Anybody an allotment newbie or oldie willing to offer support?

[nettie]

Just thought we could offer each other support, advice and most important in my case encouragement

We've had our allotment since march time, we were really lucky to get one as they have long waiting lists where we are, and have have done pretty much nothing to it. It is completely overgrown, got loads of stuff dumped on it and is a real mess.

Well me and the DS's spent an hour down there this morning an have brought back enough rubbish to fill our dustbin and have at least made a start, now just need to persuade DH to get down there with his brushcutter or show me how to use it!

Hi
I posted on this thread when it 1st started but haven't been on since .
I started a thread in the gardening section about seed catalogues, but thought I'd mention it on here as well - just wondered which ones people would recommend, I usually buy just bog standard seeds from the garden centres, but would like to try something a bit more adventurous this year!
fakeblondie - chicken's poo everywhere - so if you are considering letting them have free rein in the garden, I would consider that. My children are still quite young and they are forever walking it in the house, so I have scoop the poop constantly! They do eat your plants as well - they will leave shrubs and some perrenials alone (well mine do), but love nice young bedding plants!

So what is everyone planting at the moment?

This month I shall plant garlic & 'radar' onions and overwintering peas (I think I have a variety called 'meteor') and broad beans ('aquadulce claudia').

For seeds I tend to buy bargains when I see them, but I always like the look of the real seed catalogue & have bought some from them in the past.

Hello, we've just got an allotment after a long wait on the list.
Been cracking on with clearing and weeding it straight away. And now we've finally had some rain can get on with digging now too.

I guess it's a good time of year as we've got all winter to get it straight. But I was thinking of getting in some onions and garlic soon.
And even thinking of trying asparagus (thompson morgan are doing some autumn planting ones).

We've inherited a globe artichoke....shall I cut that down to the ground now does anyone know?

Hello paisleyleaf. Welcome to the world of allotments.

I don't know much about globe artichokes, but this RHS article says "Plants need little in the way of maintenance once established. Adding a mulch of well-rotted manure or similar and a dressing of a balanced fertiliser in spring will help increase yields" so I'd leave it be.

I like the idea of autumn planted asparagus - does that mean you can harvest them a year sooner? We planted ours in the spring & have to wait until 2011 to crop them!!

Good luck with the weeding & clearing - we started our allotment this time last year & were just thinking how overgrown it was then & how much easier it should be this time around.

I think (think) I could harvest them the same time as you are yours. But I'll have to double check. And I think they say only crop lightly that first year. (I'm really hoping it works out with the asparagus).

Thanks for that link. I've already cut some stems off for decorations for school harvest festival. But I'll leave the rest of them and see what happens.

Yep, weeding and clearing now while I've got the enthusiasm. Looking forward to it being done mind. And it just being a case of keeping on top of weeds (rather than this many). I guess you only ever get an allotment that's been neglected a while - otherwise it wouldn't be up for rent.

You're right - beautifully tended allotments coming available are about as rare as hen's teeth.