Allotment: Woo Hoooo!!! :) :) :)

[GillyBee]

At this time of year there is so little light that combined with the cold weather most things will either die or just sit there until it warms up. Having said that there are some planting jobs traditionaly done in December/January.
Onion seed is traditionally started indoors on Boxing day and planted out once things warm up a bit in March.
Garlic cloves can be planted up until December. I am sure I heard a saying for these "Plant on the shortest day and harvest on the longest day of the year". Fellow gardeners may be able to confirm the saying
Early peas will germinate as low as 4C but benefit from a cloche to protect the seedlings from wind. Only worthwile on well drained soil and a sheltered location if you are sowing early. Otherwise you need to start indoors or wait until Feb/March. Early varieties could possibly be sown in January direct on the plot assuming it is not a frozen tundra. I managed this one year and ate peas in June but it is a risk and you may need to start all over again if they fail.
Likewise you might be able to plant rhubarb roots now. You could also plant other bare root fruit plants as long as the ground is not frozen such as raspberries.

[jennyjj01]

At this time of year there is so little light that combined with the cold weather most things will either die or just sit there until it warms up. Having said that there are some planting jobs traditionaly done in December/January.
Onion seed is traditionally started indoors on Boxing day and planted out once things warm up a bit in March.
Garlic cloves can be planted up until December. I am sure I heard a saying for these "Plant on the shortest day and harvest on the longest day of the year". Fellow gardeners may be able to confirm the saying
Early peas will germinate as low as 4C but benefit from a cloche to protect the seedlings from wind. Only worthwile on well drained soil and a sheltered location if you are sowing early. Otherwise you need to start indoors or wait until Feb/March. Early varieties could possibly be sown in January direct on the plot assuming it is not a frozen tundra. I managed this one year and ate peas in June but it is a risk and you may need to start all over again if they fail.
Likewise you might be able to plant rhubarb roots now. You could also plant other bare root fruit plants as long as the ground is not frozen such as raspberries.

Thanks,
I have quite a lot of onion and pea seeds. Never had success with the onions except from sets.
That's it then. a few onion, pea and garlic in the kitchen window. I did manage to get a few peas growing in my raised beds last month.
The plot IS a frozen tundra right now. Not sheltered. It's in a clearing in a little copse, with a few low trees around just to take the wind off. WANT ME KEYS!!!!!! NOW!!!!!

[ForgeCorvus]

Jenny's Crimbo list
Fruit trees
B&Q's December's waste cardboard
Big wheel barrow
Choppy hoe thingee
Rhubarb crowns
Truckload of pallets
Small wheel barrow
Mr J to stop 'looking a her like that'

[Arzosah]

This is going to be good

And remember the garlic!

[jennyjj01]

This is going to be good

And remember the garlic!

Are you having a dig?

'Dig' Geddit?
Mr J thinks I've lost the plot. Lost the 'plot'
He's hidden his tools in anticipation.

[Arzosah]

This is going to be good

And remember the garlic!

Are you having a dig?

'Dig' Geddit?
Mr J thinks I've lost the plot. Lost the 'plot'
He's hidden his tools in anticipation.

I said it was going to be good, and those are excellent

[jennyjj01]

Minor dilemma...
There's a place locally with horse muck and straw offered free. Sounds handy.

I've read that some types of pasture treatments ( Grazon ) might be herbicidal and remain in compost made from the horse muck. Should I ask the offerrer and risk upsetting them, or is the problem overblown. Or is it detectable and fixable?

Second part of the dilemma is won't this poop take too long to be useful in 2023? If I get it and dig it in, would it render the soil ungrowable-in-able for this season? I.e. How best should I work this opportunity, or should I walk away.

[edit footnote]
OMG That Grazon herbicide is evil!
Blagged horse poo from horses that have eaten grass or hay that's been sprayed with grazon can persist in compost for multiple years. Straight through digestive systems, and from crop to soil to crop ad nauseum. It looks almost unfixable and you might as well mix polonium in your soil. Darned INDUSTRIAL WASTE.
Imagine a load of such poop shared out by an allotment association.

[ForgeCorvus]

I've friends who still curse the 'free' hossmuck they were given, you're fine if all you want to grow are grasses but anything else is not good.

There a big turn away from that sort of mono-genus feed now that people realise that proper meadow hay contains the "Weeds" (that Grazon prevents) that provide most of those pesky nutrients that you have to otherwise give as suppliments.

Never be afraid to ask about what you're getting, if they take offence you're no worse off then before

[jennyjj01]

I've friends who still curse the 'free' hossmuck they were given, you're fine if all you want to grow are grasses but anything else is not good.

There a big turn away from that sort of mono-genus feed now that people realise that proper meadow hay contains the "Weeds" (that Grazon prevents) that provide most of those pesky nutrients that you have to otherwise give as suppliments.

Never be afraid to ask about what you're getting, if they take offence you're no worse off then before

I've decided that I'll be asking and sounding out the garden association, and trying to test it with a few pea seeds indoors ASAP.
Also to prevent me ruining whatever land I get, I'd use it sparingly in buckets and raised beds.

For all I know, the plot they give me might already be contaminated with that, blight, onion rot and god knows what else. So isolated growing containers might be the best way to start.

[jansman]

Allotments! What friendship! I have an African chap working here on the ward I am in,and he has a local allotment that he grows his favourite African food on! We have swapped photos and addresses and will swap suitable seeds when suitable!