Re: Allotments
 

Do you currently have frosts where you live? They've not yet hit here though the temp is dropping

Re: Allotments
 

Yeah the frost is defiantly here now :(

Re: Allotments
 

Currently in the ground planted last year is the following (not including two beds of celentine mustard that's gonna be a green manure for the Potatoes and above ground veg, the bed in use for the already planted roots will be mustarded the end of this year)

• Broad Beans
• Onions
• Red Onions
• Garlic
• Shallots
• Raspberry
• Blackberry
• Black Currant
• Red Currant
• Loganberry
• Rhubarb
• Strawberrys (two normal varieties plus one extra alpine variety)

Planted but not up the allotment

• Kiwi (in greenhouse)
• Mixed Chilis (jalapeno and another two unknown) for seeds

In seeds packets

• Various beans (french dwarf, runner..)
• Radishes (white, breakfast, mixed)
• Mushroom (white button)
• Gherkin
• Various Squash/pumpkin (also some seeds from winter squash bought from shops that I have confirmed are not sterile)
• Red Strawberry Popcorn
• Celery
• Cheyenne pepper
• Rocket
• Lettuce Mixed
• Tomato (gardeners delight)
• Swede
• Carrot (early nantes)
• Broccoli (purple sprouting)
• Parsley (for home)
• Beetroot (boltardy)
• Spring Onion (white lisbon)
• Sweetcorn (Jubilee)
• Perpetual Spinach
• Leek (Zermat)
• Mustard/greens mixed

Awaiting delivery on potatoes of the folowing

• First Earlies (Pentland Javelin)
• Second Earlies ((International Kidney aka Jersey royals) will also do as a early main if left)
• Maincrop (Maris Piper)

Herbs I'm gonna keep in the garden at home, not much point in having herbs a couple of miles away especially when they're better fresh

Re: Allotments
 

I was thinking about growing herbs but i've no idea where to start so I will probably stick to growing onions which is probably a waste of my allotment

Re: Allotments
 

This might help...

Re: Allotments
 

Herbs are ever so simple..

Stuff like Parsley, corriander is simple to grow and best picked often.. Other stuff like Rosmary grows in nice bushes

Re: Allotments
 

If you want to grow things for flavour rather than cropping or disease resistance I would recommend http://www.simpsonsseeds.co.uk/ They sell some wonderful tomato varieties with real flavour (Rose de Bern is a personal favourite) as well as tasty potato varieties and peppers of all descriptions.

2+ year waiting list locally with people sharing allotments to speed up waiting time.

Re: Allotments
 

I thought this thread was about allotments :confused:

Re: Allotments
 

Crickey - that's loads! Have you got your own field??!

Re: Allotments
 

Well actually yes we do have our own fiend (split into 3 paddocks for the horses) but it's too much clay and too inclined for growing anything)

The allotment (1/2mile away from the field) is only 18m by 32m, split into the following three 4.5m*12m plots (root, potatoes and above ground veg) two 2.25m*12m plots (one has fruit in it and the other is gonna be a mixed salad, squash and sweetcorn), one 4.5m*6m for Strawberrys and blackberrys (they will cover the back of the small low toolshed we have) and a final 1.5m*28m on the north side (south side is hedged so nicely shaded) which has posts in with wire ready for vines (loganberry, kiwi, grapes....) Also along the south side is a 0.75m full length path(32m) which is gonna get loads of flower seeds for helping to attract polination insects

All between paths are grassed with a central 4.5m*6m grassed area for a nice bench/doggy play area

Re: Allotments
 

Got some fruit bushes from Lidl and Aldi, quite cheap and they seem to be doing well after an initial repot.. More Raspberries, a couple of redcurrents (the one I planted late last year has been rabbited so not sure if it'll survive) some more blackberries (thornless) some red gooseberries and finally for a small section that we'll dig over with some peat free compost to lower the PH level some cranberries and blueberries..

Everything is late this year due to the weather/cold.. We've though managed to chit the potatoes and they'll go in sometime mid/late march, got Gherkins, squash (various), celery, aubergine and tomatoes in the seed trays, did try a pack of strawberry seeds off ebay but none have come up, got a 2nd pack in the freezer so it might boost the germination if not will get some decent roots from somehere..

Everything else will be direct to soil so as soon as the frosts are gone I'll be busy

Re: Allotments
 

:) I could hear Percy thrower as I read your latest update. You should have titled this your Allotment Diary, I am really enjoying hearing about your progress.

Oh and just a thought, if you get a glut of Gooseberries you could send some my way, I love Gooseberry Jam. :D

Re: Allotments
 

Which part of Manc are you in?

Re: Allotments
 

The leafy suburb of Urmston. :)

Re: Allotments
 

Last time I lived in Manc I was just the other side of Barton Aerodrome from you near the 602/60 junction.. ;) Originally from Moss-Side/Rusholme between living in SA/AUS ;)