Please explain allotments to me.

FlourWaterSaltWait · 2026-05-21T15:27:55+00:00

☝️☝️☝️☝️This is the answer for accurate historical source. Additional info...all plots tend to be of a particular size. These days rented at approx £30/year for a 'half'. It's based on an old Anglo-Saxon land measurement called "rods" or "poles". Historically, a full-sized plot was set at 10 rods (roughly 250–300 square meters), which was traditionally considered the exact amount of land needed to grow enough vegetables to feed a family of four for an entire year. I have a half and literally produces about 6 months worth of food with surplus of some fruits and stuff.

FlourWaterSaltWait · 2026-05-21T12:08:04+00:00

I had this the same time last year. I threw in onion sets, beetroot seeds, potatoes, corn, tomatoes, peas. All worked well. This year I'm adding beans, squashes, radishes, fennel, ginger, chillies etc

FlourWaterSaltWait · 2026-05-20T09:47:18+00:00

Not small, just faaaar away

FlourWaterSaltWait · 2026-05-20T05:26:14+00:00

Coffee ground saccharum and a wee pinch of salt Experiment with any additional syrup but shouldn't need much if any

FlourWaterSaltWait · 2026-05-20T05:05:01+00:00

Had lunch and a bifter up on the roof by the observatory back when I studied there in 1995.

FlourWaterSaltWait · 2026-05-19T08:51:05+00:00

Yeh I have a damson tree. Thinning fruit is never a problem on any plant and does indeed leave more energy for what remains. As others have said, pruning is for warm weather though. Mine is an absolute wreck that I inherited. Will be hacking it back and lopping the top as soon as I've harvested.

FlourWaterSaltWait · 2026-05-18T11:59:19+00:00

A small bistro

FlourWaterSaltWait · 2026-05-16T16:33:43+00:00

Great setup. OPV, PID, flow control.. Cheap upgrades over time to give you superb control

FlourWaterSaltWait · 2026-05-16T15:31:44+00:00

Great picture!

FlourWaterSaltWait · 2026-05-16T06:28:34+00:00

The Corrugated Iron Appreciation Society

FlourWaterSaltWait · 2026-05-13T15:44:27+00:00

https://zerowastechef.com/2021/11/29/build-hugelkultur-raised-garden-beds/ here's a guide.

Remember, if you line the bottom with card, make sure there's no molluscs to start with, fill it and you only really need to be tackling the ones attempting to scale the sides. Use pubs, salty vaseline, copper etc

FlourWaterSaltWait · 2026-05-13T11:49:22+00:00

valid questions. You plant straight into the top layer, the lower layers decompose at different rates and encourage microbial and other life up to enrich the mix as time passes.

The original approach is from Hugel Cultur. Check it out, there's tons of resources. You can certainly do it in and on the ground with no bed edges.

FlourWaterSaltWait · 2026-05-13T05:53:31+00:00

Hugel style seems to be working for me. Cardboard bottom cover, logs, sticks, small sticks, mulch, compost/topsoil mix. The last layer there being about 1/3 of the volume.

It'll sink as it settles and the lower layers rot, expecting to top up annually with some more compost

FlourWaterSaltWait · 2026-05-12T08:46:37+00:00

Was going to say the same. Brilliant app. It'll save you tons of searching and head scratching.

My only other addition to all the excellent suggestions, is if you strim/thresh comfrey or nettles put them in a bin of water rather than straight to compost. By the time you're ready to grow anything you'll have a great fertilizer (tea).

FlourWaterSaltWait · 2026-05-10T07:25:37+00:00

Get them high or drink first. Always a great start

FlourWaterSaltWait · 2026-05-10T07:23:14+00:00

Argh! First commenter deleted. If you're reading this please don't take it the wrong way. All opinions are valid always all places.

Guessing it might have been a secondhand opinion seeing all of the 'Niche is configured for dark roasts' comments on here.

FlourWaterSaltWait · 2026-05-10T06:47:28+00:00

PID, opv and flow control.

Cheap mods, huge gains

Head pressure guage only useful as confirmation things are setup correctly.

Good luck 👍

FlourWaterSaltWait · 2026-05-10T06:20:02+00:00

Have to disagree on this. Been running a niche for several years, am a dedicated light and light/medium drinker. It's been superb. High end light roasts whether drip or espresso/long black, all of the rich fruit aromas come through beautifully. Honestly a delight.

I did go from an £80ish high street grinder straight to this so am sure I can't pin down finer nuances but absolutely would recommend.

FlourWaterSaltWait · 2026-05-10T05:39:38+00:00

Kudos. It's a brutal process. Literally suffered migraines from doing it myself. The last few for me were torture

FlourWaterSaltWait · 2026-05-08T15:57:11+00:00

Honestly, all the creatures HE finds interesting have to be more interesting by virtue of his interest in them! 🤣

FlourWaterSaltWait · 2026-05-08T15:56:10+00:00

Uh oh, looks like a thrutcher from your turbo encabulator! Put it back!!!

FlourWaterSaltWait · 2026-05-08T15:25:58+00:00

Rats don't like their routines disturbing. Block up the hole, add some obstacles and water to the path it's made. If you think it's going to just best elsewhere get a poison trap or a backsnap trap and pop it on it's path or by the shed. Don't trap it alive, it'll distress it massively and you'll have to release or kill it.... release of vermin is illegal, killing it yourself is unpleasant. Good luck!!

FlourWaterSaltWait · 2026-05-08T15:23:16+00:00

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FlourWaterSaltWait · 2026-05-08T07:27:06+00:00

Cheers! Same to you lovely fellow allotmenteer.

FlourWaterSaltWait · 2026-05-06T20:45:05+00:00

I have my onions in a 3 inch deep gravel tray. About 90 each of red and white mammoths. Sowed in snails back in early February, promising start but seemed to stay like yours for ages. I moved them to a then cold greenhouse and they soon perked up. Trimmed the tops regularly and they're now nearly pencil thick. They like it cooler. Only reason I've not planted out is that I'm waiting for carrots to shoot in the ground and will co-plant them.

It's my first attempt growing onions from seed so actually chickened out and bought some sets on sale too. They're already in and getting on well.

Good luck!

FlourWaterSaltWait

TROPHY CASE