My allotment is finally finished

I've been clearing the plot since the end of April, and I'm relieved to say that it's finally finished.........apart from the regular watering and weeding of course.

For convenience, I divided the length of the plot into quarters, and then I quartered each quarter! Sounds terribly complicated, but it means that the plot is now organised into more manageable chunks.

I planted a wide range of fruit and vegetables, choosing varieties that were quite hardy and resistant to common diseases and pests:

Beetroot Cardeal F1
Radish Scarlet Globe
Sweet Corn Sweet Bounty F1
Leek Sultan F1
Asparagus Marte F1
Broccoli Sprouting Early Purple
Blackcurrant Ben Sarek
Gooseberry (not sure if it's Careless or Invicta)
Gooseberry Hinnomaki red
Redcurrent
Jostaberry
Rhubarb
Cos Lettuce
Cabbage (not sure which variety)
Rosemary
Orange Scented Thyme
Gold Tipped Marjoram
Oregano
Mint
Lavender
Potatoes (not sure which variety)
Dwarf Runner Bean
Courgette Black Beauty
Courgette F1 Jaguar
Zucchini Bianca de Triest
Yellow Straight Neck Summer Squash


Cucurbits I harvested today. From left to right: Courgette F1 Jaguar, Yellow Straight Neck Summer Squash and Courgette Black Beauty


Dwarf Runner Bean wigwam


Cos Lettuce and Radishes that I harvested on the 12th June


The raised bed for my Asparagus - it contains six wheel-barrows of manure and 20 litres of top soil, and is long enough for 10 plants spaced about 40cm apart

There's still plenty of room on the plot for other things, and as I've got the seeds, I might plant the following:

Kale Nero di Toscana
Spinach Polarbear F1
Cabbage Hispi F1
Carrot Flyaway F1
Carrot Purple Haze F1

I've also got a Blueberry Goldtraube to plant, but I've not decided where it's going just yet.

Allotments

In April this year I was offered a plot on the Riverside Allotment. As I'd been on the waiting list for about five years, I jumped at the chance of letting a plot on this prestigious site.

I'm not sure of the exact dimensions (I'll post details later), but it's classed as a half size plot and costs a mere £16.00 a year, which is an absolute bargain!

You're probably wondering what's so good about this particular allotment?

Well, there are two allotment sites in Mildenhall: the Lark Avenue site, and the Riverside site on Sheldrick Way. Of the two, the latter has the best facilities, with easy access to running water, toilets, a communal building, and a security fence running around the perimeter of the allotment.

The tennants all seem to be a friendly group, with a vast amount of experience and knowledge to share.

There's a huge feeling of community spirit on the allotment too, with most tennants eager to help one another. There are plenty of opportunities to volunteer, such as trimming the hedges around the perimeter fence, mowing the grass in the communal areas, or simply watering a neighbouring patch.

Tennants are encouraged to join the local Allotment Association, which organises work parties and social events, such as barbecues and competitions (this years being a Pumpkin competition). The Association holds regular committee meetings where key points of interest are discussed.