allotment plan

[loopy lou]

well, what with all the snow i have decided i will try and get my crop rotation plan together for my lottie as i cant get down there to dig. i havent even got my parsnips up yet and goodness knows how my cabbages and swede are doing. i use the four bed system and have two dedicated other areas for fruit plus my asparagus. does anyone have any top tips - i plot mine on a piece of A4 paper and its a crumpled mess by mid season


Loopy

[Marley Farley]

Hi Loopy I just have mine listed on a spread sheet, but a friend was saying there is an excellent assortment of document, spreadsheet templates & much more free with google.. Have a wander through & have a look I think she was going to adapt one of their spread sheet templates.. Hope that helps..

[loopy lou]

thanks marley i will have a search about. i cant get my head round how you can place the crops in a spreadsheet though and i have split my plot (5 perch) into 4 equal squares and then i plant in rows that are then not too long. i do have a long row of stuff - just my preference

Loopy

[NatalieB]

Thanks for this thread LoopyLou - we had our allotment last year for the first time, but didn't really get any planning time, so this is a good time of year to get to work on that. Find anything good - report back please? Will do the same.

[loopy lou]

well i have had a scout about and decided its going to be the same as last year for my lottie plan

a piece of paper and a pencil and i will take a couple of copies, just in case! i did this last year and it worked and kept me on track with the planting and planning. i keep a copy on my lottie shed wall and a copy in my handbag!


Loopy

[loopy lou]

hooray!!! i have found last years plan so i do not have to rack my addled brains to remember what i planted where

now for some graph paper and i will be away

loopy

[wiseone]

Has anyone else tried growveg.com's software? http://www.growveg.com/demo.aspx You get a free months trial and then if you like it you pay 15 quid for a years subscription. i had planned to use it free and print it off but changed it quite a few times so decided to subscribe. Its not perfect but found it useful when plannning a brand new veg plot. Also give you calendar of sowing and planting times for whatever you've chosen and companion guidance etc. My kids loved playing with it as well , designing their imaginary gardens!

[loopy lou]

a good link but i am on such a low budget i would rather spend the fifteen quid on a bit of kit or some seeds

a pencil and paper for me

loopy

[NatalieB]

don't forget an eraser as well!

[loopy lou]

mmmm yes - pass the rubber (eraser) please!

Loopy

[NatalieB]

Hey Loopy, have you come up with any kind of a plan for your allotment yet? It's time for me to start thinking of mine.......and wondering if you've done the work yet

[loopy lou]

i have done a bit on paper - i am very behind this year and still have to get seeds but as its my birthday soon i am hoping that the garden and lottie will benefit by my pressies!

i do need to change my variety of french bean though cos last years were flat and i didnt like them so much lol

Loopy

[NatalieB]

then don't sit on them after harvesting!!!!!

You've done more than me Loopy - haven't started yet planning the allotment.

[Tim D]

This looks like it could become a very useful thread - I got an allottment last year which I am sharing with a friend and we are just about to sit down and start making a plans for it.

We have some seeds, but need to work out what we have between us and when it needs to be planted and what else we need to get. Any suggestions would be great.

[loopy lou]

i have now sorted my plan and done crop rotate! i have written a list of seeds i need (wilco's methinks) i have some already and a friend sent me some for my birthday - yummy mummy that she is. i also need potato and onions

i intend to go there today with my first young man volunteer!

loopy

[loopy lou]

this is the crop rotation advice i am using - 4 bed

http://www.gardeningdata.co.uk/veget...p_rotation.php

loopy

[NewbieGreen]

Originally Posted by loopy lou

a good link but i am on such a low budget i would rather spend the fifteen quid on a bit of kit or some seeds

a pencil and paper for me

loopy

Well there is nothing cheaper than a google docs spreadsheet!

1 sheet can be your graph paper, then other sheets can store dates etc for each.....

[Tim D]

I am hoping to get up to the allottment a few times this week.

Unfortunately Isabel, my 3 year old was in a car crash a week ago last thursday and was in Kings College hospital, London for 5 days due to the serious head injuries. Thankfully she was recovering well and was able to come home last Tuesday and the consultants do not expect there to be any long term effects. Still its going to take a long time for a full recovery. Amanda, my wife, was driving the car and is finding things very difficult to come to terms with it - she really blames herself for it all. Emily, 5, was also in the car and had no injuries whatsoever and went to stay with Grandma & Granddad till Isabel came home.

With that and me doing 14 hour days travelling to Kings and back with Amanda staying over night the allottment has been put on hold, but Amanda suggested us going up one afternoon this week and I could pick Emily up after school which is just down the road. Both girls are desperate to do some planting in my "other garden".

[boebrummie]

just what i was looking for, is it possible any of you could show some of your crop rotation plans.just to help others make a plan. expecially me lol.
thanks

[Stingo]

Yes I agree, i too have an allotment but it's quite an iregular shape, I am finding it difficult getting my head around where to put things, if it was path down the middle and rows either side I'd be okay!!

I might check out that growveg software.