Hey Sylvia 👋 it is what its all about, isn't it! I think the new fence is going to look way nicer! The shed is now fully functioning and no longer a hazard 😆
How fabulous to say “we are at the plot today” 🤭. Lots to do but amazing start and exciting times ahead. So wonderful Roo has a place to join you ❤. Have a simply fantastic time and happy allotmenting, Ali 🥶🇨🇦
Thank you Ali! I was actually thinking of you today, I have my Aji Mango chilli 🌶️🥭 seeds that I must get into some soil! I was filled with so much joy to see Roo bouncing around the place, she made a big pile of wooden stick right in the centre of the plot that tripped over on Monday, even when she's not with me it feels like she is! 🤣xx
I knew you would love having an allotment! You have done so much! The shed looks great! So nice that you have lovely plot neighbours! Roo seems to really enjoy being there too! 😄👍💕🌸
Thank you Nanou! She loved it up there, laying in the grass, making piles of sticks! When I was cleaning the windows it reminded me of your shed and got me thinking about all the little touches like the blind I could put up 😍 I actually really enjoyed myself, lots to do now to grt it some way in shape for spring!! 😆🌸💖
Well done Laura! That's an amazing amount you've got done. I love how real you are and you get stuck in mud and all. There's jobs you don't like but you get on with them with little fuss. A bit like me. I see some channels and the women are drama queens, screaming at the slightest spider etc and as for mud well they say they're covered but it's just a speck compared to what I've seen you covered in and still not bat an eyelid. Hard work stinks but the harder you work the bigger the reward at the end of it all. You will sit there one day with a cuppa and say I did it x
Hey Chrissie 🤗 thank you so much! That's it, roll up the sleeves and get stuck into it and you feel great for it! There aren't many days I leave the plot without muddy knees 🤣🤣 can't wait to have my first cup of tea at the plot and sit down and enjoy the view xx
Hey Laura! 🙋🏻♀️ You seem really excited about every facet of your allotment. Your enthusiasm and gusto is refreshing to watch. Wish I was across the pond sharing your experience with you. I will have to be satisfied with a vicarious experience. Thank you Laura for sharing your delightful life with me! Btw, Roo looks just as delighted as you! Take care my friend, Cindy ❤
Hey Cindy 👋 I was like a big kid wasn't I, I am getting great enjoyment out of it! Haha live vicariously no problem, I'll bring you along the way! 🙌 it was so special seeing Roo up there she loved it! All the best 🤗💖
Well, hello to the plot lady Laura 😁💚 it ain't no tiny garden no more 😅 plenty there to tackle and really impressed how much you managed to get done within the bank holiday weekend 👏 It was raining in here for the 2 out of 3 days 😂... I did hope you'd wear a mask or facecovering when cleaning the shed....the 🐀 dust is not great for the lungs 🤗 But the idea of potentially turning the shed to gain a better orientation sounds really reasonable ❤ Best of luck on your journey to growing more 🥰 Sending love from Kerry 💚🌿
Hey Maiju! Haha 🤣 Tiny plot coming at ya! It was a productive few days, typical isn't it the minute the bank holiday comes around it's raining! Oh I know *look away* 😱 I COMPLETELY forgot, I was half way through before I had realised I didn't have it with me!!! I need all the luck there is still so much to do! 💖
You mentioned burning your old posts. Great idea but just check before you do if they have been treated. We have treated timber here that if it is burnt will give off poisonous gases. Love watching your progress. I have just found your channel sooo glad I found you at the beginning of this journey 👍😊
Good idea, they have a green tinge but I think that's like the green tinge on the shed algea/nettle debris! I will ask around and see does anyone remember when they went in, because I don't want to make poisonous gases! That's so lovely, I am delighted to have you join me! 🤗
Oh Laura,,, I am just impressed at the amount of work you did in 3 days... plus helping out the neighbor. Well Done you. Already looks SO MUCH better. [SO SORRY THIS IS LONG AGAIN!!] [2] Food for thought.. whatever that concrete is, you have two options. IF IT IS SQUARES,, and able to be moved,, Put it under the garden shed so it is setting on something that won't rot underneath it [ if it hasn't already] then you could skirt it so no rodents can get in at all! Or have a nice patio with plants in all sorts of URNS and Pots. Put a little Bistro table and chairs there for a chin wag with the new friends? Or if it is squares, a nice walking path out of the shed, then coming forward as far as you can before running out of them. [3] That shed looks SO MUCH better since you can see inside so much better. The scrubbing really made a difference!! Made it look loads brighter with the windows cleaned too.. [4] If there is electric to the property, some grow lights over the potting table would really help them out for spring. The gnats,, use sticky traps. That is a major help by putting 1 at each end of the trays,, and 1 in the middle until they are under control. You could also sprinkle the top of the soil with Vermiculite. That gives them no place to keep breeding! [5] Tesco's might also give you some plastic crates that water bottles, or milk comes in. You can literally build up that side wall with shelves by stacking them to store bins, baskets, tools, etc. i always check behind the markets to see what they are throwing out that would help me out with projects. [6] I cannot and never have been able to understand why anyone would grow Nettles. I've just never imagined growing such a thing. It is going to take ages to get all that ROOT STOCK out of the ground. You'd literally have to dig up every bit of the root stock out of the ground. Or use a herbicide. But then you'd have a hard time growing anything there for a year or two. I cringe at the amount of work that is going to take you getting rid of them. [7] The Chicken Coupe side of the garden shed would be a great place to store seed trays and garden pots, clay pots, etc all year when not in use. Even compost, top soil, etc. to keep it all dry. Your good working supplies basically. [8] For your soil problems with raised beds. You can get "AGED" manure from farmers for free. NOT NEW but seriously aged. Or some places have compost in bulk that you can pick up or get delivered. Getting it all in the bags gets so costly. Just don't use all manure or all compost. You have to mix them together with soil or the nitrogen could burn out the plant roots. Remember you can put layers and layers of leaves in the bottom of the beds. And any kind of chipped wood, saw dust, ash from fireplaces, etc. to help build up a gardening haven for yummy plant microbiome/ microorganisms. [8] SO HAPPY that Roo got to join you. Totally needs to be there exploring and guarding. [9] This past 2 weeks it seeks weird to watch you on my laptop again. I had been in the hospital a few months and had to only watch on the telly, so wasn't able to ever comment. My whole family watches your channel. So when FINALLY back on my computers, it wouldn't let me comment until I unsubscribed and resubscribed a couple of times. Seems that youtube is really getting messy. Are you ALSO on Rumble as your backup??
So sorry to hear you have been in hospital I wish you a speedy recovery 🤗 that is so cool say hi to all your family for me please and make sure to let them know that I am thrilled to have them join me on my journey! Haha no need to apologise, I loved reading your comments the last time! It could be squares because it did sound funny, I will take a closer look on Saturday! Finally a solution to the gnats!! They are literally sending me over the edge at this point. I didn't realise growing nettles intentionally was a thing until this video went up! 🙈🤣 Seems those nettles are going need some talking to off camera! Great tip on the soil/compost mix there are some soil mounds at the top I think it must be top soil! Roo loved it, she is a guardian breed I was a little unsure how she might be up there, she doesn't really like people entering the garden, many house plants have landed on the floor. I didn't hear of that platform before, it yikes I can imagine that is really annoying 🤔
Ya doing a grand job love Well done. I would put all the twigs & the cardboard in your beds it will help fill them. Looking forward to future happenings. I planted some onions last week & put them in my spare bedroom, looked today & they're germinating already, I love it when I see that 😂, chitted my first early potatoes too. So pleased for you & getting a plot. xx
Thank you Carol! I have a few onions I am going to sow this week, hopefully it isn't too late, it is so exciting to see the little spouts coming through the soil! I have my main crop chitting at the minute but I haven't picked up my first earlies yet, the plot distracted me 😅 xx
Brilliant! What a productive 3 days you had Laura. That shed is quite something now it’s cleaned out. What an excellent potting shed. If you don’t want chickens, could you adapt the sides/roof of the chicken shed/run to make an attached wooden greenhouse with polycarbonate sheeting for windows/roof? That would be brilliant! What a shame to discover so much concrete. Wonder what was there previously. So much clearing and Roo helping too. How lovely to have such wonderful plot neighbours as well. I think I like this addition to your growing space a lot ❤
Thank you Clare! 🤗 💖 I love the shed, if I cna convinces the guys on the plot the help me move it the windows could then face the sun 🌞 a few spots of TLC needed still though! I think I'd love a chicken or two but I'm definately not ready just yet! I did have a similar thought I could build/extend off the coup and make bit of an L shaped poly tunnel cube thing 🤔 so many ideas and choices!! Roo loved it she was making piles of sticks all day, which later I kept tripping over 😆 xx
I have no tools! Only small hand spade and one shovel! My snips broke at the weekend, my neighbour said he would give me a lend of a pick axe for the nettle roots ⚒️ 🤭
You can take hardwood cuttings from gooseberries. Take a cutting about 30 cm long from wood grown last summer. Remove all leaves except for the top few.Use a spade to open up a slit in the ground and place the cuting into the ground. It will take a few years to grow and fruit. You want a stem about 10 cm long with a goblet shaped canopy above it, when it grows. You will needto learn how to prune it. Sorry about getting the raspberries wrong, I did have second thoughts when I saw a close up of the stems in your second video. You are doing well, the shed is a good place to start, to hold your tools and things. May I suggest a few things; You do not have a lot of time till the growing season starts I would suggest that you concentrate on the sunniest and hopefully not too weedy part of the plot, hopefully the most productive part. Start getting the ground ready so that you can get something in the ground in about 6-8 weeks. You can start things off in pots until you have the ground ready. I start nearly everything indoors as I get better plants earlier. Just cover the rest of the ground to kill the weeds. The concrete surprise will be a lot of hard work removing it (I assume that is your intention).Clear the grass off the concrete and for now just use it to grow things in containers for now on the concrete if you have more plants than space to grow things. You may also make it an area that you can relax and have a cup of tea. When you have more pressing things under control then tackle the concrete. Taking on a plot is a lot of hard work with lots to do. so little and often will bring the best progress Basically work the areas that wil be easiest and most productive first, come mid summer the ground can become rock hard and difficult to work. Docks need their roots pulled out and are deep rooted. Unfortunately they are prolific seeders about 30,000 seeds per plant. However a sharp how when the seeds germinate will solve the problem easily and quickly. Nettles whilst unpleasant are relatively easy to get rid of as they are shallow rooted. You will need to deal with the seedlings that germinate this summer. I am a nodig gardener. Some weeds like bindweed will just grow through the cardboard and mulch. Nodig does work really well however. How I get material to mulch my beds is from the fo;;owing sources: I make leafmould with leaves and mix it in my bought potting compost and horse manure, equal amounts so I have to buy only a third of the potting compost as each of the three components are in equal amounts I make compost the same as you will be doing I phoned around the local stables to see if I could get free or cheap horse manure. I made sure that they did not spray their fields with weed killer. Some will let you dig it out for free, some will even deliver it for free, but some will charge for delivering or by the bag at a good price. It will need to be well rotted before you use it and better well rotted when you get it as it shrinks a lot in the rotting process.. I live in Bromley so I googled "stables Bromley" to get contact details I also arranged for a fruit and veg shop to deliver for free all their vegetable waste to our allotments, or they may save it up for you to collect for free. Our fruit and veg person has to pay the council to take it away, so is happy to drop it off at the plots as it is local. I have heard of some people getting peelings from their neighbours as well. Wish you lots of success, Kevin
I have taking cuttings on my list of things to learn this year it will really help fill out the plot with out breaking the bank, I have asked a friend if I can take a cutting from her rose 🌹 I actually love gooseberries so I will do that, thank you!! No worries on the raspberries! Yikes 😬 spring is only around the corner, I haven't sown a single seed yet!! I definately want a relax space and somewhere to make a fire so i can cook my spuds in foil on the coals! I didn't think of the soil getting hard but I know exactly what you mean my parents garden went rock solid in the really hot summer we had! I am going to try the no dig approach, I like the idea of making a mix of mulch and I will have to check locally for stables I am sure there are loads! That is awesome about the food scraps! Appreciate all these top tips, beyond helpful Kevin! Hope you have a great week!! 🙌
@thetinygarden_ I am only too glad to help. I had a very good gardener help me when I had my first allotment, it meant a lot to me. I like helping newbies on our allotments., it's paying back the kind help I recieved
I have just got my new allotment plot last week and this is so inspiring. Looking forward to watching more of your videos and seeing your allotment's progress, it looks a gorgeous setting too! :)
Great job on the shed Make sure you don’t leave any tools that are visible for other people to see . Petty theft can be a problem on allotments. Looking forward to seeing how things progress through the year . Great start so far
Thank you Kevin! I did get myself a tamper proof lock 🔐 I know in the grand scheme of things it isn't much but it might reduce the temptation. With windows all round it will be difficult to hide things, I did have to run up to the plot yesterday evening as I realised I had left some of camera gear in there 😅 😳 😬
Bike shops are good for cardboard. 😊 So I believe and it's thick. Make sure you take every piece of tape off as it never rots. Also you don't need boards, Charles Dowding founded no dig and his channels demonstrates no edging. We all just go it for convenience. A lot can be grown in grow bags when you see them. You are doing great and what you a fab shed, you definitely made the right choice.
Hey! I did see that! I think I will start at ground level 🤔 seems to be the best way forward for now! Bike shop 👌 awesome I wouldn't have thought of that now!!
Blimey Laura, what a Brilliant job you have done so far from the garden to the shed and down the side, if you do decided to move the shed a bit once done get some shed paint and give it a lick of paint, oh and a battery sander if you have one just to get any rough bits off the shed before any painting. As for the Concrete personally i wouldn't worry about it, and your thinking now that you can't grow on concrete what's he talking about? Well you can i have now got three 4x2 beds and one 2x2 bed all sitting on Concrete Paving Slabs the thick heavy ones, put down by the previous owner. All i did was get four Metal Raised Beds put them together, a load of Cardboard inside them without tape and stickers, followed by any Logs that haven't rotted in my case next doors tree, and anything else to put in even bags of Shredded Paper, anything that will rot and once you are roughly half way up (i think they are 18 inches high so about 9 - 10 inches), top up with Manure and Compost. I have grown loads in my beds so there shouldn't be a problem on your site. Sorry for the long one next time i'll send you an email ha ha ha, Take Care. Barry (the Wirral UK)
I am itching to give it a lick of paint!! I think that's a good point on the concrete it's not a disaster, I just thought it was funny! What were the odds of me finding concrete in the middle of a field in rural Ireland, it had to be me!! I have an exciting day ahead of me stripping the labels and tape off of that cardboard. Impressive that you need only a small volume of proper growing medium! Mind yourself and catch you in the next one! 🙌
Oooo, what bank holiday have you got in Ireland? I want one this time of year! Ahhhh, watching you gets me soooo excited and I now wanted a new plot!! If nettles is your main weed, you are winning!! But keep an eye out as the weather picks up coz a lot of weeds are still dormant like bind weed and elder. Oh god. The concrete... I honestly don't know the answer... maybe a jack hammer? Hope you're having a lovely week 😊🌱💚
Hey Jake, it's a new one only been around for 2 or 3 years, it's for St. Bridget's day and really breaks up the wait between New year and Paddy's weekend 🍀I'll be honest my knowledge of weeds isn't great, we have creeping buttercup on the ground and couch grass. I don't really know what bind weed looks like if I am honest 🤷♀️jack hammer!! good grief I hope for my sake it doesn't come to that 🤣 So the extra plot isn't on the cards 🥺 any possibility with a home garden or balcony project? 🙌
Hey Audrey 👋 thank you for subbing! It's lovely to have you here 🤗 I have really enjoyed getting it started, hopefully it can get it in some shape to plant a few crops by summer! 🤞
One way to start a raised bed without timber and cost of compost etc. use hay bales. Gardening Australia video grow vegetables and flowers in hay bales…shows you how. You could use this method on your concrete pad. I’m not sure how cheap hay bales are in your area but it might be worth looking into. Even one would be a good start. You could still put your cardboard down on a soil area then a hay bale. Soak it well with water. Sprinkle some fertiliser of your choice over the top… make holes for your plants only big enough for the seedling as you would plant normally in soil…add a little compost and plant your seedling. Over time your hay will decompose and you will have beautiful soil as you are working with it. It would give you time to eventually collect your boards etc to build something permanent and in the meantime you have the enjoyment of growing.
Hay bales! I completely forgot I did see that before someone had them stacked up inside there greenhouse and planted tomatoes in them! I did hear they are expensive here, there are a lot of farms around so I imagine they are in high demand, I will check it out though! Thank you Margaret!
Great progress! So nice to see the shed cleaning up. Now to get a chair in it if desired. What all is under that? Where concrete is? I don't think I'd go to the trouble of digging that out. It could be helpful in reducing weeds. I think I'd consider just placing the cardboard down over it where I want things to grow and build it up from there. Using the lasagna technique or such. So I'd next decide if moving shed is even possible. If it stays together sturdy when moved and get it in it's final placement. I'd start mapping the plot. And thinking what I might want to grow where. I'd lay cardboard out where I want beds to be to get a visual. Then start collecting/soil compost items and covering the cardboard where I know I want to grow. I'd also continue working on the fenceline and weeding. Figure out whats been growing on it besides nettles. Personally though nettles are said to have value I'd be getting rid of em completely! I'd check for any tree leaves I could get, also more cardboard. I'd see if you have any local restaurants to get coffee and tea grounds from. Or from work or from non compost gardening friends family And neighbors. Here in the States we have Starbucks coffee place and they give away their daily coffee grounds specifically to gardeners. Also egg shells and banana peels. Maybe there is a local grocery or food bank that is getting rid of produce that starting to rot. You can compost that. Also straw and mulch. Again I DK there but here we have city trees and we have separate pick up for tree branches and plant clippings and Christmas trees. The city chips it all up and puts it out in giant compost piles. Then citizens can pick it up free. This first year. You might try like the lasagna method or Ruth Stout method of growing white you settle in a bit before actually putting in raised beds. We've grown great crops of potatoes with cardboard then a bit of soil and seed potatoes and more cardboard on top. Didn't take much soil. You could then see how the sun and weather and neighbors plants affect your space. I'd be far more concerned about getting the shed settled and the fence line cleaned up and possibly refenced if need be first. You know how to grow in containers so you can always do that that first year if need be.
So many wonderful tips and advice! Lasagna method sounds cool, I will do some reading up on that! I think raised beds might be a little but further down the line as I think of it. Its definitely going to be a year for learning see how the space is affected through the season and neighbouring crops, so plans need to be flexible for sure! We have a Starbucks in town I wonder do they do the same thing! Fence is on the list this weekend, hopefully if the rain holds off! 🤞thank you so much!! 🤗
Yay I was so excited for this video! You’re going to put so much TLC and love back into that plot it’s going to be great. Shame about all the concrete though! Bet Roo loves it there too! 🥰 it’s great to see the realistic process and progress too. Great job so far, looking forward to the next video. PS love shed chat haha.
That is so similar to what one of the plot holders on the site said to me when I was down there they were delighted to see that someone is going to take over the space and give it a go! She loved it up there! I was so tired Monday evening so it was a physical three days! Looking forward to heading down there at the weekend 🙌 haha shed chats it might become a thing!!! 💖
Is it far to travel for you? Not sure about any compost ideas, its a neverending battle trying to make it! Start 1 bed at a time i guess. Try and make compost pathways etc. try and compost everything. Maybe look for some cheap topsoil on marketplace you could mix in with compost and some well rotted manure
What a great start Laura! Great bit of work done in 3 days you’ve inspired me to go sort my own mess of a garden out! Can’t wait to see what you do next ☺️
Thank you Tina 💖 I am going to enjoy the process I know spring is only around the corner but even if I get a few bits in by summer like a pumpkin i'll be happy 😊 🎃
Hey Corrine! I hope so too, it was fun and it is such a relaxing spot, I am enjoying the process, but I am also so excited to see how things might look when the weather warms up! 🌸🤗
Hey Corrine! I hope so too, it was fun and it is such a relaxing spot, I am enjoying the process, but I am also so excited to see how things might look when the weather warms up! 🌸🤗x
❤ watching Laura's Lottie grow will be fantastic. Could you ask the allotment community if anyone has spare homemade compost. Do they have wood chip/horse manure deliveries? X
Laura's Lottie that has a nice ring to it 🤭🙈 spare manure oh I never thought to ask! Wood chip is delivered for free, I was told a farmer will bring manure but you need to pay for it, I am not sure of the cost nor do I know how to contact him 😆x
I put straw and cardboard in the bottom of my raised beds then cover with compost to save money. My raised beds are two pallet collars one on top of the other so quite deep. Great for carrots and parsnips
Hey GF 👋 I did a pallet collars bed in my home garden I stack it all up in different tiers, I am definitely going to try carrots and parsnips! Straw is such a good idea. I'd say that's fairly affordable, too! Thank you!! 🤗
I enjoyed your 3day clear up. Made me laugh that I had the same (crap), on my allotment when I got it 3 years ago. Always a blue piece of thick rope, cupboards with stuff in that you cannot use, a roll of green fencing (useful), empty manure bags. I bought a wheelbarrow this week, was put off by the price£60, but wish I’d bought one 3 years ago. It is so much easier not having to carry or drag stuff back and forth. Maybe consider getting one, or suggest it as a present. Making a leaf compost area has helped me to cut down on buying compost. Get friends to collect leaves for you to rot down in black plastic bags with puncture holes to allow air flow and moisture. Maybe try a small no dig area first, gives you time to decide on overall plot layout and there might be some good soil under the concrete (concrete could be used for laying paths? ). Do a ph test on your soil in various places to know what compost you need to buy, depending on what you want to grow. It’s very satisfying when you get a lot done on the allotment. Take a picture of your empty shed, within a couple of months it will be full to the brim and you will wonder where it all came from. 🤣🤣😊🌈
Haha 😆😆 not just me then I am glad you agree it was junk!! I was thinking today I need to buy a wheel barrow for sure I hope it will fit in my car otherwise I've no way of getting it down to the plot! The car is only small 😅 Leaf compost is a great idea, I saw loads of leaves in a car park today I was going to go back with a bucket and fill it but I wasn't sure if the area had ever been sprayed with weed killer 🤔 I have the picture taken already let's see what it looks like by the end of the season!!
Good effort to you Laura. For your compost solution kind of, cardboard bottom to stop the weeds etc then what i have is a couple bags of my old used compost sieved, a bag of straw shrown all over my bed and i bought a 75litre block of coir coconut husk good nutrients and retains moisture only cost me £3, buy end of season when you get decent deals in supermarkets and i have a few bags of compost if needed. I too am relatively new to this
Thank you Andrew! I was so tired after the three days 😅 good idea I have more cardboard and I had 12 pallets delivered today for the compost bay to be built 🙌 love an end of season deal! Fingers crossed we both have a great season!!
Hey Kerrie, Roo has the best time she loved laying on the grass! She made a pile of wood right in the middle of the plot that I tripped over the following day 🤣 I've lots to do before spring but I am loving it! 💖xx
Hey Adrian 👋 thank you! That is so exciting!! I plan so many things that I want to get done but because the site is so new to me and I find myself discovering different things along the way thank get side tracked with 😆 Wishing you the best of luck on your new allotment I hope it brings you so much enjoyment 🙌
I have had a tunnel damaged by the wind. So, it's been a good excuse to swap and go longer. I fix to timber bases out of solid wood, as I was a joiner. They last much longer. 😊 enjoy the plot
The storms have been so bad, I was surprised the shed was still standing to be honest! That is so exciting, bigger tunnel to grow more crops 🙌 I have drawn up some plans for the plot, I want to use as many raw materials as possible. I had thoughts about removing the chicken coup and building an 'L' shape poly-cube off the side of the shed out of wood. I have 9 pallets being delivered on Friday from a friend so that could be my compost bays sorted...
Laura you have received some wonderful advice and I am sure your mind is constantly thinking of the many ways you can fully use your plot. Your shed looks great and will be a huge benefit. Personally I would leave it where it is for now as you can get around all 4 sides to keep on top of weeds around the shed and the door faces the front of the plot which is good from a viewpoint if you are sitting low down on a deck chair inside. The door at the front will also be handy if you have a small seating area at the top of your plot. Plus being able to walk around the shed will make things easier if you want to paint/treat the outside. The roof slopes towards the chicken coop so it's worth considering adding some guttering to connect to water butts. Ideal for watering blueberries if you grow them and if your site ever has a hose pipe ban. The shed can always be moved at a later point if you decide that suits you better but for now concentrating on getting one or two beds ready for growing and helping your neighbour with the fencing is probably a priority. If you still have the metal lockers these could be useful for storage and to deter mice etc from getting to any products/paperwork that otherwise might've left out on your bench or any open shelving that you put up. The door fronts could possibly be painted or a sticky back product placed on the door fronts to brighten them up. Re the main growing area it's worth considering raised beds but for this growing season just clearing areas approx 4ft wide and max 10ft long will enable you to get some veg in the ground. If you opt for a middle path then create say 4 beds either side for this season. If you can purchase a battery operated strimmer you can use this to keep the lower part of the plot tidy. Leaving the area free would allow you to concentrate on the top half of the plot and give you time to consider how you might use the lower section. Have fun and Good Luck.
Hey Rosanna 👋 I was thinking about guttering for a water storage, I know I have mains water but rain water is so much better! I haven't any plans for the path yet but I would love a grass path just for the contrast with the woodchip in the tiny home garden. I am definately going to need to work on section at a time, working from the shed towards the entrance! So much wonderful advice! Thank you!! 🤗
Hi Laura Wow you managed to make such an inpact on your new allotment plot 👍 Some points to consider - that concrete sounded very hollow, could they be paving slabs. In which case what a great resource, does your neighbour know? - if it is a concrete pad enbrace it as a patio, put up a pergola and grow crops up it. Put raised beds, barbeque, firepit, picnic bench on it - having that shady spot might be a god send in the heat of the summer - i would keep those metal lockers, very useful for storage especialy to keep thing dry, to keep rodents out and to store things like seeds smalls tools etc. out of sight is out of mind for possible thieves. Use it for a while and then get rid at a later date if you find you don't want them - use the chicken coop as a storage area for bags of compost, pots and anything that might blow around. You could also make it into an area for Roo - that frame will make an excellent cover for a strawberry bed once you clear the nettles out. Try covering it with some weed membrane for a season before planting that bed up - because of the cost of compost start with a planting in ground and add one raised bed at a time when money etc is available - use any scraps of wood to edge in ground beds it can be neatened up at a later date DON'T FORGET IT'S A MARATHON NOT A SPRINT I think I've got shed envy 😂😂😂
Hey Carol, you are most certainly right there 🤗 all my new plot friend were telling me the exact same, don't rush, enjoy yourself it's a journey! Hoping it's slabs because it did sound a little odd when I tapped it. I have started using the chicken coup as storage for that big roll of green fencing that I found! 🙌 I am kind of thinking now to start with in ground planting it really is going to get me started without huge upfront costs! Haha shed envy! Who new that was a thing!! 🤣🤣
Hi Laura, I have been chomping at the bit waiting to see your next video lol 😆 Wow you've been busy on your lot, but what a difference you have made to the shed and the side of it 🙂 You asked for raised bed suggestions and I am wondering what the concrete is that is hidden as it's possible you could use that. If they are big slabs but not too big like 2 feet by 2 feet then you could half bury them upright to make a bed. If they are breeze blocks then they too can be used as a raised bed. Try googling concrete raised beds 😀 there's some great ideas out there. So good to see Roo Boo having a great time on your lot. Very excited for you Laura and the possibilities that lay ahead for your garden 😊 looking forward to the next video xxx
Chomping at the bit, I haven't heard that saying in ages 😆the time flew while I was down there. I am thrilled with the shed, there are a few bits that need some TLC but at least it is clean! 🙈 That is a really cool idea! I need to take a closer look at that area when I head back down at the weekend, they did sound a bit funny when I tapped them with the screwdriver! I was so happy to see Roo Boo running around she had the best time and she loved laying on the grass! Thank you for your continued support Julie, I do upload at really random times hopefully when college finishes I can get a bit more consistent! 💖xx
Qhay a difference already ❤ cant wait to see more progress. A top tip for newbies i learned was small steps and dont exoect to much. Loved seeing roo at the plot... shes going to be exactly like my ruben 😂 so watch your vegggies 😂😂
That's it Tracey I know spring is just around the corner but even if I have only a few things planted up there by early summer I will be happy I think! Mostly it's my pumpkins I really want to get in! Did you see her she was running off with bits of nettles?! and she made a pile of sticks in the middle I nearly broke my ankle on them the following day 🤣💖
Hi Laura I’m so happy for you… so exciting 🤗❤️ it is hard work but I can see your a hard worker and very determined when you put your mind to things. You have done a great job already 💪 It’s lovely your meeting new people and making friends with those that share your interests. For your raised beds start with your cardboard… any twigs/leaves,cuttings…. any free manure on fb marketplace etc.. or does allotment get some delivered?….. then decent compost topping and around any crops you plant. I also add bagged/screened top soil too as some things just prefer it with a bit of loam. I’m sure others can give far better advice, I only have a home garden. Aww Roo loving life bless her 🐶🥰 Concrete bit concerning? I’m hoping it’s slabs you can use and not just solid concrete 😯 did they even grow there or just used the space for chickens? Take care… happy gardening 👩🌾🥕🪴💪 xx
Hi Katie 👋 thank you! It has been great fun I was super tired Monday evening though! I think the allotment gets delivered wood chip for free, I was told a local farmer will drop of manure but that does cost I don't know how much though! There are two mounds of soil at the top of the site, I thought it was top soil until someone called it clay so I was left a little confused about that to be honest. Roo was living her best life she loved laying on the grass and gathering sticks! I am not sure anything was grown on the plot to be honest, I did salvage a rhubarb from the edge of the plot that was dumped near the road. I will tackle the concrete at the weekend 🤔mind yourself and talk soon!💖xx
Hopeful that concrete isn’t too thick. It’s not too hard to break up if it’s only three to four inches thick. As long as it’s not reinforced. I got a bunch up in my garden with a pry bar and small,sledge hammer. I’m using the chunks for patio pavers with gravel in between.
I was thinking a crow bar or a sledge might do the job... I don't own either yet though 😆 i hope it's slabs it sounded odd when I tapped it so I will investigate further at the weekend 👀
@@thetinygarden_ I think you will get better leverage with a pry bar. They’re quite long and heavy. Mine is about forty pounds and five feet long. There’s some good videos on you tube showing technique.
I had to pause the video and wipe the tears "I had a small chat with those screws off camera"🤣😂🤣😂🤣😂 You accomplished so much in 3 days. The break from school work will clear your brain to get back at it. Can't wait to see what that concrete patch is all about...very intriguing. Might be a nice spot to have a bench or chairs etc to relax...a platform for some pot growing. Why not start with a few in ground beds that you work a bit of compost and organic granular fertilizer in for starters. I dug over or tilled all the gardens at first. Then did minimal disturbance from then on. You can add raised beds as money and free resources become available. My first gardens were all unground and it works just fine. That soil looks good as everything is growing well. How exciting.
Hey Robin 😆😆 I am glad I was able to make you laugh! I am thinking inground beds it's the most affordable option right now for sure! I have some buckets of blood fish and bone and seaweed left over from last season I could dig that out!!! I must get a wriggle on with seed sowing I've done nothing!!! 🤭😆
You have time. Only seed sowing I've done is celery, celeriac, onions, leeks and shallots...and that was just 3 days ago which is earl for me by more than a week.@@thetinygarden_
I would just saw the rotten wood off the ends of those fence posts. The rest of the wood is likely good quality and it's always good to have a load of bits of useful wood on a plot. I wouldn't put your pepper plants in the shed. It might be over 10 degrees in the day time but over night the temperature will be too low and if it drops close to or below zero the plants will all die. If fungus gnats are an issue the best thing to do is put a cm of horticultural sharp sand (available from garden centres) in the pot on top of the soil and always water from the bottom. Although you shouldn't really need to be watering pepper plants much at all at this time of year. I've found that the sand and bottom watering gets rid of 99% of the fungus gnat problem. Even builders sand might be fine for the peppers although some say that builders sand may contain trace metals that are unhealthy. I just stick to using horticultural sand myself. I always put it in my chilli pots when I pot up to their final pot size. Your allotment isn't a council one right? Some council allotments have frequent manure and wood chip deliveries that plot holders can just help themselves to for free (mine doesn't unfortunately). But you might not have anything like that. I think some people ring up people who have horses/stables and they give manure away for free. If you manage to get some don't forget that fresh manure is not good for a lot of plants roots. 🙏 Hope that concrete is not too thick and can be dug out easily.
Thank you for the tip on the gnats, looks like I will give the pepper plants a second chance! 😆 No it's not council it's private land, I don't think there are any council ones around which is a real shame. We have wood chip as far as I am aware, manure is looking like I I'll have to pay for it! I hope the same about the concrete 😬 I'll find out on Saturday when I take a closer look! 🫣
Hey Denise, thank you so much 🤗 I won't lie, I was so tired by Monday evening I ordered take away for dinner! 🙈 really excited to get back down there at the weekend though!
Would like to suggest Next Level Gardening and Next Level Homestead. He is just starting a series on how to start a new garden at no cost. May have some good ideas for you. Good luck
I have never heard of those I just googled them and wow that look amazing, I must do some research into how they work with the gnats - thank you for sharing JoJo!
Great progress Laura, for your raised beds dependant on depth, you could hugalkultur them, put in twigs, logs, cardboard, to fill and then back fill to save money, on the concrete front, it sounded hollow when you tapped it, if its slabs you can re purpose them, if its a concrete pad, I don't envy you getting it up 🤔, but great start..
Thank you Shawn I was so tired by Monday evening 🤣 Thank you for the bed filler idea, the cost of compost and wood is insane! I have a friend delivering me some pallet wood which might make a compost bay. It did sound odd when I tapped it, I'll take a closer look at the weekend! 🫣🪛
New sub love you content I don't if you no you can make a excellent liquid feed from nettles yes it sinks like he'll but great to feed your crops. And to help other plot holders out that's what it's all about the community spirt giving each other surplus plant and produce ect. All the best and look forward to new adventure and your progress to home grown. Take care😊
Hey John 👋 thank you for subbing, it's lovely to hear you enjoyed the video! I must get a container to put those nettles in to steep. I am looking forward to seeing how everyone's plots burst into life in spring and summer I think I'm going to learn so much!
Well done young lady I wait with anticipation to see how you project progresses a very rewarding hobby but doesn't come without hard graft, but you have youth on your side good luck with it X.
Thank you Ronnie, I must admit I was really tired by Monday evening, I ended up treating myself to a chinese takeaway! It's going to be such a wonderful hobby, I really am enjoying it and great exercise too, win-win! 🤗
With making raised beds I use pallet wood break them down and make the two or three slats high. You can pallets any where free ads ect industrial estates just ask and they will gladly give them you. But . But only use pallets that ht stamped on them ht means there heat treated and safe to use other pallets that don't have ht on are chemical treated which avoid at all cost as the chemicals will leach into the soil and render useless for growing.any of that wood you come across will and can be used in the corner of the raised beds one to join and make the beds plus cut slightly longer you tap in the ground to stabilise the beds. Any bare timber use only water base wood stain what you you use on fences ect don't use oil based stains again these two could leach chemicals into the soil. Your doing a amazing job remember when takeing a plot on its daunting clearing rubbish ect it's not a race but more of a marathon in time you'll get there.take care.
Thank you John, I actually got some pallets delivered, I noticed a few stamps on them, I didn't think anything of it till you mentioned that! So that seems promising! I think one pallet was blue maybe I will leave that to one side! 🤔
Gosh you have done so much already. I think at that pace its going to be amazing by spring. I would keep the concrete pad and build a timber frame polytunnel/greenhouse on it. You could grow toms, peppers, roots, potatoes etc in buckdts.
Thank you Lynn! Spring is literally just around the corner, I haven't long to get it in some sort of shape 🙈 I am planning to take a closer look at the concrete at the weekend!
Hey Stella! Thank you!! I actually need a few nails and I have plenty bits of wood between home and the plot to get it covered over! Get going on the shed, it will be spring before you know it!
Mammoth job, well done! If you check out Emma's Allotment Diaries - she tends to use pieces of random wood, tree trunks to delineate where the beds are and then adds compost and cardboard. This may save you on buying wooden sleepers.
Thank you Laitae 🤗 That is an awesome tip I have so much spare wood from the plot and just thinking about it, I have my old main raised bed from the tiny garden redesign that I could use as well, I will check out her channel to make sure I am doing it right!! 🪵🙌
Hey Laura, loving the " we are at the plot today ", sounds realy good doesnt it. You have made great headway already. Try asking some neighbours if they know what the previous tenant or even the previous previous tenant had on that concrete slab. You could if you wanted obviously put raised beds on it, do it the hugelkulture way and it wont really cost you a lot to fill them, logs, branches, twigs, leaves, the wood that you already have, free topsoil , manure, then just top up with compost. Maybe the guy had a fruit cage there and grew everything in large pots, maybe he had a greenhouse down there. could be any reaon for it, but most people dont make a concrete slab / base for no reason at all. just waiting for more videos from you now. Well done Laura
Hey Jimmy, thank you!! It has a nice ring to it, I was definitely feeling more settled by day three! They have two soil mounds at the top of the site, we are welcome to it, but I did hear someone call it clay which confused me because I thought it was top soil 🤷♀️ I am not sure of the texture or quality but there are some weeds growing over the top of it! I didn't think of the concrete area like that, it must of had a purpose! I have seen a good bit on that hügelkultur, I am back down at the weekend hopefully I can ask the neighbour, I am intrigued now!
@@thetinygarden_ i would love to know the answer a neighbour gives you, thats if you get one. But i dont think anyone builds a base for no apparent reason, keep us updated 👍
I bet that watering can stank to high heaven, Laura LOL You could always live with the concrete for now and put a few pots/planters/raised beds on it - maybe tackle it when the rest is up and running? Sort of quick wins first.
Steve that was one of many smelly containers!! The stench was unreal 🤮🤣 That is a good idea, I was thinking with the plot I might have struck gold and gotten away from the concrete 🤣
@@thetinygarden_ I invariably leave a few trays and tubs upright over winter and boy do they pen & ink when I tip them out LOL If you can bear to lose the space you could leave a few nettles growing and they make great compost and compost tea. Very deep rooted so they are doing the hard work for you and pulling up the minerals etc from down below. We are plagued with docks (old cow pasture site) but they are just like the nettles!
Oh wow that's so helpful I didn't realise they were useful for composting! I do love a home made tea, I have only made seaweed so far I have a few containers I could start up a nettle tea actually, it will definitely save on fertiliser later in the season!
@@thetinygarden_ I brew up and cook on my ghilly kettle , no gas required just stuff that burns lol you have to buy a little adapter to use the frying pan on but it’s a few quid on eBay or Amazon
All the wood you collected cut it down and u can use put it into the bottom of the raised beds. If u have a open fire the Ash from that can go in as well. I went to raven Woods and got a big bag of broken branches and leaves. That's what I use as a first layer in my raised beds 😅
I am so pleased I kept the wood Elaine, trying to salvage as much as I can but the woodchip was totally gone. The wood will be a great filler for a bed or a fire pit!
I am so happy Janet I feel so lucky to have this new space, I am going to push on now to try and get the rest tided so I can start planning where the beds go! 💖
Hey Janet, how have you been? I had so much fun up there this weekend. The bones were sore after the first day I am not going to lie! It was so windy up there my eyes were watering so much! xx
@@thetinygarden_ I have had a hectic week so far My hubby had test on Friday last And found out on Tuesday he was type 2 diabetic So it been all new meds ,charts BP The lot Then old foods out new in No sugars sweets fizzy soda Adjusting is a nightmare But to be told he's had it a while and the nurse was surprised he still here It's worth the effort and time I have cleared every thing out today ready for a shop tomorow He's a lot of apps to go to so going be busy I too have Dr's apps So won't know if I'm coming or going the next few days But I have my u tube and your vidios in an evening I can look forward to catching up on ur older ones U take care lovely ĺady Look forward to following ur new allotment
@janetsandham7058 oh Janet I am so sorry to hear that, it is a total life style change isn't it. It is going to take a while to adjust but it will be good for his sugar levels in the end! My other half loves the fizzy drink so I can feel your pain already! Where would we be without our treats! But at least they caught it, and he will be able to manage 🤞 keep positive it will get easier xx
@@thetinygarden_ thank u sweet Yes it is hard work but we will work at it Hopefully once we have the right foods ect And I'm doing it with him so whatever he has I'm having So no temptation It will get easier The nurse rang him today said they found high cholesterol too So not only no sugars the thing he like too is salt ,there lots he carnt have so it's going take time
Hey Linda 👋 I'm going to see if anyone knows what was on there, it seems not much was grown here for some time 🤔 I'll keep you posted if I figure it out! All the best, Laura 🤗
Perhaps the concrete was the old potting shed site and it got moved? Chipping away at things makes progress. I look forward to your watching your journey.😃😃🔨🔨🦘🦘Cheryl
Hey Cheryl! At first I was bamboozled by the concrete but come to think of it, it must have had a purpose! What are the odds though though in a massive field in rural Ireland I pick the one with concrete 🤣🤣
@@thetinygarden_ I know right! You can't win lotto but you can find a plot with concrete hidden.I hope either you can utilise it or its going to be relatively easy to remove.😃💖🦘🦘
Is it a full cement patio or just a foundation? Perhaps it’s usable as a place to grow pots or a seating area. Are you able to have fires to burn some of the “garbage”?
I am not 100% sure what type of concrete it is, all I know is it's not grass! We are allowed fires which I am so thrilled about, I must go buy myself a kettle can go on an open flame! A lot of the wooden posts were showing signs of rot so definitely something for the fire pit! I really want a seating area, I am more willing to make sure there is enough space to relax and socialise! 💖🤗
Thank you Debbie 💖 it was filmed the weekend that has just past! I live in Ireland and there is a new bank holiday in February! It's only been around for a couple of years!
Order a tonne bag of compost x Will have to barrow it down to your plot but you’ll have to do that with compost bags x A tonne bag delivered in my area is £60 x
Hey Lauren, awesome I did some googling 🙌 I found some mushroom compost in those big tonne bags it was only €15 but a little far away. I will keep searching!! x
@@thetinygarden_ lol I hate it when you pull them and they flick up and hit your face!!!! I’m always getting stung by them!! I honestly think roundup was only made for nettles… I’m an organic gardener but nettles temp me
I sure am Suzie! I went up early each day, brought my lunch and stayed there till about 4pm, the smash and drag approach is definitely a good one! 🤣🙈I was exhausted by Monday evening I ended up treating myself to a Chinese for dinner! I was so nervous when I first agreed to the plot but I am so pleased I did it! So exciting that you might take one on!!
@thetinygarden_ You are a lot younger than me though 😆 . I had one 2016 when I was working still part time , but ended up having to give it up due to nerve damage in my arm lol . I am waiting to hear about what's available in the next few weeks 🤞 x
Oh I really have my fingers crossed it is good news for you!! Take it easy when you do start, everyone on my site tells me there is plenty time and no rush to get it all done! 🤞🤞🤞xx
The soil has not been worked on for a while, it has rested, so must be quite futile. Especially the areas where chicken used to run - must be full of chicken manure!. Do you want raised beds for aesthetic reasons only? Because for the first couple of years, it would be cost-effective just to plant things into the ground, without adding too many bags of compost or manure into the high-raised beds. The concrete bit is a nuisance! I would be angry with the previous owners to discover such a big chunk of natural soil ruined by that foundation for a greenhouse or whatever it was there.
Hey Irene 👋 I didn't know rested soils was good that is super helpful to know. I think there must have been a good bit of chicken manure around! I am thinking to start in the ground is going to be the most cost effective for sure, I have some homemade liquid fertlisiers and some other things I can amend with if needs be! I am set on raised bed, I have them in the home garden and I am open to trying something else for sure, I would love to keep grass paths as it's something different to what I have a home too!
Ya doing a grand job love Well done. I would put all the twigs & the cardboard in your beds it will help fill them. Looking forward to future happenings. I planted some onions last week & put them in my spare bedroom, looked today & they're germinating already, I love it when I see that 😂, chitted my first early potatoes too. So pleased for you & getting a plot. xx
Love that you and your neighbor are working together for a common goal💥 Great job of clearing the shed.
Hey Sylvia 👋 it is what its all about, isn't it! I think the new fence is going to look way nicer! The shed is now fully functioning and no longer a hazard 😆
How fabulous to say “we are at the plot today” 🤭. Lots to do but amazing start and exciting times ahead. So wonderful Roo has a place to join you ❤. Have a simply fantastic time and happy allotmenting, Ali 🥶🇨🇦
Thank you Ali! I was actually thinking of you today, I have my Aji Mango chilli 🌶️🥭 seeds that I must get into some soil! I was filled with so much joy to see Roo bouncing around the place, she made a big pile of wooden stick right in the centre of the plot that tripped over on Monday, even when she's not with me it feels like she is! 🤣xx
I knew you would love having an allotment! You have done so much! The shed looks great! So nice that you have lovely plot neighbours! Roo seems to really enjoy being there too! 😄👍💕🌸
Thank you Nanou! She loved it up there, laying in the grass, making piles of sticks! When I was cleaning the windows it reminded me of your shed and got me thinking about all the little touches like the blind I could put up 😍 I actually really enjoyed myself, lots to do now to grt it some way in shape for spring!! 😆🌸💖
Well done Laura! That's an amazing amount you've got done. I love how real you are and you get stuck in mud and all. There's jobs you don't like but you get on with them with little fuss. A bit like me. I see some channels and the women are drama queens, screaming at the slightest spider etc and as for mud well they say they're covered but it's just a speck compared to what I've seen you covered in and still not bat an eyelid.
Hard work stinks but the harder you work the bigger the reward at the end of it all. You will sit there one day with a cuppa and say I did it x
Hey Chrissie 🤗 thank you so much! That's it, roll up the sleeves and get stuck into it and you feel great for it!
There aren't many days I leave the plot without muddy knees 🤣🤣 can't wait to have my first cup of tea at the plot and sit down and enjoy the view xx
@@thetinygarden_ oh that day is coming very soon sweetheart. You're making great progress x
That's a really nice shed
Thank you Ben! A lot nicer now since I have it cleared out! 😆🙌
Hey Laura! 🙋🏻♀️ You seem really excited about every facet of your allotment. Your enthusiasm and gusto is refreshing to watch. Wish I was across the pond sharing your experience with you. I will have to be satisfied with a vicarious experience. Thank you Laura for sharing your delightful life with me! Btw, Roo looks just as delighted as you! Take care my friend, Cindy ❤
Hey Cindy 👋 I was like a big kid wasn't I, I am getting great enjoyment out of it! Haha live vicariously no problem, I'll bring you along the way! 🙌 it was so special seeing Roo up there she loved it! All the best 🤗💖
Well, hello to the plot lady Laura 😁💚 it ain't no tiny garden no more 😅 plenty there to tackle and really impressed how much you managed to get done within the bank holiday weekend 👏
It was raining in here for the 2 out of 3 days 😂...
I did hope you'd wear a mask or facecovering when cleaning the shed....the 🐀 dust is not great for the lungs 🤗
But the idea of potentially turning the shed to gain a better orientation sounds really reasonable ❤
Best of luck on your journey to growing more 🥰 Sending love from Kerry 💚🌿
Hey Maiju! Haha 🤣 Tiny plot coming at ya! It was a productive few days, typical isn't it the minute the bank holiday comes around it's raining!
Oh I know *look away* 😱 I COMPLETELY forgot, I was half way through before I had realised I didn't have it with me!!!
I need all the luck there is still so much to do! 💖
You mentioned burning your old posts. Great idea but just check before you do if they have been treated. We have treated timber here that if it is burnt will give off poisonous gases. Love watching your progress. I have just found your channel sooo glad I found you at the beginning of this journey 👍😊
Good idea, they have a green tinge but I think that's like the green tinge on the shed algea/nettle debris! I will ask around and see does anyone remember when they went in, because I don't want to make poisonous gases! That's so lovely, I am delighted to have you join me! 🤗
Oh Laura,,, I am just impressed at the amount of work you did in 3 days... plus helping out the neighbor. Well Done you. Already looks SO MUCH better. [SO SORRY THIS IS LONG AGAIN!!]
[2] Food for thought.. whatever that concrete is, you have two options. IF IT IS SQUARES,, and able to be moved,, Put it under the garden shed so it is setting on something that won't rot underneath it [ if it hasn't already] then you could skirt it so no rodents can get in at all!
Or have a nice patio with plants in all sorts of URNS and Pots. Put a little Bistro table and chairs there for a chin wag with the new friends? Or if it is squares, a nice walking path out of the shed, then coming forward as far as you can before running out of them.
[3] That shed looks SO MUCH better since you can see inside so much better. The scrubbing really made a difference!! Made it look loads brighter with the windows cleaned too..
[4] If there is electric to the property, some grow lights over the potting table would really help them out for spring. The gnats,, use sticky traps. That is a major help by putting 1 at each end of the trays,, and 1 in the middle until they are under control.
You could also sprinkle the top of the soil with Vermiculite. That gives them no place to keep breeding!
[5] Tesco's might also give you some plastic crates that water bottles, or milk comes in. You can literally build up that side wall with shelves by stacking them to store bins, baskets, tools, etc. i always check behind the markets to see what they are throwing out that would help me out with projects.
[6] I cannot and never have been able to understand why anyone would grow Nettles. I've just never imagined growing such a thing. It is going to take ages to get all that ROOT STOCK out of the ground. You'd literally have to dig up every bit of the root stock out of the ground. Or use a herbicide. But then you'd have a hard time growing anything there for a year or two. I cringe at the amount of work that is going to take you getting rid of them.
[7] The Chicken Coupe side of the garden shed would be a great place to store seed trays and garden pots, clay pots, etc all year when not in use. Even compost, top soil, etc. to keep it all dry. Your good working supplies basically.
[8] For your soil problems with raised beds. You can get "AGED" manure from farmers for free. NOT NEW but seriously aged. Or some places have compost in bulk that you can pick up or get delivered. Getting it all in the bags gets so costly. Just don't use all manure or all compost. You have to mix them together with soil or the nitrogen could burn out the plant roots. Remember you can put layers and layers of leaves in the bottom of the beds. And any kind of chipped wood, saw dust, ash from fireplaces, etc. to help build up a gardening haven for yummy plant microbiome/ microorganisms.
[8] SO HAPPY that Roo got to join you. Totally needs to be there exploring and guarding.
[9] This past 2 weeks it seeks weird to watch you on my laptop again. I had been in the hospital a few months and had to only watch on the telly, so wasn't able to ever comment. My whole family watches your channel.
So when FINALLY back on my computers, it wouldn't let me comment until I unsubscribed and resubscribed a couple of times. Seems that youtube is really getting messy. Are you ALSO on Rumble as your backup??
So sorry to hear you have been in hospital I wish you a speedy recovery 🤗 that is so cool say hi to all your family for me please and make sure to let them know that I am thrilled to have them join me on my journey!
Haha no need to apologise, I loved reading your comments the last time!
It could be squares because it did sound funny, I will take a closer look on Saturday!
Finally a solution to the gnats!! They are literally sending me over the edge at this point.
I didn't realise growing nettles intentionally was a thing until this video went up! 🙈🤣
Seems those nettles are going need some talking to off camera! Great tip on the soil/compost mix there are some soil mounds at the top I think it must be top soil!
Roo loved it, she is a guardian breed I was a little unsure how she might be up there, she doesn't really like people entering the garden, many house plants have landed on the floor.
I didn't hear of that platform before, it yikes I can imagine that is really annoying 🤔
Ya doing a grand job love Well done. I would put all the twigs & the cardboard in your beds it will help fill them. Looking forward to future happenings. I planted some onions last week & put them in my spare bedroom, looked today & they're germinating already, I love it when I see that 😂, chitted my first early potatoes too. So pleased for you & getting a plot. xx
Thank you Carol! I have a few onions I am going to sow this week, hopefully it isn't too late, it is so exciting to see the little spouts coming through the soil! I have my main crop chitting at the minute but I haven't picked up my first earlies yet, the plot distracted me 😅 xx
I forgot to add, dig your food scraps into the soil to improve it.❤
Thank you ❤
Brilliant! What a productive 3 days you had Laura. That shed is quite something now it’s cleaned out. What an excellent potting shed.
If you don’t want chickens, could you adapt the sides/roof of the chicken shed/run to make an attached wooden greenhouse with polycarbonate sheeting for windows/roof? That would be brilliant!
What a shame to discover so much concrete. Wonder what was there previously.
So much clearing and Roo helping too. How lovely to have such wonderful plot neighbours as well.
I think I like this addition to your growing space a lot ❤
Thank you Clare! 🤗 💖 I love the shed, if I cna convinces the guys on the plot the help me move it the windows could then face the sun 🌞 a few spots of TLC needed still though!
I think I'd love a chicken or two but I'm definately not ready just yet! I did have a similar thought I could build/extend off the coup and make bit of an L shaped poly tunnel cube thing 🤔 so many ideas and choices!!
Roo loved it she was making piles of sticks all day, which later I kept tripping over 😆 xx
I like to fork or shovel the soil up to disturb the roots then start removing the weeds. Makes it so much easier.
I have no tools! Only small hand spade and one shovel! My snips broke at the weekend, my neighbour said he would give me a lend of a pick axe for the nettle roots ⚒️ 🤭
You can take hardwood cuttings from gooseberries. Take a cutting about 30 cm long from wood grown last summer. Remove all leaves except for the top few.Use a spade to open up a slit in the ground and place the cuting into the ground. It will take a few years to grow and fruit. You want a stem about 10 cm long with a goblet shaped canopy above it, when it grows. You will needto learn how to prune it.
Sorry about getting the raspberries wrong, I did have second thoughts when I saw a close up of the stems in your second video.
You are doing well, the shed is a good place to start, to hold your tools and things.
May I suggest a few things;
You do not have a lot of time till the growing season starts I would suggest that you concentrate on the sunniest and hopefully not too weedy part of the plot, hopefully the most productive part. Start getting the ground ready so that you can get something in the ground in about 6-8 weeks. You can start things off in pots until you have the ground ready. I start nearly everything indoors as I get better plants earlier. Just cover the rest of the ground to kill the weeds.
The concrete surprise will be a lot of hard work removing it (I assume that is your intention).Clear the grass off the concrete and for now just use it to grow things in containers for now on the concrete if you have more plants than space to grow things. You may also make it an area that you can relax and have a cup of tea. When you have more pressing things under control then tackle the concrete.
Taking on a plot is a lot of hard work with lots to do. so little and often will bring the best progress
Basically work the areas that wil be easiest and most productive first, come mid summer the ground can become rock hard and difficult to work.
Docks need their roots pulled out and are deep rooted. Unfortunately they are prolific seeders about 30,000 seeds per plant. However a sharp how when the seeds germinate will solve the problem easily and quickly.
Nettles whilst unpleasant are relatively easy to get rid of as they are shallow rooted. You will need to deal with the seedlings that germinate this summer.
I am a nodig gardener. Some weeds like bindweed will just grow through the cardboard and mulch. Nodig does work really well however.
How I get material to mulch my beds is from the fo;;owing sources:
I make leafmould with leaves and mix it in my bought potting compost and horse manure, equal amounts so I have to buy only a third of the potting compost as each of the three components are in equal amounts
I make compost the same as you will be doing
I phoned around the local stables to see if I could get free or cheap horse manure. I made sure that they did not spray their fields with weed killer. Some will let you dig it out for free, some will even deliver it for free, but some will charge for delivering or by the bag at a good price. It will need to be well rotted before you use it and better well rotted when you get it as it shrinks a lot in the rotting process.. I live in Bromley so I googled "stables Bromley" to get contact details
I also arranged for a fruit and veg shop to deliver for free all their vegetable waste to our allotments, or they may save it up for you to collect for free. Our fruit and veg person has to pay the council to take it away, so is happy to drop it off at the plots as it is local.
I have heard of some people getting peelings from their neighbours as well.
Wish you lots of success,
Kevin
I have taking cuttings on my list of things to learn this year it will really help fill out the plot with out breaking the bank, I have asked a friend if I can take a cutting from her rose 🌹 I actually love gooseberries so I will do that, thank you!!
No worries on the raspberries! Yikes 😬 spring is only around the corner, I haven't sown a single seed yet!!
I definately want a relax space and somewhere to make a fire so i can cook my spuds in foil on the coals!
I didn't think of the soil getting hard but I know exactly what you mean my parents garden went rock solid in the really hot summer we had!
I am going to try the no dig approach, I like the idea of making a mix of mulch and I will have to check locally for stables I am sure there are loads! That is awesome about the food scraps!
Appreciate all these top tips, beyond helpful Kevin! Hope you have a great week!! 🙌
@thetinygarden_ I am only too glad to help. I had a very good gardener help me when I had my first allotment, it meant a lot to me. I like helping newbies on our allotments., it's paying back the kind help I recieved
I have just got my new allotment plot last week and this is so inspiring. Looking forward to watching more of your videos and seeing your allotment's progress, it looks a gorgeous setting too! :)
Oh how exciting!! 😲 Do you have much clearing to do or can you squeeze in a few crops this season? So glad you have enjoyed the videos so far! 🤗
So exciting to see how much you achieved to getting started with the allotment!
Thank you, I am thrilled with the progress, hopefully I will get to do some more this weekend, the forecast isn't looking great though! 🌦
Great job on the shed
Make sure you don’t leave any tools that are visible for other people to see . Petty theft can be a problem on allotments.
Looking forward to seeing how things progress through the year .
Great start so far
Thank you Kevin! I did get myself a tamper proof lock 🔐 I know in the grand scheme of things it isn't much but it might reduce the temptation. With windows all round it will be difficult to hide things, I did have to run up to the plot yesterday evening as I realised I had left some of camera gear in there 😅 😳 😬
Bike shops are good for cardboard. 😊 So I believe and it's thick. Make sure you take every piece of tape off as it never rots. Also you don't need boards, Charles Dowding founded no dig and his channels demonstrates no edging. We all just go it for convenience. A lot can be grown in grow bags when you see them. You are doing great and what you a fab shed, you definitely made the right choice.
Hey! I did see that! I think I will start at ground level 🤔 seems to be the best way forward for now! Bike shop 👌 awesome I wouldn't have thought of that now!!
@@thetinygarden_ make a little bed, get it planted when it's time and keep going. Little and often. You're doing great.
🤗🤗
Blimey Laura, what a Brilliant job you have done so far from the garden to the shed and down the side, if you do decided to move the shed a bit once done get some shed paint and give it a lick of paint, oh and a battery sander if you have one just to get any rough bits off the shed before any painting.
As for the Concrete personally i wouldn't worry about it, and your thinking now that you can't grow on concrete what's he talking about? Well you can i have now got three 4x2 beds and one 2x2 bed all sitting on Concrete Paving Slabs the thick heavy ones, put down by the previous owner.
All i did was get four Metal Raised Beds put them together, a load of Cardboard inside them without tape and stickers, followed by any Logs that haven't rotted in my case next doors tree, and anything else to put in even bags of Shredded Paper, anything that will rot and once you are roughly half way up (i think they are 18 inches high so about 9 - 10 inches), top up with Manure and Compost.
I have grown loads in my beds so there shouldn't be a problem on your site.
Sorry for the long one next time i'll send you an email ha ha ha, Take Care.
Barry (the Wirral UK)
I am itching to give it a lick of paint!! I think that's a good point on the concrete it's not a disaster, I just thought it was funny! What were the odds of me finding concrete in the middle of a field in rural Ireland, it had to be me!!
I have an exciting day ahead of me stripping the labels and tape off of that cardboard. Impressive that you need only a small volume of proper growing medium!
Mind yourself and catch you in the next one! 🙌
Oooo, what bank holiday have you got in Ireland? I want one this time of year!
Ahhhh, watching you gets me soooo excited and I now wanted a new plot!!
If nettles is your main weed, you are winning!! But keep an eye out as the weather picks up coz a lot of weeds are still dormant like bind weed and elder.
Oh god. The concrete... I honestly don't know the answer... maybe a jack hammer?
Hope you're having a lovely week 😊🌱💚
Hey Jake, it's a new one only been around for 2 or 3 years, it's for St. Bridget's day and really breaks up the wait between New year and Paddy's weekend 🍀I'll be honest my knowledge of weeds isn't great, we have creeping buttercup on the ground and couch grass. I don't really know what bind weed looks like if I am honest 🤷♀️jack hammer!! good grief I hope for my sake it doesn't come to that 🤣
So the extra plot isn't on the cards 🥺 any possibility with a home garden or balcony project? 🙌
New subscriber today! Just found your channel and have enjoyed watching you get your new allotment going. All the best, Audrey.
Hey Audrey 👋 thank you for subbing! It's lovely to have you here 🤗 I have really enjoyed getting it started, hopefully it can get it in some shape to plant a few crops by summer! 🤞
Great work Laura it will be amazing
Thrilled with the progress, I was so tired by Monday evening haha I had to buy myself a takeaway for dinner 🍽 😅 I felt so guilty but needs must 😬🤣
One way to start a raised bed without timber and cost of compost etc. use hay bales. Gardening Australia video grow vegetables and flowers in hay bales…shows you how. You could use this method on your concrete pad. I’m not sure how cheap hay bales are in your area but it might be worth looking into. Even one would be a good start. You could still put your cardboard down on a soil area then a hay bale. Soak it well with water. Sprinkle some fertiliser of your choice over the top… make holes for your plants only big enough for the seedling as you would plant normally in soil…add a little compost and plant your seedling. Over time your hay will decompose and you will have beautiful soil as you are working with it. It would give you time to eventually collect your boards etc to build something permanent and in the meantime you have the enjoyment of growing.
Hay bales! I completely forgot I did see that before someone had them stacked up inside there greenhouse and planted tomatoes in them! I did hear they are expensive here, there are a lot of farms around so I imagine they are in high demand, I will check it out though! Thank you Margaret!
You've done so much, its shaping up🎉
Thank you Bird, still lots more clearing to do I think 😬🙈
Great progress! So nice to see the shed cleaning up. Now to get a chair in it if desired.
What all is under that? Where concrete is? I don't think I'd go to the trouble of digging that out. It could be helpful in reducing weeds. I think I'd consider just placing the cardboard down over it where I want things to grow and build it up from there. Using the lasagna technique or such. So I'd next decide if moving shed is even possible. If it stays together sturdy when moved and get it in it's final placement. I'd start mapping the plot. And thinking what I might want to grow where. I'd lay cardboard out where I want beds to be to get a visual. Then start collecting/soil compost items and covering the cardboard where I know I want to grow. I'd also continue working on the fenceline and weeding. Figure out whats been growing on it besides nettles. Personally though nettles are said to have value I'd be getting rid of em completely!
I'd check for any tree leaves I could get, also more cardboard. I'd see if you have any local restaurants to get coffee and tea grounds from. Or from work or from non compost gardening friends family And neighbors. Here in the States we have Starbucks coffee place and they give away their daily coffee grounds specifically to gardeners. Also egg shells and banana peels. Maybe there is a local grocery or food bank that is getting rid of produce that starting to rot. You can compost that. Also straw and mulch. Again I DK there but here we have city trees and we have separate pick up for tree branches and plant clippings and Christmas trees. The city chips it all up and puts it out in giant compost piles. Then citizens can pick it up free. This first year. You might try like the lasagna method or Ruth Stout method of growing white you settle in a bit before actually putting in raised beds. We've grown great crops of potatoes with cardboard then a bit of soil and seed potatoes and more cardboard on top. Didn't take much soil.
You could then see how the sun and weather and neighbors plants affect your space. I'd be far more concerned about getting the shed settled and the fence line cleaned up and possibly refenced if need be first. You know how to grow in containers so you can always do that that first year if need be.
So many wonderful tips and advice! Lasagna method sounds cool, I will do some reading up on that! I think raised beds might be a little but further down the line as I think of it.
Its definitely going to be a year for learning see how the space is affected through the season and neighbouring crops, so plans need to be flexible for sure! We have a Starbucks in town I wonder do they do the same thing!
Fence is on the list this weekend, hopefully if the rain holds off! 🤞thank you so much!! 🤗
Yay I was so excited for this video! You’re going to put so much TLC and love back into that plot it’s going to be great. Shame about all the concrete though!
Bet Roo loves it there too! 🥰 it’s great to see the realistic process and progress too. Great job so far, looking forward to the next video.
PS love shed chat haha.
That is so similar to what one of the plot holders on the site said to me when I was down there they were delighted to see that someone is going to take over the space and give it a go!
She loved it up there! I was so tired Monday evening so it was a physical three days!
Looking forward to heading down there at the weekend 🙌 haha shed chats it might become a thing!!! 💖
Is it far to travel for you?
Not sure about any compost ideas, its a neverending battle trying to make it!
Start 1 bed at a time i guess. Try and make compost pathways etc.
try and compost everything.
Maybe look for some cheap topsoil on marketplace you could mix in with compost and some well rotted manure
What a great start Laura! Great bit of work done in 3 days you’ve inspired me to go sort my own mess of a garden out! Can’t wait to see what you do next ☺️
Mairead you're a gas woman!! 🤣🤣you're garden is a garden of dreams even in the winter! 💖xx
Well done Laura it will come together my advice is take your time and ENJOY xx❤xx
Thank you Tina 💖 I am going to enjoy the process I know spring is only around the corner but even if I get a few bits in by summer like a pumpkin i'll be happy 😊 🎃
Its a huge blessing to have a shed on your allotment. Thank you for the video.
Love the shed it need a bit of TLC but it's a good base!! It rains so much here I need some where to retreat during the showers! 🚿
Hi laura what good progress your making it will be a gem when you have finished x
Hey Corrine! I hope so too, it was fun and it is such a relaxing spot, I am enjoying the process, but I am also so excited to see how things might look when the weather warms up! 🌸🤗
Hey Corrine! I hope so too, it was fun and it is such a relaxing spot, I am enjoying the process, but I am also so excited to see how things might look when the weather warms up! 🌸🤗x
❤ watching Laura's Lottie grow will be fantastic. Could you ask the allotment community if anyone has spare homemade compost. Do they have wood chip/horse manure deliveries? X
Laura's Lottie that has a nice ring to it 🤭🙈 spare manure oh I never thought to ask! Wood chip is delivered for free, I was told a farmer will bring manure but you need to pay for it, I am not sure of the cost nor do I know how to contact him 😆x
I love your videos and seeing your work on the plot! So glad i found it and i'm looking forward to follow your progress :)
Thank you 🤗 delighted to have the shed cleared and so glad you enjoyed the video!!
You go girl!! Well done, its hardwork but you're on the right path x
Thank you Karen 💪💪I'm getting there!! Xx
You made so much great progress already.
I think so too! Hopefully the weather it good at the weekend and I can move that cage full of nettles!
I put straw and cardboard in the bottom of my raised beds then cover with compost to save money. My raised beds are two pallet collars one on top of the other so quite deep. Great for carrots and parsnips
Hey GF 👋 I did a pallet collars bed in my home garden I stack it all up in different tiers, I am definitely going to try carrots and parsnips! Straw is such a good idea. I'd say that's fairly affordable, too! Thank you!! 🤗
I enjoyed your 3day clear up. Made me laugh that I had the same (crap), on my allotment when I got it 3 years ago. Always a blue piece of thick rope, cupboards with stuff in that you cannot use, a roll of green fencing (useful), empty manure bags. I bought a wheelbarrow this week, was put off by the price£60, but wish I’d bought one 3 years ago. It is so much easier not having to carry or drag stuff back and forth. Maybe consider getting one, or suggest it as a present. Making a leaf compost area has helped me to cut down on buying compost. Get friends to collect leaves for you to rot down in black plastic bags with puncture holes to allow air flow and moisture. Maybe try a small no dig area first, gives you time to decide on overall plot layout and there might be some good soil under the concrete (concrete could be used for laying paths? ). Do a ph test on your soil in various places to know what compost you need to buy, depending on what you want to grow. It’s very satisfying when you get a lot done on the allotment. Take a picture of your empty shed, within a couple of months it will be full to the brim and you will wonder where it all came from. 🤣🤣😊🌈
Haha 😆😆 not just me then I am glad you agree it was junk!! I was thinking today I need to buy a wheel barrow for sure I hope it will fit in my car otherwise I've no way of getting it down to the plot! The car is only small 😅
Leaf compost is a great idea, I saw loads of leaves in a car park today I was going to go back with a bucket and fill it but I wasn't sure if the area had ever been sprayed with weed killer 🤔 I have the picture taken already let's see what it looks like by the end of the season!!
sheds looking fab already
Thank you Shell 💖 so happy its finally clean!!
Its a lovely shed.
I really like it too, especially now it is clean! 🤗
Good effort to you Laura. For your compost solution kind of, cardboard bottom to stop the weeds etc then what i have is a couple bags of my old used compost sieved, a bag of straw shrown all over my bed and i bought a 75litre block of coir coconut husk good nutrients and retains moisture only cost me £3, buy end of season when you get decent deals in supermarkets and i have a few bags of compost if needed. I too am relatively new to this
Thank you Andrew! I was so tired after the three days 😅 good idea I have more cardboard and I had 12 pallets delivered today for the compost bay to be built 🙌 love an end of season deal! Fingers crossed we both have a great season!!
Congratulations on your new allotment and great work already! I can’t wait to see how you transform this plot!
Hey Amir 👋 thank you!! I am having great fun and I hope its some way ready to have a few plants by summer! 🌞
Lovely to see you and roo at your new allotment plot.. So exciting and youth happiness shines through 😊x
Hey Kerrie, Roo has the best time she loved laying on the grass! She made a pile of wood right in the middle of the plot that I tripped over the following day 🤣 I've lots to do before spring but I am loving it! 💖xx
What a lovely video! I’m just starting out on my first allotment so will be following you to see how you get on and to pick up ideas and tips.😀
Hey Adrian 👋 thank you! That is so exciting!! I plan so many things that I want to get done but because the site is so new to me and I find myself discovering different things along the way thank get side tracked with 😆 Wishing you the best of luck on your new allotment I hope it brings you so much enjoyment 🙌
I have had a tunnel damaged by the wind. So, it's been a good excuse to swap and go longer. I fix to timber bases out of solid wood, as I was a joiner. They last much longer. 😊 enjoy the plot
The storms have been so bad, I was surprised the shed was still standing to be honest! That is so exciting, bigger tunnel to grow more crops 🙌 I have drawn up some plans for the plot, I want to use as many raw materials as possible. I had thoughts about removing the chicken coup and building an 'L' shape poly-cube off the side of the shed out of wood. I have 9 pallets being delivered on Friday from a friend so that could be my compost bays sorted...
Laura you have received some wonderful advice and I am sure your mind is constantly thinking of the many ways you can fully use your plot.
Your shed looks great and will be a huge benefit.
Personally I would leave it where it is for now as you can get around all 4 sides to keep on top of weeds around the shed and the door faces the front of the plot which is good from a viewpoint if you are sitting low down on a deck chair inside.
The door at the front will also be handy if you have a small seating area at the top of your plot.
Plus being able to walk around the shed will make things easier if you want to paint/treat the outside.
The roof slopes towards the chicken coop so it's worth considering adding some guttering to connect to water butts.
Ideal for watering blueberries if you grow them and if your site ever has a hose pipe ban.
The shed can always be moved at a later point if you decide that suits you better but for now concentrating on getting one or two beds ready for growing and helping your neighbour with the fencing is probably a priority.
If you still have the metal lockers these could be useful for storage and to deter mice etc from getting to any products/paperwork that otherwise might've left out on your bench or any open shelving that you put up.
The door fronts could possibly be painted or a sticky back product placed on the door fronts to brighten them up.
Re the main growing area it's worth considering raised beds but for this growing season just clearing areas approx 4ft wide and max 10ft long will enable you to get some veg in the ground.
If you opt for a middle path then create say 4 beds either side for this season.
If you can purchase a battery operated strimmer you can use this to keep the lower part of the plot tidy.
Leaving the area free would allow you to concentrate on the top half of the plot and give you time to consider how you might use the lower section.
Have fun and Good Luck.
Hey Rosanna 👋 I was thinking about guttering for a water storage, I know I have mains water but rain water is so much better!
I haven't any plans for the path yet but I would love a grass path just for the contrast with the woodchip in the tiny home garden.
I am definately going to need to work on section at a time, working from the shed towards the entrance!
So much wonderful advice! Thank you!! 🤗
You are working hard in your garden. Thanks for sharing this video. Looking good. Happy gardening
Thank you Renee! It was such great exercise too 🙌 hopefully the weather is good at the weekend and I can get that cage moved!
Amazing work well done
Thank you Aine 🌸🤗
Hi Laura
Wow you managed to make such an inpact on your new allotment plot 👍
Some points to consider
- that concrete sounded very hollow, could they be paving slabs. In which case what a great resource, does your neighbour know?
- if it is a concrete pad enbrace it as a patio, put up a pergola and grow crops up it. Put raised beds, barbeque, firepit, picnic bench on it
- having that shady spot might be a god send in the heat of the summer
- i would keep those metal lockers, very useful for storage especialy to keep thing dry, to keep rodents out and to store things like seeds smalls tools etc. out of sight is out of mind for possible thieves. Use it for a while and then get rid at a later date if you find you don't want them
- use the chicken coop as a storage area for bags of compost, pots and anything that might blow around. You could also make it into an area for Roo
- that frame will make an excellent cover for a strawberry bed once you clear the nettles out. Try covering it with some weed membrane for a season before planting that bed up
- because of the cost of compost start with a planting in ground and add one raised bed at a time when money etc is available
- use any scraps of wood to edge in ground beds it can be neatened up at a later date
DON'T FORGET IT'S A MARATHON NOT A SPRINT
I think I've got shed envy 😂😂😂
Hey Carol, you are most certainly right there 🤗 all my new plot friend were telling me the exact same, don't rush, enjoy yourself it's a journey!
Hoping it's slabs because it did sound a little odd when I tapped it. I have started using the chicken coup as storage for that big roll of green fencing that I found! 🙌
I am kind of thinking now to start with in ground planting it really is going to get me started without huge upfront costs! Haha shed envy! Who new that was a thing!! 🤣🤣
Hi Laura, I have been chomping at the bit waiting to see your next video lol 😆 Wow you've been busy on your lot, but what a difference you have made to the shed and the side of it 🙂 You asked for raised bed suggestions and I am wondering what the concrete is that is hidden as it's possible you could use that. If they are big slabs but not too big like 2 feet by 2 feet then you could half bury them upright to make a bed. If they are breeze blocks then they too can be used as a raised bed. Try googling concrete raised beds 😀 there's some great ideas out there. So good to see Roo Boo having a great time on your lot. Very excited for you Laura and the possibilities that lay ahead for your garden 😊 looking forward to the next video xxx
Chomping at the bit, I haven't heard that saying in ages 😆the time flew while I was down there. I am thrilled with the shed, there are a few bits that need some TLC but at least it is clean! 🙈
That is a really cool idea! I need to take a closer look at that area when I head back down at the weekend, they did sound a bit funny when I tapped them with the screwdriver!
I was so happy to see Roo Boo running around she had the best time and she loved laying on the grass! Thank you for your continued support Julie, I do upload at really random times hopefully when college finishes I can get a bit more consistent! 💖xx
@thetinygarden_ you must be burning the midnight oil right now, you're 6 hours ahead of me and it's almost 6pm here. Have a good night 😴
@julieg1270 I eventually went to sleep I was back up at 6 for work! 🤣 all go go go!! X
How exiting!! Just as the season starts, sure you will have a wonderfull time, Happy Growing 👍🌻🌻
Hey Aydas 👋 so exciting isn't it!!! Fingers crossed I can get a bit planted by summer ☀️ I haven't even started my seeds yet 😅
I just want to say I really enjoyed this video! Love your vlogging style ❤
Thank you Kay 💖 that is so nice to hear!!
So nice to see your smile. You have gotten so much done in a weekend. Looking forward to seeing all the progress.
Thank you Ann! I was like big kid up there, I am enjoying the process so far and happy you here to share the journey! 🤗
Qhay a difference already ❤ cant wait to see more progress.
A top tip for newbies i learned was small steps and dont exoect to much.
Loved seeing roo at the plot... shes going to be exactly like my ruben 😂 so watch your vegggies 😂😂
That's it Tracey I know spring is just around the corner but even if I have only a few things planted up there by early summer I will be happy I think! Mostly it's my pumpkins I really want to get in!
Did you see her she was running off with bits of nettles?! and she made a pile of sticks in the middle I nearly broke my ankle on them the following day 🤣💖
@@thetinygarden_ 🤣🤣🤣🤣 she will love it 🤣🤣🤣 its going to be chaos 😅 got to have eyes in the back of your head.
Hi Laura
I’m so happy for you… so exciting 🤗❤️ it is hard work but I can see your a hard worker and very determined when you put your mind to things. You have done a great job already 💪
It’s lovely your meeting new people and making friends with those that share your interests.
For your raised beds start with your cardboard… any twigs/leaves,cuttings…. any free manure on fb marketplace etc.. or does allotment get some delivered?….. then decent compost topping and around any crops you plant. I also add bagged/screened top soil too as some things just prefer it with a bit of loam. I’m sure others can give far better advice, I only have a home garden.
Aww Roo loving life bless her 🐶🥰
Concrete bit concerning? I’m hoping it’s slabs you can use and not just solid concrete 😯 did they even grow there or just used the space for chickens?
Take care… happy gardening 👩🌾🥕🪴💪 xx
Hi Katie 👋 thank you! It has been great fun I was super tired Monday evening though! I think the allotment gets delivered wood chip for free, I was told a local farmer will drop of manure but that does cost I don't know how much though!
There are two mounds of soil at the top of the site, I thought it was top soil until someone called it clay so I was left a little confused about that to be honest.
Roo was living her best life she loved laying on the grass and gathering sticks! I am not sure anything was grown on the plot to be honest, I did salvage a rhubarb from the edge of the plot that was dumped near the road. I will tackle the concrete at the weekend 🤔mind yourself and talk soon!💖xx
Hopeful that concrete isn’t too thick. It’s not too hard to break up if it’s only three to four inches thick. As long as it’s not reinforced. I got a bunch up in my garden with a pry bar and small,sledge hammer. I’m using the chunks for patio pavers with gravel in between.
I was thinking a crow bar or a sledge might do the job...
I don't own either yet though 😆 i hope it's slabs it sounded odd when I tapped it so I will investigate further at the weekend 👀
@@thetinygarden_ I think you will get better leverage with a pry bar. They’re quite long and heavy. Mine is about forty pounds and five feet long. There’s some good videos on you tube showing technique.
I'll google the pry bar, I am not sure I am familiar with those!
I had to pause the video and wipe the tears "I had a small chat with those screws off camera"🤣😂🤣😂🤣😂
You accomplished so much in 3 days. The break from school work will clear your brain to get back at it.
Can't wait to see what that concrete patch is all about...very intriguing. Might be a nice spot to have a bench or chairs etc to relax...a platform for some pot growing.
Why not start with a few in ground beds that you work a bit of compost and organic granular fertilizer in for starters. I dug over or tilled all the gardens at first. Then did minimal disturbance from then on. You can add raised beds as money and free resources become available. My first gardens were all unground and it works just fine. That soil looks good as everything is growing well.
How exciting.
Hey Robin 😆😆 I am glad I was able to make you laugh!
I am thinking inground beds it's the most affordable option right now for sure! I have some buckets of blood fish and bone and seaweed left over from last season I could dig that out!!! I must get a wriggle on with seed sowing I've done nothing!!! 🤭😆
You have time. Only seed sowing I've done is celery, celeriac, onions, leeks and shallots...and that was just 3 days ago which is earl for me by more than a week.@@thetinygarden_
I would just saw the rotten wood off the ends of those fence posts. The rest of the wood is likely good quality and it's always good to have a load of bits of useful wood on a plot.
I wouldn't put your pepper plants in the shed. It might be over 10 degrees in the day time but over night the temperature will be too low and if it drops close to or below zero the plants will all die. If fungus gnats are an issue the best thing to do is put a cm of horticultural sharp sand (available from garden centres) in the pot on top of the soil and always water from the bottom. Although you shouldn't really need to be watering pepper plants much at all at this time of year. I've found that the sand and bottom watering gets rid of 99% of the fungus gnat problem.
Even builders sand might be fine for the peppers although some say that builders sand may contain trace metals that are unhealthy. I just stick to using horticultural sand myself. I always put it in my chilli pots when I pot up to their final pot size.
Your allotment isn't a council one right? Some council allotments have frequent manure and wood chip deliveries that plot holders can just help themselves to for free (mine doesn't unfortunately). But you might not have anything like that. I think some people ring up people who have horses/stables and they give manure away for free. If you manage to get some don't forget that fresh manure is not good for a lot of plants roots.
🙏 Hope that concrete is not too thick and can be dug out easily.
Thank you for the tip on the gnats, looks like I will give the pepper plants a second chance! 😆
No it's not council it's private land, I don't think there are any council ones around which is a real shame. We have wood chip as far as I am aware, manure is looking like I I'll have to pay for it!
I hope the same about the concrete 😬 I'll find out on Saturday when I take a closer look! 🫣
Laura you are doing amazing job, it is great to see a hard worker. Keep up the good work ❤
Hey Denise, thank you so much 🤗 I won't lie, I was so tired by Monday evening I ordered take away for dinner! 🙈 really excited to get back down there at the weekend though!
Would like to suggest Next Level Gardening and Next Level Homestead. He is just starting a series on how to start a new garden at no cost. May have some good ideas for you. Good luck
Hey Margaret, I haven't heard of them I will definately check them out, thank you!! 🤗
Great job!🎉
Thank you Conny 😊🙌
Sun dew plants deal with gnats really well. Though you might have to wait until spring to find them in shops
I have never heard of those I just googled them and wow that look amazing, I must do some research into how they work with the gnats - thank you for sharing JoJo!
Such good progress! Good luck with it all 🧡
I was so tired by Monday evening 🤣 thank you so much!💖
Great progress Laura, for your raised beds dependant on depth, you could hugalkultur them, put in twigs, logs, cardboard, to fill and then back fill to save money, on the concrete front, it sounded hollow when you tapped it, if its slabs you can re purpose them, if its a concrete pad, I don't envy you getting it up 🤔, but great start..
Thank you Shawn I was so tired by Monday evening 🤣 Thank you for the bed filler idea, the cost of compost and wood is insane! I have a friend delivering me some pallet wood which might make a compost bay. It did sound odd when I tapped it, I'll take a closer look at the weekend! 🫣🪛
Such satisfying "before and after" progress on your shed! Best wishes for a great spring!
Thank you! Fingers crossed I can get a few bits into the ground by then! 🤣🤞
New sub love you content I don't if you no you can make a excellent liquid feed from nettles yes it sinks like he'll but great to feed your crops. And to help other plot holders out that's what it's all about the community spirt giving each other surplus plant and produce ect. All the best and look forward to new adventure and your progress to home grown. Take care😊
Hey John 👋 thank you for subbing, it's lovely to hear you enjoyed the video! I must get a container to put those nettles in to steep. I am looking forward to seeing how everyone's plots burst into life in spring and summer I think I'm going to learn so much!
Well done young lady I wait with anticipation to see how you project progresses a very rewarding hobby but doesn't come without hard graft, but you have youth on your side good luck with it X.
Thank you Ronnie, I must admit I was really tired by Monday evening, I ended up treating myself to a chinese takeaway! It's going to be such a wonderful hobby, I really am enjoying it and great exercise too, win-win! 🤗
With making raised beds I use pallet wood break them down and make the two or three slats high. You can pallets any where free ads ect industrial estates just ask and they will gladly give them you. But
. But only use pallets that ht stamped on them ht means there heat treated and safe to use other pallets that don't have ht on are chemical treated which avoid at all cost as the chemicals will leach into the soil and render useless for growing.any of that wood you come across will and can be used in the corner of the raised beds one to join and make the beds plus cut slightly longer you tap in the ground to stabilise the beds. Any bare timber use only water base wood stain what you you use on fences ect don't use oil based stains again these two could leach chemicals into the soil. Your doing a amazing job remember when takeing a plot on its daunting clearing rubbish ect it's not a race but more of a marathon in time you'll get there.take care.
Thank you John, I actually got some pallets delivered, I noticed a few stamps on them, I didn't think anything of it till you mentioned that! So that seems promising! I think one pallet was blue maybe I will leave that to one side! 🤔
Every journey starts with one step, well done
Thank you Werner, it doesn't feel quite so overwhelming now!!
Gosh you have done so much already. I think at that pace its going to be amazing by spring.
I would keep the concrete pad and build a timber frame polytunnel/greenhouse on it. You could grow toms, peppers, roots, potatoes etc in buckdts.
Thank you Lynn! Spring is literally just around the corner, I haven't long to get it in some sort of shape 🙈 I am planning to take a closer look at the concrete at the weekend!
@@thetinygarden_ you will make 😍
I am so happy and excited for you 😊 make sure you close that hole off. You are making me think it might be a good idea to sort out my shed as well ❤
Hey Stella! Thank you!! I actually need a few nails and I have plenty bits of wood between home and the plot to get it covered over! Get going on the shed, it will be spring before you know it!
Hi, I enjoyed your video and look forward to see how your allotment progresses. Happy gardening. 😊
Thank you Richard! I am really enjoying it and happy to have you following along for the journey! 🙌
Mammoth job, well done! If you check out Emma's Allotment Diaries - she tends to use pieces of random wood, tree trunks to delineate where the beds are and then adds compost and cardboard. This may save you on buying wooden sleepers.
Thank you Laitae 🤗 That is an awesome tip I have so much spare wood from the plot and just thinking about it, I have my old main raised bed from the tiny garden redesign that I could use as well, I will check out her channel to make sure I am doing it right!! 🪵🙌
Hey Laura, loving the " we are at the plot today ", sounds realy good doesnt it. You have made great headway already. Try asking some neighbours if they know what the previous tenant or even the previous previous tenant had on that concrete slab. You could if you wanted obviously put raised beds on it, do it the hugelkulture way and it wont really cost you a lot to fill them, logs, branches, twigs, leaves, the wood that you already have, free topsoil , manure, then just top up with compost. Maybe the guy had a fruit cage there and grew everything in large pots, maybe he had a greenhouse down there. could be any reaon for it, but most people dont make a concrete slab / base for no reason at all. just waiting for more videos from you now. Well done Laura
Hey Jimmy, thank you!! It has a nice ring to it, I was definitely feeling more settled by day three! They have two soil mounds at the top of the site, we are welcome to it, but I did hear someone call it clay which confused me because I thought it was top soil 🤷♀️ I am not sure of the texture or quality but there are some weeds growing over the top of it!
I didn't think of the concrete area like that, it must of had a purpose! I have seen a good bit on that hügelkultur, I am back down at the weekend hopefully I can ask the neighbour, I am intrigued now!
@@thetinygarden_ i would love to know the answer a neighbour gives you, thats if you get one. But i dont think anyone builds a base for no apparent reason, keep us updated 👍
🐝 Thanks for the great video 🌻
Thank you so much! 🤗🐝
So proud of you! What a lot of work but you got it done.
Thank you Rebecca I was so tired after but I am getting so much enjoyment from it! 🙌
I bet that watering can stank to high heaven, Laura LOL
You could always live with the concrete for now and put a few pots/planters/raised beds on it - maybe tackle it when the rest is up and running? Sort of quick wins first.
Steve that was one of many smelly containers!! The stench was unreal 🤮🤣 That is a good idea, I was thinking with the plot I might have struck gold and gotten away from the concrete 🤣
@@thetinygarden_ I invariably leave a few trays and tubs upright over winter and boy do they pen & ink when I tip them out LOL
If you can bear to lose the space you could leave a few nettles growing and they make great compost and compost tea. Very deep rooted so they are doing the hard work for you and pulling up the minerals etc from down below. We are plagued with docks (old cow pasture site) but they are just like the nettles!
Oh wow that's so helpful I didn't realise they were useful for composting! I do love a home made tea, I have only made seaweed so far I have a few containers I could start up a nettle tea actually, it will definitely save on fertiliser later in the season!
@@thetinygarden_ I meant mixing with potting compost, Laura, like in my latest video. Sorry if I confused you.
@@DigwellGreenfingers you can tell I am still at beginner all this 🤣
Hi great video a lot of hard work but it will be all worth it 😊really enjoyed seeing your progress all the very best looking forward to more 🙏😊👍
Thank you Carl, I had a great time demolishing all the rotten wood haha 🤣 I have a few days now to rest my bones! Appreciate the continued support 🤗🙌
@@thetinygarden_ 😊👍🙏🌸
I would love that shed!
I do too Eve!! It needs a little TLC and if I can get the others on the site to help me move it, it will be in the perfect sun spot! 😎☀️
First job is sure put the ghilly kettle on lol lovely plot new subscriber here
I need some outdoor cooking equipment!! 🍳 ☕️ I find myself browsing camping websites! Thank you for subscribing! 🤗
@@thetinygarden_ I brew up and cook on my ghilly kettle , no gas required just stuff that burns lol you have to buy a little adapter to use the frying pan on but it’s a few quid on eBay or Amazon
You must be exhausted and exhilarated all at the same time 😊❤
Both of those feelings at the same time!! It was such a relief to clean it all out, it felt so yucky before! 🤣🤗
All the wood you collected cut it down and u can use put it into the bottom of the raised beds. If u have a open fire the Ash from that can go in as well. I went to raven Woods and got a big bag of broken branches and leaves. That's what I use as a first layer in my raised beds 😅
I am so pleased I kept the wood Elaine, trying to salvage as much as I can but the woodchip was totally gone. The wood will be a great filler for a bed or a fire pit!
Great start, well done
Thank you Christine! 🤗
Good look with ur new allotment Laura
I am so happy Janet I feel so lucky to have this new space, I am going to push on now to try and get the rest tided so I can start planning where the beds go! 💖
@@thetinygarden_ good tor u
If any one can do it u can
U will soon have fruit and veg coming up
What bank holiday? Good going with the cleanup ❤
It's a new bank holiday! I live in Ireland and it's for St. Brigits Day, it's only been around for a couple of years! 🍀 Thank you 🙌
Priority job for new plot, organise brew facilities. Then any problem jobs, have a brew and think about things.
I love that Jim ☕️, I haven't figured my brew station yet, 🙈getting by with flasks at the minute!
Aw Laura ur doing so well
You will soon have it all raring to go
Hey Janet, how have you been? I had so much fun up there this weekend. The bones were sore after the first day I am not going to lie! It was so windy up there my eyes were watering so much! xx
@@thetinygarden_ I have had a hectic week so far
My hubby had test on Friday last
And found out on Tuesday he was type 2 diabetic
So it been all new meds ,charts
BP
The lot
Then old foods out new in
No sugars sweets fizzy soda
Adjusting is a nightmare
But to be told he's had it a while and the nurse was surprised he still here
It's worth the effort and time
I have cleared every thing out today ready for a shop tomorow
He's a lot of apps to go to so going be busy
I too have Dr's apps
So won't know if I'm coming or going the next few days
But I have my u tube and your vidios in an evening
I can look forward to catching up on ur older ones
U take care lovely ĺady
Look forward to following ur new allotment
@janetsandham7058 oh Janet I am so sorry to hear that, it is a total life style change isn't it. It is going to take a while to adjust but it will be good for his sugar levels in the end! My other half loves the fizzy drink so I can feel your pain already! Where would we be without our treats!
But at least they caught it, and he will be able to manage 🤞 keep positive it will get easier xx
@@thetinygarden_ thank u sweet
Yes it is hard work but we will work at it
Hopefully once we have the right foods ect
And I'm doing it with him so whatever he has I'm having
So no temptation
It will get easier
The nurse rang him today said they found high cholesterol too
So not only no sugars the thing he like too is salt ,there lots he carnt have so it's going take time
Claire the concrete base could be from a greenhouse
Hey Linda 👋 I'm going to see if anyone knows what was on there, it seems not much was grown here for some time 🤔 I'll keep you posted if I figure it out! All the best, Laura 🤗
Perhaps the concrete was the old potting shed site and it got moved? Chipping away at things makes progress. I look forward to your watching your journey.😃😃🔨🔨🦘🦘Cheryl
Hey Cheryl! At first I was bamboozled by the concrete but come to think of it, it must have had a purpose! What are the odds though though in a massive field in rural Ireland I pick the one with concrete 🤣🤣
@@thetinygarden_ I know right! You can't win lotto but you can find a plot with concrete hidden.I hope either you can utilise it or its going to be relatively easy to remove.😃💖🦘🦘
Is it a full cement patio or just a foundation? Perhaps it’s usable as a place to grow pots or a seating area. Are you able to have fires to burn some of the “garbage”?
I am not 100% sure what type of concrete it is, all I know is it's not grass! We are allowed fires which I am so thrilled about, I must go buy myself a kettle can go on an open flame! A lot of the wooden posts were showing signs of rot so definitely something for the fire pit! I really want a seating area, I am more willing to make sure there is enough space to relax and socialise! 💖🤗
Hi, when is this filmed. Just with you mentioning the bank holiday? Looks fab xx
Thank you Debbie 💖 it was filmed the weekend that has just past! I live in Ireland and there is a new bank holiday in February! It's only been around for a couple of years!
Thank you. I’m originally from Northern Ireland. We look forward to watching your progress xxx
Order a tonne bag of compost x
Will have to barrow it down to your plot but you’ll have to do that with compost bags x
A tonne bag delivered in my area is £60 x
Hey Lauren, awesome I did some googling 🙌 I found some mushroom compost in those big tonne bags it was only €15 but a little far away. I will keep searching!! x
@@thetinygarden_ oh nice! many little deliver. I found mine on Facebook x
Places* not little
Do well keep up the good work😂
Thanks Bryan 🤣🤣
Man I hate nettles. Such a shame I’m so good at growing them lol
Hey Nik 👋 haha 🤣 I didn't realise how big the root systems were on them 😅 I might become a good nettle grower too by the looks of things!!
@@thetinygarden_ lol I hate it when you pull them and they flick up and hit your face!!!! I’m always getting stung by them!! I honestly think roundup was only made for nettles… I’m an organic gardener but nettles temp me
Are you doing that allotment all by yourself lol ? , as I am thinking of taking one on
I sure am Suzie! I went up early each day, brought my lunch and stayed there till about 4pm, the smash and drag approach is definitely a good one! 🤣🙈I was exhausted by Monday evening I ended up treating myself to a Chinese for dinner! I was so nervous when I first agreed to the plot but I am so pleased I did it! So exciting that you might take one on!!
@thetinygarden_ You are a lot younger than me though 😆 . I had one 2016 when I was working still part time , but ended up having to give it up due to nerve damage in my arm lol . I am waiting to hear about what's available in the next few weeks 🤞 x
Oh I really have my fingers crossed it is good news for you!! Take it easy when you do start, everyone on my site tells me there is plenty time and no rush to get it all done! 🤞🤞🤞xx
The soil has not been worked on for a while, it has rested, so must be quite futile. Especially the areas where chicken used to run - must be full of chicken manure!. Do you want raised beds for aesthetic reasons only? Because for the first couple of years, it would be cost-effective just to plant things into the ground, without adding too many bags of compost or manure into the high-raised beds. The concrete bit is a nuisance! I would be angry with the previous owners to discover such a big chunk of natural soil ruined by that foundation for a greenhouse or whatever it was there.
Hey Irene 👋 I didn't know rested soils was good that is super helpful to know. I think there must have been a good bit of chicken manure around! I am thinking to start in the ground is going to be the most cost effective for sure, I have some homemade liquid fertlisiers and some other things I can amend with if needs be!
I am set on raised bed, I have them in the home garden and I am open to trying something else for sure, I would love to keep grass paths as it's something different to what I have a home too!
The chicken manure is a very good item to have in your arsenal of good growing minerals
Amazing work Laura! Shame about the concrete but I’m sure you’ll smash it, maybe literally!
🤣🤣 literally 🔨!! Thank you Lindsay!
Ya doing a grand job love Well done. I would put all the twigs & the cardboard in your beds it will help fill them. Looking forward to future happenings. I planted some onions last week & put them in my spare bedroom, looked today & they're germinating already, I love it when I see that 😂, chitted my first early potatoes too. So pleased for you & getting a plot. xx