Anyone with an allotment?

The overarching storyline should be a bunch of developers want to turn the allotments into luxury apartments for the rich and famous. They’ve got stooges planted in the council but the allotment holders find that when they put their differences aside and unite, they’re a force to be reckoned with.

there's a recent GQT which is an entire episode about ponds
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m001vsn5
My takeaways are I need a combination of submerged oxygenating plants and shade plants such as dwarf waterlillys which will prevent algae bloom and blanket weed. Also try to position out of the sun, or at least plant around it for the same reason, Surrounding planting like bullrushes will help provide somewhere for the frogs to hide and dragonflies to lay eggs. Don't put fish in it as they eat the dragonfly larvae and their waste encourages conditions for algae. Some dragonflies will lay eggs on the underside of the waterlillies or on rotting wood so add some of that. We also have great crested newts on our allotment so a sturdy stick/log in the water will help them get in and out. And don't change the water, just top it up as needed from your rain water butt.

I picked up a free pond mould on FB marketplace y'day, 1.3m by 0.9m, kinda kidney shaped. Worth looking out for because they're already stepped for both submerged and semi-submerged plants etc. I'm planning to dig out the hole and bed the pond mould in on builder's sand so it's well supported all around.

Finally got a boat load of card board to put down. What can I get in the ground this weekend?

I’ve got ;
Onions and broad beans so far

Garlic?

Also try to position out of the sun

Are you sure you got that right?

I listened to it too, and I'm pretty sure they specified sun. Also that tubby bearded guy on YouTube always says you need sun.

I have a pond. I inherited it and have done nothing of particular note to it. In spring and summer it gets about 6 hours sun, in late autumn and winter nearly none.

It is too small really, and can dry out in hot periods if I don't water it. Or maybe it just has a leak. It's about half the size lengthways and half the depth of a bath.

It supports countless frogs and toads, and is full of gardeners garters and water iris, which flower every year without me needing to do anything.

It does fill up with stuff - roots, dead leaves, etc, but not algae as far as I can tell. But you don't even notice the water clarity as it's full of plants. In fact, not many people even notice that it's a pond at all.

Occasionally I add organic mosquito control as, although I have no evidence, I sometimes suspect mosquitoes breed in it.

It is brilliant and adds so much to the garden for zero effort. Get one and don't overthink it

Another reason not to add fish is it allows newts to use the pond for spawning, and there are seeing a reduction in habitat so it's a positive thing to do.

Last year I managed to propogate chilli and tomato seeds in freezer bags with wet kitchen towel before plantign them in compost.

I was planning on doing simialr again this year but was advised to do it with old takeaway boxes with the lids on as they're stackable on the windowsill.

I was going to start with the French beans, runner beans and a few chilli seeds. Once i get some garlic I'll get that planted outside.

Any obvious downsides to this?

Also got garlic in. Put some leeks in, in August which should be ready soon

Thinking of direct sowing some peas over the weekend based on it looking like it’ll stay around 12°c from next week.
Bit early or worth a punt? I’m not a massive fan of broad beans which I know are an early favourite..

Cheers that’s really helpful! Based on this I’ve completely rethought where I’m going to put it. I was going to make a feature of it but now I’m going to keep it inconspicuous in a corner. Thanks!

@andyp yep hoping for newts :)

Oh maybe you’re right, ha.

Right, so enough sun for the oxygenating plants but not so much that it dries out or encourages algae I guess.

Kinda immaterial for me as my plot is fairly sunny, at least until my fruit trees get established

Just got to check they’re a hardy variety. Kelverdon Wonder have overwintered nicely for me

Thanks everybody for chiming in with pond chat. @freddo Yeah it was that GQT that prompted my first question but when the guy said 'ideally 1 metre deep' it got me thinking what the limits an allotment would permit. Once my kid outgrows the ridiculous climbing thing we bought in lockdown, the plan is to replace with a proper pond at home but that won't be for a few more years, just discussing it causes mild trauma.
Our plot is aligned north/south with some hedge in the SW corner which should provide the right balance of sun, shade and protection from footfall. I can take a plants from our trough at home to get it started but we sadly don't have a waterbutt because no sheds or permanent structures are allowed. Like most things up there, I think it will be a learning process and naturally evolve into something that is self sustaining.

20 summers ago an old boy shouted out over to me “put your ruddy shirt on !”

If I did it now I’d be that old boy .

I’ll be shirtless as soon as possible. It’s my main source of vitamin d these days 😅😅
The worst we’ve had in person is the site rep who’s a lovely retired lady(classic CofE cake stall type) asking Lizzie if she has enough sun cream on while sunbathing.

The allotment King on our site has a penchant for speedos and wellies in the summer, trouble is, due to his substantial gut it does make him look like he’s trotting around in the buff :/

Would anyone like a few okra seeds?

Some days I regret swapping my van for a dad wagon.

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Great find. They’ll keep you in raised beds for years

First earlies went in today along with some beans inbetween the rows of spuds.
Got 2-3 beds dug over ready for planting and pretty sure every bed has been given a dose of manure now.
Sowed some leeks and cucs in the shed.
Pretty much ready for spring :)

Went to local bike shop last week and got a boat load of cardboard. Which I’ve arranged in beds for the next crops. Hopefully go back for more this week to cover the paths.

I was surprised how quickly a thick layer of cardboard under a thin layer of soil + tarp rotted into nothingness. Dug in smooth today.

First earlies in the ground?!?

Heck yes. Half now, half in a couple of weeks. They’re in a really sheltered bed that gets the best morning and afternoon sun and protected from the wind. They’ll be a’ight.
I like to live dangerously.

raised beds for years…

I did go a bit plank mad, managed to get five 13’x 4.3’ beds in today but have enough wood for the same again… felt like a productive day.

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