What are you planning to grow 2016.

[Briggs 2.0]

I'm planning on growing spuds, carrots, spuds, broccoli and even more spuds in some grow beds I'm about to fashion from some IBCs.

And more spuds.

[Decaff]

I'm planning on growing spuds, carrots, spuds, broccoli and even more spuds in some grow beds I'm about to fashion from some IBCs.

And more spuds.

A spud lover per chance?? I'm hoping to do tomatoes, on the window cill in the living room, as long as the mogsplosh leaves them alone!

[Briggs 2.0]

I'm planning on growing spuds, carrots, spuds, broccoli and even more spuds in some grow beds I'm about to fashion from some IBCs.

And more spuds.

A spud lover per chance?? I'm hoping to do tomatoes, on the window cill in the living room, as long as the mogsplosh leaves them alone!

Did I mention spuds?

It was peeing down and blowing a gale today so I didn't get to cut up and paint the IBCs. I have worked out what I'm going to do with them though so I should end up with 5 sq metres of raised bed growing room. (4 sq m for spuds if I get my way). The big question is whether I try aquaponics, I'm doing a bit of research and I'm 50/50 whether to or not. I just found this on the Intertube.....this is a neat and tidy idea for the grow bed's siphon.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a6oIQURRWlI

The main reason I'm deliberating over the aquaponics is because as far as I know, root veggies don't work well and potatoes and carrots are a complete no-starter as they will rot.

[featherstick]

I was up the allotment the other day, digging over some of the raised beds I put in two years ago.

All of them were full of weed root, even if the surface of the soil was relatively clear. The roots grow in from the paths at the side, so any fertility you add to the bed clearly goes on feeding weeds in the paths. I took the straw off the strawberry beds and dug out roots that were over 4 feet long and 1/4 inch thick....your crop hasn't a chance in those circumstances.

So now I'm considering ripping some of the beds out again and going back to an open plan method, with temporary paths. Also a decision prompted by the fact that the scaff boards I was given for the beds have almost all rotted through (I should have spent much more time and a bit more money treating them).

The problem is, the raised beds were a solution to the lack of topsoil on the overall plot and the need to import masses of biomatter and fertility.

Decisions, decisions....sheesh.

[Brambles]

The old boy across from me went all out putting in beds, as did someone a little way down they took them out last year for the same reason. I think it's difficult with allotments as you have much less control than you would in the garden.

[Decaff]

My youngest sister is moving home today from a flat to a bungalow, which has a nice size garden, a good size shed and a small summerhouse..... Ive already raved at how great it would be to grow vegetables and maybe a couple of fruit trees!!!!!!! Her other half seemed keen to learn more!!

[Briggs 2.0]

I've taken the saw to some of the IBC tubs I bought and made two aquaponic-ready tubs which are split 66/33 fish/growbed but I'm still not entirely convinced I want the faff of trying aquaponics, it looks a real pain for not much gain, but ask me tomorrow and I'll be all positive. I suppose the only way to know is try it and see. Is anyone else experimenting and succeeding with aquaponics?

If I do experiment, it will be trout and peas and broccoli I go for first.

[Decaff]

I chased up on my waiting place for an allotment and after a long chat with the really nice bloke in charge he said as I had chased up and seemed keen he would "see if he could hurry things along" for me, he asked for my address to drop off a key to the gate! I'm hopeful that it won't be too much longer before I can get my hands in the soil

[Hedgie]

I have been allocated an allotment in our village. Over the Moon .
Its roughly 5m x 20m with an existing fruit cage full of lovely currents and gooseberries - the chap who had the allotment before me has passed them on to me - yay.
We put the shed up this weekend and I am soooo looking forward to digging over and planning what to plant.
At the moment its going to be:-
Potatoes, Beans - broad and runner, Carrots, Parsnips, Marrow, Beetroot, Tomatoes. There is a raised bed already there so will probably put some salad stuff in there as well.
I would plant peas, but knowing my lot, they'd never make it to the dinner table.

[Brambles]

Coongrats Hedgie!

Like Jansman I'm pricking out the Peppers and Chillies and sowing tomatoes. Want to sow the Celeriac and leeks too.