New allotment

Andy Hamilton · Thu Feb 02, 2006 7:26 pm

THought I would keep it quiet for a bit until I knew I would get one, but this weekend I start work on my new allotment.

This means I now have my back yard for salad crops and herbs and the allotment for veg and possibly fruit. (bushes ok, but tree's a big question mark.)

Certainly has brightened up the day during this (seems like) neverending winter.

Wombat · Post: # 10062Post **Wombat** » Fri Feb 03, 2006 9:57 am

wow mate! Thats great news!

Nev

ina · Post: # 10065Post **ina** » Fri Feb 03, 2006 5:39 pm

Congratulations, Andy! How did you manage to get one so quickly! Know the right people at the council, do you???

Ina

Tigerhair · Post: # 10078Post **Tigerhair** » Fri Feb 03, 2006 6:51 pm

Fantastic news, Andy - well done!!!! How big is it (are they all a standard size?)... What are you planning on growing? What kind of condition is it in? How far away from where you live? And other nosey questions.....????

Shirley · Post: # 10093Post **Shirley** » Fri Feb 03, 2006 8:01 pm

excellent Andy!!

Congratulations

Andy Hamilton · Fri Feb 03, 2006 8:50 pm

There seems to be a bit of a strange one in Bristol - there are loads of allotments with waiting lists, including the one that I first looked at which is nearest to my house. I had to go slightly further away, but it is still only about 20 mins walk. There were a few spare plots, I did look at another site but it was in such bad shape brambles everywhere, no fence it looked like a wasteland only 3 of the 30 or so plots looked like they were being used.

I then tried to hunt down site number 3 and could not find it anywhere the map clearly marked it but it was no where to be seen.

SO finally I got to site 4 and had a chat with one of the old boys there who showed me a plot that had been tended to right up until last year and apart from the half a seasons weed growth was in pretty good nick it also has two water butts on it. The soil is out of this world there as it used to be a market garden. There is a good solid fence around and there has only been one instance of vandalism in the last 15 years and that was minimal. It is also south facing and also about 20 mins walk away.

So it was a bit of an effort really to get a good one.

I am not totally sure what to grow on it yet as I am used to clay soil and this stuff looks pretty fine. A definate rethink on stuff that am I used to growing.

Millymollymandy · Sat Feb 04, 2006 7:06 am

Hurray, that sounds really great, and to find one with good soil and not much to do in the way of clearing is great.

You can always invite Gunners down for a couple of days to dig it over for you, he loves to dig!

Andy Hamilton · Sat Feb 04, 2006 12:16 pm

I will see how I get on today

but yep I would not mind a hand, gunners you there.

gunners71uk · Sat Feb 04, 2006 4:39 pm

im here mate glad to hear about your allotment you jammy beggar been down to mine today and put a bean frame up will strap canes nearer the time 18ft by 8ft high should generate some runnerbean chutney.i thought sweet peas mixed with runner beans in the row should help with pollination.maybe you could grow a bigger sunflower mate. we get a bit of vandalism and the odd theft but not too bad.my ma pa live nr tewkes bury maybe i pop in and dig a few sods for you mate all the best.

Andy Hamilton · Sat Feb 04, 2006 5:52 pm

Just got back from digging now actually and it is so much better digging this soil than it was with clay. Yep if you are around pop and I will lend you a spade

We will grow sunflowers again as me and my lady always compete on who gets the biggest. She also wants a flower patch in the middle to attract bees.

Beans are always a good one too and I think I shall put the parsnips in soonish.

Shirley · Post: # 10155Post **Shirley** » Sat Feb 04, 2006 8:41 pm

Andy Hamilton wrote:We will grow sunflowers again as me and my lady always compete on who gets the biggest. She also wants a flower patch in the middle to attract bees.

Hat's off to your lady Andy... how about a competition for all of us to grow the tallest sunflower???

Andy Hamilton · Sun Feb 05, 2006 9:55 pm

Why not good idea. Will make another post.

gunners71uk · Mon Feb 06, 2006 7:19 am

if you want to cheat put a sunflower on a big pole and people see the sunflower and say oooh i wish mine were that big obviously you have the pole hidden lol.

diver · Post: # 10433Post **diver** » Mon Feb 06, 2006 10:16 pm

good luck with your new plot, Andy, hope it goes well. Our plots have had some empty for ages but just recently they have all been taken, even those that are overgrown....and I mean OVERGROWN!. It seems to becoming quite tredy for people to have an allotment I think. Has there been any programmes about allotments on telly lately?

Andy Hamilton · Tue Feb 07, 2006 9:22 am

diver wrote: Has there been any programmes about allotments on telly lately?

There was one on ITV last year not sure if was just int he HTV region or what. I think it is less to do with the Telly and more to do with the move towards organic growing, I hope that it is a trend that continues to 'grow'.