omg fantastic news

[Russian Doll]

i live on a council estate and the council offices are set in our blocks of flats so they have a garden attached to the back of them

at the moment this garden is never used and has been left to rot

ive been fighting for permission to use this as an allotment patch and today i got permission

i can have the garden for free and providing i dont grow illegal substances there its mine do grow veg

oh and ist all security camerad as well


wooooooooooohooooooooooooo im so exited its a nice patch of land as well

so guys what veg can i grow over winter

[mrsflibble]

if you can get some leek seedlings they can go straight into well dug earth and do really well provided you protect them from frost. good going!

[StripyPixieSocks]

Congratulations that's wonderful news!

You can get Garlic in for overwintering at the end of October time-ish.

Good luck with your new plot, I hope you can grow lots of wonderful things in it :)

[grahamhobbs]

Result!

Garlic, shallots, japanese onions (sets), broad beans (Aquadulce), and peas (Feltham first or Meteor) can all go in as soon as you get the ground prepared (preferably before November). You might possibly be able to buy some cauliflower plants (to harvest next spring/early summer) or purple sprouting broccoli plants(to harvest late spring), but you would have to get them in straight away.

There is also time (if done staraightaway) to sow some winter lettuces (eg Rosetta) and Mizuna in modules and plant out later. You can also sow direct a load of Lambs Lettuce once you have cleared a bit of land (not worth sowing in modules because you need loads - its a delicious winter salad, the french pick it wild from corn fields).

[Sally Jane]

What wonderful news! I'm so glad you have a sensible council!
Do keep us posted on your progress - it will be an inspiration to others who are just starting out with a small plot or allotment at this time of year.
I wish you huge amounts of luck with it!

[claire mcr]

Brilliant, how many other bits of unused land are there that councils should be doing this with!

I'm just getting round to organising a shared allotment for next year and am putting in shallots & onion sets and garlic.
I've already (just) put in Mustard, Kale, Mizuna and some Winter radishes that (hopefully) grow to fist size and can be cooked with a bit like turnips.

I didn't know about lambs lettace... might try that this week then when I put some peas in.

Good luck!

[MuddyWitch]

Really chuffed for you, RD

MW

[Green Aura]

Excellent news, things seem to have been going really well since you moved

[Martina]

Congratulations Russian Doll.

Remember we like pictures here.

Martina

[pumpy]

If you're quick you can sow curly-kale, & savoy cabbage for next spring.......... hope all goes(grows) well!

[Shirley]

That really is good news - thinking of applying for one down here now that it looks like I'm here for a while :

[Millymollymandy]

Congrats RD!

[Milims]

Yay! Well done you! I hope that this sets an example for more councils to follow - with you as embassador!

[red]

thats brill - and all power to you for thinking of it and going for it - well done!

[boboff]

Hello.

If it's wild I really would spend all your energy on making beds, paths, fencing, Staging, sheds,greenhouse polly tunnel etc. Whacking in loads of manure, building your compost heap, keeping the ground turned and the plot weed free.

Get your beds sorted and then start a bit at a time in the early spring planting out your onions sets, then your Parsnips, then Peas, Potatoes and the rest. Keep a bed not mucked and do your carrots.

I would do that, it's hard work but if you plant stuff and have a change of heart, it will get in the way, and your muck will ensure you get good returns and the breaking up will get the frost down into the ground to break it up. The organisation and having a clear idea of the beds and the paths is so important. If it's loads you are better off only trying to get half of it done this year, but get it all done really well.

I so wish I knew that this time last year!

Well done, it's great to hear some councils are sensible.