Allotment April 2004
This is where a fit of madness overtakes me and I take on a new plot
- No 29.
At first glance the new plot seemed to be in pretty good order. The
previous plotholder had one of the smartest plots
on the site - brand new sheds, greenhouses, decking
(yes decking!).
There were a number of neatly boxed deep beds as well - so I was really
pleased to get this plot when they vacated.
The first thing we had to do was split it back up from the adjoining
plot. This left one of the deep beds right on the
edge - so to move that went on the 'todo' list. You
really need access from all sides with a deep bed
and this one is 8 X 8 rather than 4 feet wide.
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Plot 29 - view up from the path
Looks pretty desolate and the weeds have started
to grow but I hope that, as it was worked
last year, it will be less of a task
to bring into order than plot 5 was.
It had been broken into beds separated by chipping
paths on this side. I know they grew
tomatoes on the bed nearest the path
but not to much else.
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Plot 29 - Compost and Topsoil
A heap of topsoil/compost free for
the taking in the foreground with
the corrugated sheet compost bins behind.
Another blue barrel as well.
I gave the railway sleeper to another plotholder
and the edging rolls (in front of the
blue bin) to a young lad growing some
flowers on his dad's plot.
Notice there is more covered with chippings than
in use .
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Plot 29 - Compost Bin
The green composter was also mine
- when you take over a plot the rule
seems to be you get everything on
it. Plots left vacant are fair game to the
human vultures though so you need
to establish ownership pretty quickly.
I nicely explained I'd taken this one and nearly
got attacked by one of the other plotholders...
suffice to say, not everyone on an allotment
site is pleasant company.
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Plot 29 - view from the top end
To the right you can see where the sheds and greenhouses
were with the deep beds to the left and
a wide chipping path in the middle.
The daffodils were nice but you can see the 2 far
deep beds are absolutely chock full of
weeds.
Got my work cut out here!
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Plot 5 Gains a Garden Shed
The chap who took on plot one gave up - his health
wasn't too good and the plot was a waterlogged
mass of dock leaves. Rotovating it had
served to replace each dock with 10 more
from the root cuttings.
Anyway, I acquired his shed, manure and all else
for £30.00.
I brought my car down as I needed carpentry tools
etc to move the shed. Enlisting my brother
in law we managed to get it done. The
roof is made of tongue and groove on
6X3 beams.. wheighs about 3 tons. Still
we got it done despite the rain hitting
as we tried to get the roof on.
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Plot 5 from the compost heaps
The onions are doing OK and the cloches have gone.
The fleece is warming the new potatoes - which
did rather well unlike the 2nd earlies
and maincrop, thanks to the blight.
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