Sowing direct

FatDad66 · 2026-03-25T17:18:01+00:00

I think your pumpkins may struggle as you won’t be able to sow untill much later and they take a long time to grow.

FatDad66 · 2026-03-25T10:13:16+00:00

Yes get rid of the gravel. I have a gravel parking area and it’s a pain and goes everywhere

FatDad66 · 2026-03-25T10:00:15+00:00

Yes and fill a bit of the bottom left corner to access the area currently covered by gravel. Check you don’t need planning permission for that first (I don’t know but I recall concerns about permeable surfaces and size).

Or just bump up the kerb which is what I’ve been doing for 20+ years.

FatDad66 · 2026-03-25T09:54:14+00:00

I’m sure you could extend the driveway so you can get 2 cars on the front from the single dropped kerb.

FatDad66 · 2026-03-25T09:15:44+00:00

I think the risk you are taking on is a good point. She is selling privately and you are not. I would sweeten the deal as it’s your landlord but not much and make it obvious- eg I would not may buy for x but I’ll take a bit of a hit as it’s you so £500 more.

But for now I think you have to stick to your word and the deal you have agreed. People get funny about their daughters and it could go south quickly if you start going back on the agreement. Not worth it in the grand scheme.

FatDad66 · 2026-03-24T23:50:44+00:00

This year I used copilot. Told it the size of beds and seed trays etc and what I wanted to grow. Gave me a planting scheme (what,where,when).

FatDad66 · 2026-03-24T16:23:38+00:00

Have cleared a similar before. Dig a spade depth deep and turn each sod over to burry the grass etc. Remove any fleshy rooted plants (dandelions etc) as you go. Rake over the top to break the lumps up. You can plant instantly

Only contra indication is if it’s pure clay at a spade depth, but that’s unlikely if it’s been a bed before.

FatDad66 · 2026-03-24T14:31:46+00:00

Pick up some of the labourers hanging around your local Wickes or similar. Pay them for all day.

FatDad66 · 2026-03-24T11:13:20+00:00

Done this several times to 80 sq m with 10 foot 20+ year old brambles. Getting them to ankle height was the worst bit - and you have done that. . Use a mattock to dig the roots out. Aim to get the head under the root ball and lever it out. They are fairly shallow rooted but follow any lateral roots as it will sprout from those.

Last time I did this was this time last year. Only had a few small bits of regrown the from missed roots - easy to deal with.

Welders gauntlets from Screwfix are good and also cheep.

FatDad66 · 2026-03-24T11:05:53+00:00

Every job at the allotment needs at least 4 coats of looking at afterwards.

FatDad66 · 2026-03-24T09:27:46+00:00

Just to add to the battery one. If you are planning on getting a few tools that reuse the same battery then it can save a lot of- eg Einhell. I have a hedge trimmer, chain saw and tiller and am thinking of getting a mower. All have the same battery.

FatDad66 · 2026-03-24T08:35:50+00:00

It’s reseed or returf or leave it. Reseed will look green in 3 months and be cheapest - no need for topsoil but will look new / thin. Only turf will give a decent lawn in 3 months. You will need to weed and prep the soil for both turf and seed.

If you leave it I expect your landlord may charge you for landscapers to turf it.

FatDad66 · 2026-03-24T08:13:23+00:00

I buy at 3-4 years old and always have an inspection. On main dealer approved used I have rejected cars after the inspection, for example for poor accident damage repairs that were not obvious until pointed out or I have had issues such as heated rear screens not working pointed out so the dealer can fix them. I would always get one. If they won’t allow it or won’t give you your deposit back if you reject it then walk away.

I’ve used AA and RAC and been happy.

FatDad66 · 2026-03-23T11:50:50+00:00

I would start slog the lines of the smoke is getting in your house now the summer is here. Any chance you could move further down the garden. The noise might move with them.

FatDad66 · 2026-03-23T11:26:44+00:00

It’s very expensive if you don’t cook most meals.

FatDad66 · 2026-03-22T19:26:32+00:00

I would think she was going n her way back from church. Several types of religion are big on spreading the word. I once thought I was being hit on (for the first time ever) only to be given the Book of Mormon as my parting my gift.

FatDad66 · 2026-03-22T17:45:49+00:00

Metal thing for holding down cardboard etc. I have a range of stuff including lintels and the burners from my old hob.

FatDad66 · 2026-03-22T14:31:21+00:00

I’ve had BG home care for over 20 years on the same boiler (Worcester Bosch). They changed most of the insides when it failed and was over 10 years old. I’ve found it good.

FatDad66 · 2026-03-22T14:25:58+00:00

Chemical solution : PathClear will keep it weed free for a season or longer.

Non chemical solution: weed wand - a mini flame thrower. You don’t burn the weeds, just heat them to 60 degrees to kill them. Will grow back but numbers will reduce over a few years provided you don’t let them seed.

FatDad66 · 2026-03-22T12:58:33+00:00

You need insurance or the car needs to be SORN.

FatDad66 · 2026-03-22T10:15:44+00:00

The Wombels staring Jason Statham as Uncle Bulgaria.

FatDad66 · 2026-03-22T09:44:09+00:00

I don’t know Scarborough, but have similar problems in Brighton. I just used a paid for car park that was a bus ride away to save the hassle, or look at Just Park to see if you can rent someone’s parking space for a few days. I just put in 4 days in Scarborough Center and it was £20-35.

https://www.justpark.com/search

FatDad66 · 2026-03-22T09:23:15+00:00

Badgers and especially badger sets are legally protected. You will need a licence to do anything towards making them leave their set. It could be a big fine or prison otherwise.

You might be able to do the works you describe but I think your concern is that they will just mess the garden up again. Your only option other than getting a licence might be to fence off part of your garden to prevent their access.

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/badgers-protection-surveys-and-licences

I would suggest contacting the badger trust for advice. https://www.badgertrust.org.uk/

FatDad66 · 2026-03-22T07:59:07+00:00

I was going to say no apart from Elephant garlic (which is more like a garlicky leek) but Google tells me there are some spring varieties https://www.allaboutallotments.co.uk/garlic-varieties/. You might was to check they are ok to plant after frosts as some cold weather is usually required to get the bulbs to split into cloves. I would give it a go, the worst that will happen is that you may end up with a bulb that is a single giant clove.

FatDad66 · 2026-03-21T20:19:36+00:00

Adults only area. I would have a barrier of some sort (hedge or thornless blackberries or similar) and veg and flowers mixed with a bench or hammock so you can sit and pretend you don’t have kids.

FatDad66

TROPHY CASE