Finally using another package - not 3D

I have now gone for a flat planning option with pretty vegetable pictures!  Using a free 30 day trial at the moment but it handles 5 year crop rotation.  Grow Veg.Com

If it would just stop raining I could actually go and did the allotment.  It has been raining so much the 40 gallon water barrel filled up within a couple of days.

and it even generates a plant list

3D or not 3D

When I realised I could make my compost heap 3D it had to be done.  Unfortunately this has now caused all sorts of problems as I want 3D plants but they would take hours to draw.  OK perhaps I do have a problem with perfectionism.

The plan so far (in almost 3D)...

Potatoes

Now I have my potatoes.  It says leave at least 5 years before planting potatoes in the same place to avoid potato cyst nematode, powdery scab and spraing!  Now we need to divide the plot into 5.  So much for all the books talking about 3 year crop rotation.

Not content with graph paper ....

How to waste hours of your life!  I have just got to grips with Google SketchUp and have a scale drawing of what we have achieved so far.

I will now be able to set "The Scarecrow" a task each week, complete with a scale plan of exactly what he needs to do!

 

Here is the drawing with the compost heap at the bottom.  The blue bit is the carpet covering the compost.  The right hand side is used as storage at the moment.

The plot measures 8m x 10.5m approximately.  We will remeasure once it is dug over.

Testing soil

Its been raining on and off for last two days so haven't done this but will try at the weekend.

Dig a straight sided pit to 2 ft.  Leave overnight, covered.  If water collects - high water table.
No water - fill pit with water and leave covered for 24 hours.  If water remains, drainage is poor.
Most plants go down 20 inches.  If darker topsoil rests on thick layer of clay or rock deep digging won't help and raised beds may be necessary.

Wormery scraps

Things to put in wormery

fruit peelings (not citric)
veg peelings (not too much garlic, leeks, onions, potatoes
bread
uncooked food scraps (not fish it gets smelly)
cooked food scraps (bury to avoid smells)
tea bags
paper towels
cardboard tubes
newspaper - several sheets each month
egg shells

occasional lime application approx. every 6 weeks less if using egg shells

What to put on the compost heap

List of ingredients for the compost or wormery.

These can be put on the compost heap.  * can be put in the wormery too.

Nitrogen rich 'greens'

fruit peelings* (worms need to avoid citric fruit)
veg peelings*  (worms need to avoid garlic, leeks, onions)

soft plant prunings

flowers
weeds (no seed heads)
tea bags *
coffee grounds
egg shells *
animal and poultry manure (not going to use as not sure whether organic fed)

(small amounts)
grass clippings

Carbon rich 'browns'

cardboard
fallen leaves (small amount)
shredded paper
newspaper * (be careful coloured inks)
paper towels *
paper bags, packaging (scrumple in loose bals)
egg boxes
cardboard tubes *
hedge clippings - tougher ones
plant prunings (woody ones shredded)
sawdust
wood ash (small amount but untreated wood)

Here is the rather smart compost bin. Note - if you want to keep rodents out your heap you need to buy very small hole chicken wire!

Nothing there

This is the view looking the other way.  The stack of pallets are for a compost heap.  But it's still snowing every other week!  When does Spring start - 20 minutes later The Scarecrow is quite long winded we have decided on 21st March, the Vernal Equinox.

The water butt and womery are up and running.

In the beginning ...

So here it is - our Allotment complete with owl box.

We signed the contract on 27th January 2010.