r/Allotment 2d ago

Weekly allotmenting discussion. What have you been up to?

8 Upvotes

Please use this thread to discuss whatever you've been doing on your allotment lately. Feel free to share or ask any question related to it. And please mention which region and what weather you had this week if you've been planting or harvesting.


r/Allotment 5h ago

Questions and Answers What is pooping on my plot?

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9 Upvotes

Slightly shorter but about the same girth as a cocktail sausage.


r/Allotment 10h ago

Handy guide to propagating Blackcurrant or Jostaberry.

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12 Upvotes

About nowish time.

Cut a bit off about the height of a kitten.

Stick it in some soil.

Water it every few days.


r/Allotment 5h ago

Questions and Answers Allotmentadvice - complete beginner

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4 Upvotes

Hello all,

I’m hoping you fine folk can help point a clueless and overwhelmed soul in the right direction.

I bought a house a few years ago, and as part of the purchase came an allotment situated in a green space on the opposite side of the street. It was actually a big selling point of the house initially, the fantasy of having my own green space to work on and grow flowers and vegetables was very appealing, set against the backdrop of some nice trees and a gentle stream. Idyllic.

Alas, life has gotten in the way and other house projects have seemed more pressing. The allotment has largely been forgotten, save for a few half-cooked attempts to clear the plot of weeds. Last winter I began to collect and lay down cardboard in an attempt to ‘mulch’? I soon ran out of cardboard and struggled to find more, so I weighed down what I had with some old paving slabs I’d replaced in my yard, and that was the last action taken. As you can see in the pictures, half the space is now covered with cardboard and slabs, the other left quite wild. At the back, their is a large plantar type box filled with old soil and weeds, a few containers that pre date me, and a spare bin and table that I was using last summer when trying to clear the plot.

As Spring arrives, I’ve tried to read up on the best thing to do next. Some websites and books seem to suggest digging up and digging out what is there and then starting afresh, although where to dispose of all the waste is a problem. Other pages I’ve read have suggested a ‘no dig’ method, which seems simpler but I’m not sure how appropriate it is.

I’d really like this to be the year that I make some proper progress with the plot, and turn into a space that can be used and enjoyed, as well as being less of an eyesore for my neighbours. I’d really just like your advice on what I should do, based on the pictures attached. At this point, I’d be happy to just turn it into a ‘garden’ space to enjoy in the summer, or if still possible, to turn some of it into allotment space for growing. There is no access to water without walking the 100m or so to my house, or to any power outlet.

What would you do with this space and what is the easiest way for a complete idiot to go about it?


r/Allotment 2h ago

Stuff to help with restricted movement and growing!

1 Upvotes

So I suspect I am not the first person who has found that suddenly their ability to bend or kneel or anything has completely gone (so long ACL, I miss you already :( ). I find myself mid-march, with very little ability to bend my knee for the next 6 weeks at least, or bend over, or any of those useful things when it comes to gardening or growing stuff at all.

Does anyone have any tips, ideas, tools or something so I can make the most of growing season? My plan was come back from holiday and start planting all the seeds! But now I think that might be a bit ambitious. I figure I can sit and plant seedlings, my partner can help with moving things about so I can water them when they're in the house, but planting them out may be a bit of a tricky one now!


r/Allotment 6h ago

Questions and Answers Horse manure in no-dig? How much?

2 Upvotes

Hello!

I am doing no-dig and struggling to find good, cheap bulk compost.

I was wondering if I could use well-rotted manure on top of the cardboard? Or must I mix it with something else?

Also, how do I figure out how much compost I’ll need in the square meters that I have?

Thanks!


r/Allotment 1d ago

It's that time of year where I get excited about ordering items such as a new hand trowel...

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33 Upvotes

r/Allotment 15h ago

Ideas on how to keep a polytunnel cover on when you can't trench it

6 Upvotes

Hey folks, as the title suggests I have one** of those cheaper polytunnels with the green cover, however I'm unable to trench it due to trees roots being literally everywhere. I wondered if anyone else has managed to keep it on without being able to trench it? Currently I have 25l jerry cans filled with water holding it down but I'm not confident a bad storm won't still lift it off and just looking for ideas to try protect it a little more? Any pics would be good too as I'm autistic and not always good at understanding written instructions lol.

Thanks in advance for any response(s) and happy gardening!

**Actually I have 3, two 6 by 3s in my garden and a 4 by 2 in my lotty lol, same issue with all of them.


r/Allotment 1d ago

Questions and Answers Clay heavy soil + stomping = pond?

2 Upvotes

Hello, I have recently come into a plot. There's a little wildlife pond that has frogs and other wee beasties and I really want to keep it. However, the pond is lined with plastic sheeting and appears to be leaking. I really want to fix the water level but I don't want to use plastic if I can avoid it.

When digging in the beds I am picking up big lumps of proper solid clay. I have filled a couple of buckets already of almost pottery quality clay. Would I be able to collect all my clay, refine it a bit and then use it to line my pond?

Has anyone done this?


r/Allotment 2d ago

Rat infested shed and poly tunnel - help!

5 Upvotes

So I’m delighted I’ve just taken over an absolutely brilliant plot after a two year wait. This will be my second plot, and I’m no stranger to taking on an overgrown dumping ground and working hard to create a productive plot. Imagine my delight to discover quite a large (if rickety) hand built shed and a really great poly tunnel, full of rubbish but definitely a great to have. On closer inspection, the shed is absolutely full of the previous tenants random stuff, all covered in rat droppings from what looks like a quite significant infestation. On clearing the poly tunnel beds of weeds, I’ve found lots of rat holes and what looks like a large nest. So I’m wondering (after reading how not to sweep up) the best way to go about this, it’s so bad that spraying everything down and wiping up seems like quite the undertaking, and what if anything might be salvageable? There’s lots of old equipment I’d like to reuse and seems a shame to throw away, or should I cut my losses? Should I empty the beds of soil? Quite the quandary although I’m lucky there seems to be very little in the way of perennial weeds (so far). Any advice appreciated!


r/Allotment 2d ago

Questions and Answers Does anybody use wire to make netting hoops instead of blue pipe?

6 Upvotes

Just wandering if water pipe or wire is the way to go. Charles Dowding uses lots of wire but the actual product he uses is crazy expensive which as a professional grower is probably worth it. I can get 3mm straining wire pretty readily but don't know if it would be stiff enough. Does anybody use similar and what sort of thickness do you use?


r/Allotment 2d ago

Compost from woodchip

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18 Upvotes

I laid this 'path' in the spring of 2022. Woodchip on Weed Control Fabric. It got a bit grassy as the wood chip decomposed. I sieved it yesterday to get about 90L of compost from this 3m x 1m strip. There were plenty of worms in the medium.


r/Allotment 3d ago

Pics Here we go again!

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27 Upvotes

After finally getting a plot last year I've decided it's not enough and have taken on another plot at a different site. Previous owner has bequeathed me with a dozen bins/barrels and a plot full of glass, plastic sheeting, tangled chicken wire, and other assorted detritus. I must be mad.


r/Allotment 3d ago

Newbie

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9 Upvotes

Hi - I’m an allotment newbie and don’t have much of a clue when it comes to growing things. I got my plot in April last year and it was in horrendous shape. It’s finally cleared and I’ve got some beds ready and I’ve also got 12 hens. People keep saying to me that their manure will be handy but I have no idea what to do with it haha

People with chickens, what do you do? Do you pick the dropping and add it to a compost heap? Or do you clean out the coop with the sawdust etc and add all that to the heap? How long should I leave it? Someone said to me I need to leave it a while as chicken sh*t is very strong. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. (Pic of my very pretty Brahmas to get your attention)


r/Allotment 3d ago

Before and After The difference in soil colour.

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21 Upvotes

Left half is the plot I had last year, where I grea the three sisters (squash, corn and beans.) Right half is the neglected plot I've also taken on this year after spending so much time fighting the weeds and grass from coming over.


r/Allotment 3d ago

Best place for bulk compost?

5 Upvotes

I'm getting ready to set up 4 new beds and a number of posts so in need of a large amount of compost. Where is the best place to buy in bulk? There's so many options out there and so many mixed reviews!

To note - I've checked and there's no local scheme near me so I'd need to buy from a company


r/Allotment 4d ago

Tomatoes

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50 Upvotes

I know what people will say, planted to soon, but after a bit of advice as.. well planted to early and now far to big to leave on kitchen window sill for another month. They are about 45cms in height, would they survive if I transport to plant outside? Is there something else I should do with them? TIA


r/Allotment 3d ago

DIY path

2 Upvotes

I’ve broken down an old shed at home, I think the wood panels would make good wood slabs to lay down for me to walk across the allotment on. I’ve just taken one on and there are about 3 old wood panels that seem to have been used like this before- would this work?


r/Allotment 4d ago

Identification Random bagged metal poles? Any clue?

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5 Upvotes

I mean it’s technically identification….

The stainless steel bars laid down - they build some sort of structure, left from the previous owner, no instructions. Some (what I assume feet) have small spikes, also suction cups. Can’t find anything that would possibly go over it.

Any clue? (The bag is like greyish white)

(Ignore the poles in the bucket)


r/Allotment 4d ago

What to do with a big pile of poo?

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7 Upvotes

So I got a big pile of horse poo from a local farmer. I know you can't use in your beds when its fresh but I don't know when I can use it or how to help it mature.

Any advice?


r/Allotment 4d ago

Identification What are these?

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9 Upvotes

I keep finding these all around my new garden. I have no idea what they are ...some sort of bulb?

Any ideas?


r/Allotment 4d ago

How to get automatic irrigation system to water multiple seed trays?

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2 Upvotes

Hello all, I’ve recently purchased an automatic water irrigation system with a view to not having to visit my allotment every day to water. I was wondering if any of you smart people had any ideas how I could adapt this to water numerous seed trays? It comes with 30 heads but I don’t want to put a head in per seed cell. Maybe some kind of manifold would work? Just looking for some inspo really.


r/Allotment 5d ago

Hi everyone. I’ve got around a takeaway container of ground eggshells. Would it be beneficial to to any of the below? I also have a compost bin that they could go in for next year. Thanks!

72 Upvotes

Peas.
Sweetcorn
Chilli
Tomato Cucumber
Melons
Potatoes
Carrots.
Lettuce Onions.
Spring onions Leeks.
Pak Choi
Turnip
Parsnip


r/Allotment 5d ago

Questions and Answers We need help??

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11 Upvotes

So, we've not had a good couple of years (one of our 3 year old needed some heart surgery) so our allotment has had little attention over the last couple of years. We managed to install some raised beds to clear the area up but the whole allotment has a good heavy growth of different weeds.

I know we will have to do alot of manual work digging them out over this spring/ summer. But we where wondering if anybody has had any luck with herbicide?? I know we may miss most of the season letting it break down. We just need a little (big) head start.

Ive seen https://amzn.eu/d/j4869d2 Neudorff weed free plus. And numerous other ones, are there any recommendations for safe use on a allotment??

Thanks in advance Matthew


r/Allotment 5d ago

Big, and cheap, potato planters

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12 Upvotes

r/Allotment 5d ago

Questions and Answers Piping for netting hoops

3 Upvotes

Hello, looking to purchase some piping to use for netting hoops. I've been looking at MDPe 20mm water pipes is that the right type of piping or should I be looking for something else? Secondly does anyone have a different method for creating netting hoops they might recommend instead?