, not impossible to do without for parts of the year but realistically it's very hard on your hands otherwise.
Watering cans- absolutely essential!
I find a dutch hoe and a little hand hoe very useful, but a pair of gloves will do for starters for nettle and thitsle defence, I've also got a useful old washing basket to put the weeds in and carry back to the compost heap.
Compost bin- well I use four pallets held together with string and a bit of rubber matting on top to keep it warm.
We do have a rake but I rarely use it, I manage with the fork most of the time. It depends how worried you are about very level and fine tilth. Personally I think it's a bit like the straight lines thing, not exactly essential
I got some stuff form freecycle, it's old and the fork is bent, but then no-one will pinch it!
Good luck