~ WORLDWIDE Vegetable Allotments ~ REVIVAL of last years thread ~

[Hattie the Hen]

I have tried the terracotta strawberry pots but although they look pretty they are very expensive & far too small for the number of plants I want. They are also too perfect a height for my chickens to ignore......!! Most of my birds are free-ranging round my garden !
Anyway I need a very tall feature amongst my raised beds--a focal point!

:rose Hattie :rose

 

[boggybranch]

After thinking about this method for a bit....sounds like it would be perfect for growing herbs.......course, wouldn't have to be that big.

 

[Hattie the Hen]

I thought you might be interested in this link as it through them that a lot of our newer generations of gardeners have come to allotment gardening. I have been a visitor to their gardens for years -- it was there I learned about composting!

http://www.gardenorganic.org.uk/

They have a wonderful Heritage seed library & if you belong to the organisation you can get certain seeds from there.

I have also remembered a real little treasure of an allotment blog which is into it's 10th year; it is actually a diary with photos.

http://www.saundersallotment.co.uk/Diary 2010.html



:rose Hattie :rose

 

[boggybranch]

Great sites, as usual, Hattie,

Have put the Saunders allotment site on my desktop as there is soooo much to explore on and through it.

Do wish there was a place such as Ryton, around here.

On the 2000 Saunders diary, the allotments had 4 shed-break ins. It was mentioned that, in an effort to deter break ins, the tops of the fence was painted with "anti-vandal paint". Never heard of such.....What is it and how does it deter vandals? (if you know)

 

[boggybranch]

.......and, I swear, the more I see how well the "raised" beds look on all these allotments is making me, really, lean to doing the same with my garden.

 

[Hattie the Hen]

Right, anti-vandal paint..........

http://www.protectingyourself.co.uk/using-anti-vandal-paint-other-methods.html

http://www.gardenlaw.co.uk/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?p=8011&

http://www.surveillanceforsecurity.com/anti-burglar-paint.html

It is often used over here!


:rose Hattie :rose

 

[boggybranch]

Yesssss sir.....gotta worry 'bout the thugs and thieves hurting themselves while trying to steal and damage your stuff. (same, stupid legal thought process, over here).

 

[Ladyhawke1]

I have tried the terracotta strawberry pots but although they look pretty they are very expensive & far too small for the number of plants I want. They are also too perfect a height for my chickens to ignore......!! Most of my birds are free-ranging round my garden !
Anyway I need a very tall feature amongst my raised beds--a focal point!

:rose Hattie :rose

Hey Hattie, what about this?

[/img]

This is when I first planted it and after it grew out a bit. I protected it with beautiful chicken wire. What a contradiction.

My girls are big butts, eight to ten pounds and they kept trying to jump up to get the alyssum. I planted petunias, alyssum and on top in the middle, I planted parsley and dill to attract butterflies. :bee

 

[boggybranch]

You know...if you planted something in the bottom that chickens found "distasteful" (if such a thing exists), they just might leave it alone.

Just a thought, coming from someone who, usually, thinks thoughts that are about 8 degrees off center. LOL

Sure does look nice..... though, I know you're not happy about the chicken wire.

 

[Hattie the Hen]

Hi Ladyhawke

I like the tower arrangement but I don't think the chicken-wire would keep my tall Dorking boys out -- not if they saw nice red strawberries -- they would regard it as a challenge........ I think I am going to have to eat some of them -- maybe Roast Chicken followed by Strawberries.......


:rose Hattie :rose