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The story so far ...

I have always been interested in gardening, but have never really had the time to devote to it. But now I have retired things will be different, and I should definitely have the time.

My first sighting of the allotment was daunting to say the least. The photo on the left shows me surveying the site (my plot is on the right of the picture) and wondering what on earth I had been led into.

The site had not been used for about 5 years and as a result was heavily overgrown with nettles, trees, old raspberry and blackcurrant bushes, reeds and many other weeds.

My initial excitement at getting the allotment had now turned into the feeling that this was an impossible task.

It was a few weeks later before I, together with my son Richard and our wives, decided to set about cutting down the vegetation, and in one day we managed to clear about 1/3 of the site. Digging and further clearing then started in earnest, and by the end of September about 80% was ready for cultivation.

The soil is peaty, slightly acid and very moist due to the allotments being on a river plain. There is a drainage ditch around two sides of the allotment, and this is gradually being dug out. Once this is done the drainage should improve, and it should also give a ready supply of water during very hot weather.

I (and the gardener on my neighbouring allotment) am aiming to do everything organically, and we are looking forward to the challenges this will bring in fighting disease and pests.

Although September is rather late to be planting some vegetables, I decided to try some to see how they got on. I separated some of the old raspberry canes and replanted them, and have also planted leeks, Japanese onions, potatoes, broccoli and spring cabbages.

The leeks will have a limited growing time, so will probably end up quite slender, but hopefully tender; and the onions are growing well.

The potatoes were really planted as a bit of fun - to see if I could grow new potatoes for christmas. They initially showed fantastic growth, but now appear to be suffering from the wet and cooler conditions.

I added some lime to the soil about a week before planting the broccoli and cabbages, and they are growing exceptionally well, although they were heavily attacked by cabbage white caterpillars and pigeons in the beginning. To counteract this I have built protective cages.

I haven't yet had any real problems with slugs, but I am aware that they could be a problem. The site is full of frogs and toads which I am hoping will keep many of the pests at bay.

Apart from growing organically I also plan to follow proper crop rotation to help to keep disease at bay. There is enough room to have four large beds or eight smaller ones, which can grow enough vegetables for our family, and I am now working on a planting plan for this, which I hope to be able to share with you in a couple of weeks.

So, sorry Sainsbury's, I'm looking not to need you for vegetables next year!

Bryan

 

Posted 1st November 2005