Anyone with an allotment?

Merged threads :)

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And then we would have hundred of threads on the same topic and virtually no engagement with any.

Whereas those who have interacted with a thread will see it on their Following page, maybe be notified depending on their settings, and it becomes more obvious to those browsing which topics are popular, and it's obvious when searching which thread is the best to reply to for a given topic.

Some forums do the "never reply to an old, start a new", we do the "if there's an appropriate thread reply there first rather than start a new one".

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Runnerbloodybeans . I don't normally grow them but I did this year as a screen more than anything else.

About 9 feet high.

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Now I have the perennial 'surplus' . I've frozen enough for months and have no more freezer space.
Had a word with the Trussel Trust but the local food bank can't accept fresh vegetables so now I'm lumbered with 2 carrier bags of the buggers and there will be more ...

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Pretty though.

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Sell them on your doorstep? We have a steady stream of veg (and plants) from the house across the street from us as they have an allotment and very green fingers. Enough raspberries in the freezer for many winter crumbles.

But I invested in a great little gadget to string and slice them- the Krisk Bean Slicer.

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I don't think I could sell them around here - might just do what some people do and leave them out by the gate with a note - "Organic Runnerbeans -help yourself ".

Got one of those little shredders, just the job!

Put them out with a 'free / small donations (monetary, not any other kind!) always appreciated' note. Works for people round (Oxfordshire) here :-)

Very forgiving plants, runner beans. I've ended up with loads despite the broad beans being a complete failure this year.

Yes I'll put them out for free - I think a monetary donation may go quicker than the beans around here :)

I got an allotment in Leyton a few months ago. Getting to grips with it. Not been a total success. Runner been have done well, as have onions and tomatoes, although a few got blight. Planted two beds of asparagus which I can't touch for about another 18 months, and strawberries (which have been ok but not as productive as I'd hoped). Also got some rhubarb on the go, horseradish and a few fruit bushes. also got a fig tree which started to produce figs but to no avail . It's only a half plot but that's big enough for me and it's nice to go there at the weekend and potter about for a couple of hours. At 27 quid a year it's hardly going to break the bank either.

They certainly are forgiving. Created a 9 ft hedge/screen on the NW facing 'Shooters Hill slopes'.
Puts my neighbouring plot's crops in the shade a bit (in both senses).

Ah...

Excellent - takes a while to see how things go.
Keep that asparagus well weeded and keep an eye on that horseradish - likes to roam.
27 quid is very good for London - My 5 rods cost £100 a year (Greenwich Council).

It's my favourite bit of the year -
the first lot of tomatoes of the season are just ready now.

Over the past couple of years I've settled on the following method:

• grow in a polytunnel with the doors taken off, seems to give the right balance of protection / ventilation, and stays blight free (so far)
  
• pinch out side stems but I don't bother cutting the growing tip, I just let them carry on
  
• give them a good soak once or twice a week
  
• feed a bit after the first lot of fruit sets, but only a couple of times during season
  
  

I've heard that cutting back on the watering a bit gives the best flavour. This does seem true to some extent as following the above regime gives hands down the richest flavoured, least watery tomatoes I've ever tasted, even if the tomatoes are a bit smaller. The old variety 'Ailsa Craig' always works best for me. I've tried a few fancy / 'heirloom' types but AC still gives the best results.

Runnerbloodybeans ...

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All gone - better get picking again today and replenish.

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So, taking possession of an allotment this weekend, and have no idea what I should be doing (my OH's the keener gardener.) Any resources/tips? (Other than talk to your fellow-allotmenteers and ask for advice, I guess?)

Never ask for advice, just get digging and planting! You'll get plenty of 'tips' then alright...

What sort of condition is it in?

If it's overgrown and needs digging over, get cracking now as long as the weather's dry. If it's already cleared then spread a load of horse muck on it.

Not 100% sure - will find out tomorrow when I pick up keys etc. It should be in a reasonable state AFAIK - apparently the previous plot holders left about a month ago in a bit of a huff, but it was fairly well-tended up until then.