Reflecting on week one on the allotment

So today, Monday marks one week since I signed the tenancy on our new allotment and also one week since I started this blog.  It’s only been a week however I feel part of gardening is taking time to reflect. It can’t all be work work work!  This is what I’ve discovered so far.

The plot has been given up only this year by the previous tenant.  Despite this said tenant decided he wanted to keep the crops which have been planted.  As a result, we have had to work around these “crops”.  As far as I can tell this consists of 10 withered cabbages and some rows of potatoes which haven’t seen a drop of water in over a month!  We have had to work around these “crops” but despite this we have made good progress.

The main beds had not been touched in months and had a fair crop of dandelions and a plentiful supply of mare’s tail.  The fact that we had such a blank canvass gave us a decision to make as to how to approach the land in terms of growing.  We decided that the best way forward would be to grow in rows in large open beds.  The plan in to sown 6-foot rows in blocks of 6 rows and let paths naturally occur as a result of walking around the beds to tend crops.  By Wednesday we had the first 12 x 24 feet clear of weeds and made a small row of lettuce which we were lucky enough to germinate with the first seedlings coming through today!

Once the first bed was cleared 2 water butts were placed for ease of watering.  All watering has to be done by watering can and hoses can only be used to fill the water butts.  Thursday gave us some much-needed rain and optimism that we might actually get crops on the go this season and Friday brought us good news in that we were offered the plot next to us.  As allotment we are very lucky with what we have inherited.  We have a shed with some usable material in it including cloche loops, nets, canes etc which were hidden among a plethora of broken tools.  We have inherited a greenhouse which is sturdy however needs the odd repair.  I’m confident that by the new growing season it will be in fine order.  Unfortunately, there are a good many skeletons of fruit bushes which were planted then left to dry out and die.  On a positive note we are privileged to have 2 apple trees, 3 plum trees and a very healthy recurrent bush.  All in all, a great start for any gardener with a passion for fruit.  

Today with the soil moist and the weather calmer than the last couple of days we finally managed to get on with some sowing.  We managed to sow mixed lettuce, spinach, rocked, radish lamb’s lettuce which will hopefully give us some food before the end of summer. 

The longest session on the allotment so far has been about 3 hours.  As it is still very early days we didn’t want the children to be overwhelmed by the task.  At 2, 4 & 6 years of age they have all amazed us with how much they have got stuck in.  there’s no two ways about it that the allotment has improved their life.  They get up in the morning and can’t wait to get started, graft until lunchtime and have monster appetites as a result of all the fresh air and exercise.  Although we don’t have a television we have allowed the kids to watch Gardeners World which they adore.  By easing them into the allotment and beginning the lifelong learning process of becoming a gardener I feel confident we are giving the something valuable which they will have forever. 

This week has been hard work but rewarding beyond belief and the start of a fantastic adventure for me and my little family.