Do other T2s have allotments and what do you grow?

Providence 62 said:

Oh thanks so much for all the info about your plots. I have 140m2 (town planner, therefore I use metric). I am really interested in the blueberries as I said earlier. They are great and quite low carb. Nice to have a bit of fruit to nibble on and they appear to have virtually magical properties.

I don't feel brave enough yet to try the brassicas, I am not good at the netting and covering, but spinach is on my list of things to do along with beans, squashes, courgettes, onions, leeks and suchlike. I think I will reserve a spot for berries. Do blueberries need netting?

Dont have enough room for a polytunnel or a shed, so am trying to blag some room in a friend's greenhouse. I will keep everyone posted.

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About netting...thing is...birds are 'funny things'..in general I don't tend to net anything and that is risky because you just don't know what might appeal for them from one year to other. One year, given a chance they will rip something apart and eat everything of that sort food..and following year they will take liking for something else and ignore the previously hammered types Not only that, because I grow so much, I have enough to share with my feathered friends and still end up more than I need with berries...birds generally tend to leave my berries alone...even strawberries! And yet, chap on next plot and other allotmenteers always moan how they end up with nothing if they don't net their plants and berries..
So as for answer for you question....yes, you quite likely need to net the blueberries but only once you actually have berries on them and they are just about to start to change colour.
As for brassicas...you might get away with those...but if they start showing signs of being nibbled..net them and once they get little taller and tougher, birds usually leave them alone then and you can take the netting off.

And then there's the butterflies and caterpillars - either be very particular in checking your brassicas for butterfly eggs every second of the day or net them with a frame.

Larissima said:

I'm on a couple of waiting lists for an allotment in my area, but still no luck. Current garden is handkerchief sized.

I dream of a space to grow my own tomatoes, peppers, golden courgettes (I've had success with these in tubs, so might try it on the patio), beetroot (for the leaves too), rainbow chard, globe and Jerusalem artichokes... Lots of garlic, too! Oh, and sorrel, it should be in season now, and I love the lemony scent of the big green leaves. Colourful caulis, broccoli and kale...

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Unfortunately sometimes (or too often) those who make decision of letting allotments to new tenants can be slow to do their jobs...so I would recommend anybody who is in waiting list make 'nuisance' of themselves and do regular contacts to enquire where in the list they are and ask how much longer would it take to get one. It has proven many times to speed things up, if nothing else they might want to get rid you from their backs and give you plot in a hurry...being keen does pay off!
And check if there is any private/local associations sites in you area..council sites can have empty plots but for some reason those who work for council might ignore them, particularly if they've not been used for some years, and only let out plots that are reasonable condition to start with...and then there is apparent waiting list for those 'better ones' Go have a look at council sites..if there is 'forgotten plots'..yes, they will take huge amount of work to get under control again but by making specific enquiries of those, you might be able to jump the queue if you are taking interest of taking that kind of plot on.

slip said:

And then there's the butterflies and caterpillars - either be very particular in checking your brassicas for butterfly eggs every second of the day or net them with a frame.

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Oh yes...those too......and and..sometimes it is wonder why do we bother.
I'm not too worried about cabbage butterflies...yes they make mess and chomp through some greenery. I just can't bother making effort clearing them off it is only plant's looks that are affected. .I keep eye on the situation and if the catterpillars are getting bit too hungry, then I take action. Being 'too busy' (read;taking lazy approach) have paid off more often than not and after all I don't eat each and every leaf from my cabbage...if the outer leaves are nibbled, so be it...they'll end up otherwise into heap anyway...or get eaten by my chickens
There has to be good reason for even those insects so some will have to survive..even if they are on my brassicas

Providence 62 said:

Now THAT is what I call a useful partner. Mine is okay with digging and pulling up weeds. I deal with the planting!

We are just getting a composting bin and an incinerator to burn those perennial weeds, so we wont be shovelling bits of weed root back into the allotment next year and getting nothing but a fine crop of dandelions.

Prov.

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Believe it or not...but I've actually sown some dandelion seeds on purpose! Called 'culinary dandelions'.. AND, because over the years I've managed to get rid of my 'prized' dandelions and left with only few little weedy ones...I have to go out for a walk and gather some dandelion greens for my chickens and tortoise.. So now in my great 'wisdom' I have dug some up from one weedy plot, potted some up to be planted in selected spot in my own allotments
Even the weeds can be useful! And they say, 'weed is only a plant in a wrong place'...what is weed for you might be something 'priceless' for somebody else..
BTW...weed roots...many of them you can kill very easily and quickly by leaving them on slab or path to dry out...no need to burn and once dry they can be returned on top of soil as mulch or compost it. No nutrients wasted and what comes out goes back in and stays on the plot..

Providence 62 said:

My allotment is a mess at the moment because I have been working on the London elections. That has kept me busy. I have treated myself to a petrol strimmer to make life a bit easier tidying stuff up. Now all I have to do is assemble it....wish me luck.

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Good luck! Unless it is totally in pieces..assembly is piece of cake! You'll be 'hacking' the jungle back in no time with that.

We've had nearly 2 days without contact from @Providence 62 lets hope she didn't get lost in the allotment jungle - there could be allsorts of dangerous animals living in there!

I have spent entire weekend outside..can't say that I have been catching up, but at least I got something done. All spuds are now planted and broad beans. It has been so hot that I've had to make real effort keeping plants in greenhouses and in polytunnel watered..'once a day routine' is not enough anymore..that is one job that I'm not too keen...watering.
I've also had some fun work too! I bought old aluminium coldframe..decent size 10ft x 4ft..which I'm in process turning into tortoise's summer 'palace'. Now that all the building and ground work for it is done, I can start 'landscaping'. All spring I've been potting up suitable weeds!!! Yep, never thought I would say that..but they are all fodder for the 'beast'..and adding also some food for the 'eyes'..it have to look attractive for me too. One side is going to be under cover...like hot, arid landscape with right kind of planting for that environment and other 'open to elements'..that one is going to be growing more lusher vegetation.
This morning I've been getting few more plants for B &Q...they have last day of they big offer weekend and came home with boot full of stuff. Something for me too. I'm going to grow LOADS of rosemary in one spot of the plot...brilliant herb for smoking, otherwise I'm not too keen for its taste.
Well..today I shall finish my miniature landscaping job and then duty calls to get some planting done in polytunnel. Need to get couple of courgettes and patty pans for earlier crops in, some pak choi and grape vines planted and if body doesn't disagree..maybe carry on planting some brassicas outside too, not to forget netting them as well! We seem to have unusually many doves and wood pigeons knocking about....somebody is feeding birds with cheap wheat based bird feed..that is like asking them to come over