Hi all,

We recently and enthusiastically demolished the old shed on our allotment as it was a genuine danger.

We only keep basic tools at the plot like trowels, garden form, hoe, etc. I wanted to get a nice wooden shed as replacement, but by nice I really mean cheap and that doesn't leave great options. 

My husband wants to get a plastic tool storage box like those by Ket@r.

Anyone using something similar and like it? I hate that it's a big hunk of plastic, would still not fit all our tools and wouldn't really facilitate rain collection.

For a similar price I could get a cheap tunnel or greenhouse that would keep rain off the tools and let me collect rainwater. It wouldn't be secure but the tool storage and sheds are only nominally safer, I think. However, we can't get to the plot multiple times a day, so a GH is impractical. I could cover it in net instead but then the tools aren't dry again!

So basically I don't like any of our ideas or options. We don't have the time to build from scratch. Our plot is so messy right now, we definitely need something.

Any ideas for me?

Thanks in advance.

I have been watching Jessie at Plot 37 - YouTube find it very enjoyable apart from the piano music

Do you have a favourite?

MrPP spotted this male blackcap picking the blackfly from the broad beans this morning. It then came out into the open for a preen and to pose for some photos!
   

A good reason to not use pesticides

Has anyone had any luck sowing Tarragon seeds?

Been trying for years but anything that germinates soon decides to die. I know French Tarragon seeds aren't viable, but Russian is supposed to be

Any tips?

I have amassed loads of cardboard which I planned to cover my paths with then add wood chippings. Because of time limitations I won't be able to take delivery of a load of wood chippings and do as I first thought...........not for now anyway as I have other commitments.

I know from various experiments with paths in the past that the wind plays a big part in what you can and can't do. I once laid carpet paths and even though it was pegged down, it still landed in next doors allotment.

My latest idea is to lay the cardboard anyway and put sand on it to hold it down until I get the time to do a better job with wood chippings. Sand is fairly cheap to buy and should hold cardboard down and help to drown out weeds?

Or should I just store the cardboard in the shed and keep on hoe-ing the weeds on the paths. I have a lot of narrow paths so am wondering whether hoe-ing is feasible once weeds start into full growth?

The wide damp proof course I originally anticipated isn't really satisfactory and would work out quite expensive to do all paths.  will use what I have , but buy no more.

Share those magical moments when you pick your first of this season's crop - strawberries, tomatoes, peas........and so forth. 
Feel free to show off.

unfortunately not my tree!!! But I want it....I was too late to the party last year to get some crab apple trees. I want 3 to make a statement across the back of my garden but ideally to be able to use for jams, jellies and also aid in pollination for my other apple trees? 

I spotted a dark leaf one a few years back and I think it may be Harry Baker? But this I spotted this week when I popped to my local food market.
I want it
Any ideas? Could it be Harry Baker? The flowers looked too deep?
   
       

Lablab/Dolichos/Hyacinth beans have the most amazing seeds...flat black with a white edge..........and I have a few.. 
Has anyone grown them - or eaten them? 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lablab

https://www.gardenorganic.org.uk/sites/w...Lablab.pdf

    Anyone any ideas what this is please?
Two popped up in the pot where last year’s cucumbers were.

Have had very poor germination with my commercial clary seed. However have noticed loads of self sown seedlings in the patch of garden where I had clary last year. Have put quite a few of these in multipacks ready for planting out later. BUT, now I’m not sure if they are clary seedlings, the leaves look a bit rounded. What do you think? And if not clary, what weed could it be?
The garden ones are on the left and the commercial ones are on the right 
Thanks.

Attached Files

Thumbnail(s)