Newbie with a new plot

Hello to everyone,
My name is Jymi and I'm in rural Gloucestershire.
I've joined this forum today hoping to share my growing ups and downs.
We took on a half sized allotment in mid May. Although that was late, we quickly prepared a section of it, and put runner beans in. They've been a bit slow and I've only got a couple of them to the top of their sticks. I've now put purple sprouting, savoy cabbage, beetroot, carrots, tomatoes. They are all doing well in the clay soil. I did dig in manure for the non root veg. It was just f'b' bone for them..
We've now taken on the adjacent half plot too, so that will take some clearing, and i may put mustard green manure seeds onto that area, ready to put spuds there next spring.
I look forward to any advise that the forum offers... Although I'm 63 and 3/4, i believe there are always things to learn in gardening.
I netted some lovely red kale plants with scaffold fine net and yesterday i found two green caterpillars on one of them. Grrr! How did that flutterby get in??
Oh well ill nip down later and check for any more,
Regards to all ☺

 

Hi @Jymi riddler , sorry can't offer any allotment advice only a very warm

 

Hi,

Sounds like you are doing everything right !

Just do not overdo it getting the second plot in order, slow and steady to avoid the backaches etc.

 

Thanks ricky, yes we did go in hard and fast on the first half.
I wanted some veg this year and i think we'll do ok.
The second half plot will be a more relaxed approach.
The only real menace I've encountered so far has been slugs on some of the brassicas. I'm trying a garlic clove spray as a deterrent and a bit of English table mustard on the stems to see if that works (i tried mustard near a snail and it avoided it like i avoid covid 19)
I really want an organic solution if at all possible!
Any other advise to limit slugs would be appreciated but i won't use beer.. I like to drink the beer myself.

 

Hi,

Well Mustard is a new one on us, though cannot see why not, will have to give it a try.

Have used home brewed Garlic spray before but only on Hostas already attacked by slugs so it was difficult to prove how effective it was.

The thin Copper Tape really does work well, used around pots is very effective and on the stems and canes of runner beans.

Our Strawberries were almost slug free this year thanks to several Frogs that have taken residence in our small pond. Often found them in there when picking the strawbs, not sure who was more surprised !

Perhaps you could sink a builders tub/trug into the ground with some small logs or thin branches for them to climb out from. Know some places do not allow normal ponds, but you could easily disguise the top of the tub.

 

Yes!
They do allow ponds on our site. I reckon that's the way forward.
The essential Frogs, with an added bonus of dragon flies etc. I really do like that, I'll have to put it to Mrs riddler to see if she agrees!
Thanks for the tip.

 

Welcome to Gardeners Corner Jymi.

 

Cheers Sheal
Gardening has been a life saver these past months mate.

 

Yes, it's the only place we can ignore what's going on further afield.