A lot of work to do.......

Snap

 

Jenny, there is a funny story attached to them , We went to B&Q as we wanted some for 'tipsy pots' (see projects for this ). we selected 7x 29cm pots and 1x 19cm pot (price of the small one £1.25) we got to the till and the barcodes weren't working on the large pots (I was told verbally that they were £4 each), after 15 minutes, the guy on the till was told to put thme all through at £1.25 each ......... I went back the next day for a few more :D

I'll remember this for future, I have noticed as the temps are milder, any seeds sown are germinating quicker, though I have sown a few variants of chilli seeds at home in my heated propagator, and some of those have had disappointing germination ratios.

I have only 'scalped' the last bit, as it was getting a pain to stumble across everything everytime I need to go and water etc.

 

This year I am going to concentrate on getting the plot under control, and may even leave a couple of areas 'undug', and plant sweetcorn in that area, as they will outcompete the weeds, then next year, concentrate on digging that area over first to get rid of unwanted weed roots.

I may consider doing some flowers next year........ Maybe

Iain, you're right, it's nice to actually put something in the ground, it actually starts to make the plot look like an allotment.

 

Well, did a bit yesterday, but is found here :-

http://www.gardenerscorner.co.uk/forum/threads/chilli-plants-potted-up.64780/#post-806807

 

Craig,

Coming to terms with the fact that I cannot realistically get it all dug over this year, I will however be prepping areas to a certain degree which will allow the planting of crops which will out compete weeds ie Sweetcorn, Courgettes, Pumpkins. I will however, dig what I can this year.

I still have to sort the inside of the tunnel out, so that I can get my Tomatoes, Chillis, Aubergine, Melon and Cucumbers .

I need to get some concrete blocks on the plot to raise my water container off the ground by about 4-5 feet, I already have the timbers there to span 2 columns of blocks.

I also want to make a Strawberry planter, which will be off the ground, but suspended and will be made from 4" waste pipe.

Plus my 'Tipsy Pot' Herb planter......

And on top of all that, I would really like to get the front of the plot fenced as well.

Plenty to do, and a lack of time to do it

 

Ok, so I have spent a little time this week sorting some of the plot out.

After a lot of rain, I decided Tuesday to give a little area a bit of a dig, again removing a 'LOT' of nettle roots :-





You can see one of the pile of roots on the ground on this pic :-



Some more pics of weed roots (I cannot believe how many in such a small area !!) :-





Yesterday, I decided to go and get some blocks, so that I could get the water tank in position, I placed Weed barrier material under the blocks (later, I will put bark over it) :-



I also decided to take a pallet from my front garden (that had been there since around October last year ) over to the allotment, with the intention of using it as a planter :-



Once I knew where it was going, I put weed barrier fabric under this also, and then continued to build onto it some more, with a frame (no pictures of the progress of this, it will just be done when you see the next pics )

I then proceeded to sort out my 'tipsy herb planter' :-







Whilst I was there yesterday, I did reinforce the pallet with some extra timbers at key postions (hopefully it will hold ), and as I forgot my staple gun, I couldn't line it with fabric .

Hey ho .... Today came, I bought some more MultiPurpose compost and another herb from the discount area .. Plain Oregano, and off to the plot, 2 journeys back and forth with my trolley to transport stuff down.

I have lined the Pallet, I then moved 3 wheelbarrows full of Earth (rough earth) and placed that in the base of the pallet, followed by 1x 125 litre bag of MPC, followed by 1 barrow of screened topsoil, then another 125 litre MPC, another barrow of screened topsoil, 50 litres of my dads finest Manure (screened again) and then finished with 1 more 125 litre bag of MPC :-









I also picked up a couple of reduced Chilli plants as well today (reduced because they couldn't bother to water them ! ... Oh well, their loss, my gain ) :-



My current Polytunnel Chilli dwellers (well, some of them ) :-



Just need to sort of the hanging Strawberry planter now to complete the planter project, I will need to get my jigsaw out for what I need to do.

Sorry for boring you all again

 

The pallet planter.... What will be grown in it ? I'm not sure myself yet , Though I'm sure I'll find something. it will also come in handy for over wintering plants, as I can fix a fleece over the top rail and fix it down ..... Though I should have plenty of room in the tunnel anyway :D

I did think of growing some salad crops in the planter.... It's 8' long x 2'6 wide, so a fair size , + I can always get more from where I got it from... What you do not see also, is that it came with a lid also.