Hello, I've posted a couple of things in the vegetable section, but thought it was about time I introduced myself. I'm Justin, 30, from Gillingham, Kent.
We (my wife, 3-yr old son and I) moved last year to a 1930s house with a 60 foot allotment behind the back garden. They are proper allotments (in that you have to pay the council rent for them), but because there are no standpipes and limited access their use is pretty much limited to residents. A shame, as many of them are not used or just put to lawn.
We're very keen on gardening organically and re-use/recycling, so we were delighted to have this oportunity.
We've set about putting in beds, and last year got some exciting results (peas, potatoes, mooli, mixed cut-and-come-again leaves, pink fir apple potatoes), and some disappointments (tomatoes, maris peer potatoes, sweetcorn). This year we've also taken on next-door's allotment which hasn't been tended for several years and is completely covered with brambles and bindweed - yes, we like a challenge!
We've got garlic growing well, some broad beans and peas coming up and a variety of seeds germinating indoors and in a cheap plastic greenhouse - very excited about the coming year!
There seems to be a wealth of information on this forum - hope people won't mind me bugging them with beginners questions all year.
Hello from new(ish) allotment user
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red
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welcome 
I think every year brings successes and disappointments.. depends on the weather etc. - and last year was pants for growing lots of things!
keep on going!
I think every year brings successes and disappointments.. depends on the weather etc. - and last year was pants for growing lots of things!
keep on going!
Red
I like like minded people... a bit like minded anyway.. well people with bits of their minds that are like the bits of my mind that I like...
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I like like minded people... a bit like minded anyway.. well people with bits of their minds that are like the bits of my mind that I like...
my website: colour it green
etsy shop
blog
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Millymollymandy
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tim&fatima
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Evening and welcome, Justin,
My sweetcorn was a huge disappointment last year too. From the outside all looked plumpcious and delicious but inside only half the kernels on each cob were swollen and yellow...the rest were all green and wrinkly...was it me?
My potatoes got blight and the celery did b...er all. HOWEVER the apples were amazing and so were the blackberries.
All available window sill space is crammed with seed trays (my plastic green house died of death in one of the windy storms we had last month!
I think it was last seen entering Russian airspace on Tuesday!) Hope yours is well anchored!
Have a productive weekend
Vanessa
My sweetcorn was a huge disappointment last year too. From the outside all looked plumpcious and delicious but inside only half the kernels on each cob were swollen and yellow...the rest were all green and wrinkly...was it me?
My potatoes got blight and the celery did b...er all. HOWEVER the apples were amazing and so were the blackberries.
All available window sill space is crammed with seed trays (my plastic green house died of death in one of the windy storms we had last month!
I think it was last seen entering Russian airspace on Tuesday!) Hope yours is well anchored!
Have a productive weekend
Vanessa
think big, live small.
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Thurston Garden
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Ahoy Justin! 
Thurston Garden.
http://www.thurstongarden.wordpress.com
Greenbelt is a Tory Policy and the Labour Party intends to build on it. (John Prescott)
http://www.thurstongarden.wordpress.com
Greenbelt is a Tory Policy and the Labour Party intends to build on it. (John Prescott)
Hi Justin
Good to have you here! I too have so many bramble and bindweed problems with my allotment.. you sure must like hard work to have 2 plots!
Well, it sound like last year wasn't too bad considering the weather, but lets hope we all do better this year!
If you find any miracle solutions to bindweed, and brambles, please let me know! I'm plugging away the old fashioned way with dig dig dig!
Anyway, welcome and good to meet you!
Katie
Good to have you here! I too have so many bramble and bindweed problems with my allotment.. you sure must like hard work to have 2 plots!
Well, it sound like last year wasn't too bad considering the weather, but lets hope we all do better this year!
If you find any miracle solutions to bindweed, and brambles, please let me know! I'm plugging away the old fashioned way with dig dig dig!
Anyway, welcome and good to meet you!
Katie
When it rains look for rainbows, when it's dark look for stars
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SarahJane
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Hello and welcome from me too. 
Oh how I would love an allotment at the end of the garden!
I didnt have that much success with some things last year, but thought it was down to me being a beginner, maybe it was the weather?
Still, I am surrounded by window sills full of seedlings and fortunately my mini greenhouse is still standing and full of seeds to, so even after a slightly dissappointing year last year I am full of enthusiasm for this one!
Good luck with the allotments.
Oh how I would love an allotment at the end of the garden!
I didnt have that much success with some things last year, but thought it was down to me being a beginner, maybe it was the weather?
Still, I am surrounded by window sills full of seedlings and fortunately my mini greenhouse is still standing and full of seeds to, so even after a slightly dissappointing year last year I am full of enthusiasm for this one!
Good luck with the allotments.