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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

to be really excited that I have just been offered an alottment!

43 replies

KnittedBreast · 18/02/2011 10:33

Yay! im so happy, I got the call yesterday after being on the waiting list for a year. The plot is really quite big with two sheds and a lovely secret woody area at the back.

The amount of space I wont need to buy veg for a long time. Its only £35 a year aswell! im going to put it on my blog along with my sewing pictures!

Best part is its at the bottom of my road so not far to go.

Do you have an alotment?

OP posts:

sis · 18/02/2011 12:39

KnittedBreast, yes, the site can be a bit overwhelming. I stick to the edible plants and recipes section of the allotments4all website - if you click on a poster's name, it gives you their profile details including links to blogs etc that many of the posters have. You may also want to check out 'the basics' section although I think a lot of people post beginners questions in the 'edible plants' section as it has higher traffic.

sis · 18/02/2011 12:41

Oh yes, I just remembered that we for out plot at this time of year and decided to take things slowly and consider any 'harvest' in the first year as a bonus. It worked in terms of psychology.

Hullygully · 18/02/2011 12:45

Ranty - we used scaffolding boards. We also put mesh over the soil and plant through the mesh, and then mulch over the mesh to cut down weeding and watering.

HippyHippopotamus · 18/02/2011 12:49

yadnbu!

we got to the top of our 2 yr waiting list last november. it was very overgrow but is now cleared and almost ready for planting (thanks to dh!)

we don't have a clue what we're doing but we're enjoying the journey

Thingumy · 18/02/2011 12:50

Have had one for over 7 Years.

Don't be expecting too much for your first year as you will be finding out what your soil is like and what veg really grows well (dependent on weather too).

I advise to get a rotavator in if your plot is in a horrendous state-saves all that back breaking.

If you want a decent no bullshit book for guidance buy the vegetable and herb expert book.

Buy your onion sets and garlic now.

We buy franchi seeds as they are very good for price and you always get lots of seeds in the packet.

Lidls do decent vegetable seeds for 50p-£1 a packet!

Good luck!

WoTmania · 18/02/2011 12:52

YANBU - alotments are Fab. Congratulations.

newbeemummy · 18/02/2011 12:54

@ Knitted - try some easy stuff to get yourself started - some swiss chard will grow like mad, and can be continually chopped back and it will regrow (don't plant 20 plants like me - we ended up with 6 shopping bages full of chopped leaves) it's like spinach and full of Iron and really good for you.

Chuck in a few potatoes now - they're low maintenance, and great fun to dig up later in the year.

Try carrots (although if you have carrot fly try planting them in a black bin as the flies are too light to fly up to the top of it) They're really easy and tase great when picked young and fresn.

Lots of salad leafs are easy to grow as are tomatoes - but toms are very water hungry, so you will need to visit every day to water.

Just a hnady hint I discoverd, if you drink fresh coffee, keep the used grounds as them make a great natural slug repelant

funtimewincies · 18/02/2011 12:56

Welcome to strange but wonderful world of the allotment !

Can I flag up www.allotment.org as a really good place to find all sorts of information and advice, I've been a poster for a few years.

I'm in the non-rotivating camp as it chops up all the little weed roots and means more work in the years to come. I'd clear a bit and sow a bit. E.g. clear a patch for broad beans, then leeks, then potatoes and keep to a managable level.

Thingumy · 18/02/2011 13:04

Oh and don't be afraid to approach the old boys if you need advice or want to be nosey.
We've found in our early days on our plot their years of experience of growing was invaluable.

MySweetPrince · 18/02/2011 13:15

We have an allotment - food really does taste so much better home grown.
Preparation is the key - DH had a delivery of manure last weekend which he intends to dig in this weekend to enrich the soil.Also nets, as suggested to cover fruit or the birds will destroy it.

funtimewincies · 18/02/2011 13:15

But ignore them when they try to tell you that you can grow onions in the same spot for years on end .

It's also wise to remember the following phrase...'no thank you, it's very kind but I'm fine for runner beans' otherwise you'll be drowning in them come August.

And always take a large flask of !