Any advice, folks - allotment types

[woolcraft]

I applied to the council via their web site for an allotment. I got a reply straight away and a map in the post with two available allotments. These are very large, not yet been cultivated, plots with what looks like a lot of potential in return for an enormous amount of work, but which could be quite well isolated and therefore not a problem for organic growing. Also I was advised to contact a local allotment association. When I did I was told that they would probably have something available from 1st April - they will ring me after their AGM on Sunday week.

I have looked at both allotment plots - the first being uncultivated could be problematic with no track record with suitability for growing theings - the association ones are much smaller and quite crammed in together. Can anyone tell me what problems is any there are with other growers who insist on using environmentally unfriendly sprays etc. to grow their plants - there are quite a few exhibition type growers around, largest pumpkin, leeks, dahlias etc. and I don't know what to look out for in choosing a plot which I want to make as organic as possible.

Any advice and help would be welcomed.
Sue

[Andy Hamilton]

The thing with an uncultivated plot is that it is a lot of hard work as you say. With the other one can you ask any of the other allotment holder what was used on it before?

I assume that a lot of non-organic stuff has been used in the past on my allotment, but it was left empty for a year and that means that in another two years the site will be organic as by the soil association standard.

Not sure about the sprays that others use, I guess you will have to find out about your next door neighbours plots and worry about them the most. But it is something that I do not worry too much about, they will get to know the fact that you are beign organic and any allotment holder should respect that and try to keep any contamination to a minimum. If you suspect that won't voice your concerns to your allotment rep (if you have one).

[gunners71uk]

hi woolcraft the 1st april is when the new allotment year starts so thats where they know where they stand on availability etc if their are allotments available then you can negotiate to get on it now i have had mine cince july 05 rent free to april.on the organic thing i aint an expert but you dont know whatwas grown oir used previous;y also the wind can blow things in from afar.my personal opinion is to suuss out your potential allotment neighbours and see what they use .i personally would go for the best soil and work from that.i hope this helps ........gunners alias dave .

[Andy Hamilton]

actaully another thing to check for would be perenial weeds. Our first allotment over in Bath was over run with bindweed and cooch it was a nightmare. You would weed one day and there they were the next.

This new one seems to be much more controlable. I have dug up an amount of cooch but hardly any.

[gunners71uk]

im jealous !!! i dug up 3 big levington compost bags full couch roots i took it straight to the tip,sorry .my friend id sowing parnip seed today i think i wait till march andy what you think?

[woolcraft]

Thanks for that Andy. Also I was wondering whether people ever asked existing allotment owners on a site about prevalent pests, diseases etc. I remember some time ago an old boy around here saying that you couldn't grow carrots here because of awful carrot fly problems. Do you think it likely that it could be the case or more that he just had no joy with them?

I have posted some suggestions for what to do with your turnips on the drink making section!

Sue

[ina]

Things have moved on on the carrot front... There are resistant varieties, and you can easily grow them under cover (enviromesh or horticultural fleece). That should do the trick, unless there is another problem (soil or whatever) that makes growing carrots difficult.

[gunners71uk]

try carrot seed flyaway
available at www.alanromans.com
50p a pkt thats where i got mine .also growing basil and spring onions in between carrot rows

[john]

Hi Woodcraft,may I suggest that you cover the whole of your new allotment plot in sheets of black plastic to stop the weeds growing like I have,and then do what I have done but in a different way,done by laying down a walk way of unwanted wooden pallets of the same type if you can on top of your plastic sheets,leaving enough room for lots of 5 rows of 10 upside down 6 pint cut plastic milk containers on their carrying beam made from other broken down unwanted wooden pallets,which will fit in-between them like I have done,but mine are raised up.
This way you will only need a sharp knife to cut your containers,and it will look tidy all the year round,to see or know more about the way I do things please visit my website,I'm sure it won't be a waste of your time especially if you have a back problem and can't dig,like me. John. JRP.

[john]

I'm sorry for spelling your name wrong,WOOLCRAFT.ohn. JRP.