I'm taking the positive from the situation. I've been watching the gooseberries develop since we took on the plot but seemingly out of nowhere it turns out they've got quite a bad case of mildew! I've started cutting out the affected areas and we're burning them to try to stop it spreading (also inaugurating the …
Beans
Our first vegetable plants are in! I've got a bit of experience growing beans on balconies so these were definitely one for the allotment. In my seed buying frenzy I went for climbing French and borlotti beans and dwarf kidney beans. The latter two because I've not tried drying beans before so I'll get to …
Adding Structure
The first thing the allotment books will tell you is that deciding where to put a few permanent features on the plot will help give you structure. We were lucky to inherit a bit of good structure on our plot given by the soft fruit, a slab path and some visible old beds. We're sticking …
Allotment Community
I'd always heard that there's a great sense of community on allotment sites and am happy to say this is proving true of our site too. As we've been busily working away over the past few weeks all the allotment holders around us have been gradually been introducing themselves as we've been on site together. …
Ready for new plants
Finally, lots of digging over and repeat weeding later all four pre-existing beds are ready for new plants. All that digging has helped us get to know the soil,and for the most part it seems pretty good. It's quite clayey and forms clumps but after a rake over it gets a nicer fine texture - …
What have we got?
So, first thing's first - what have we already got on the plot? Rhubarb is the first easily recognisable resident and there's a lot of it. Ours is looking quite weedy and ropey compared to one's we've spied on other plots so may need some attention. Next, right at the other end of the plot …
Bean Allotmenting 