| All About Allotments |
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| A website about growing fruit and vegetables based on my experience cultivating an allotment plot in Liverpool in the North West of England. |
| By Dr George Cook |
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| I have several videos of my plot progressing since February 2007 when it was just under 11 months old. I shall always regret not having the foresight to take a video the day I took it over. See the progress below. I apologise for the amateurism. There are three things in this world that do not come back: The spoken word, the sped arrow and the neglected opportunity! |
| The progression of the plot was erratic and plans were the result of waking in the middle of the night with that "Eurika" feeling. The initial concept of raised beds with surrounding narrow ones that would grow fruit, and provide a "fence" has, been adhered to and by 2009 the surrounds will be finished. The effect is to provide a convenient barrier to wind and trespassers . |
| By sheer serendipity, I used 800cm paving stones as a marker round each bed to position the next one, and later realised that the gaps between the beds could be filled with those same slabs, a few bought each time I went to B&Q. The total cost over 2 years was £330. The paths prevent evaporation, are weed and disease free and after a days sunshine release the heat slowly overnight. Much better than the original wood chippings! |
| Photo March 2006 The first year was spent digging and laying out the plot, sowing or planting as I went along, and I was delighted with the amount of produce that I harvested despite it looking as it did above just after I had started. |
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| Video taken 1st February 2007 |
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| Video taken February 2008 |
| Photo March 2008 The first movable features are now apparent, greenhouse, net frames etc. The internal paths are mostly woodchip and most of the beds are dug and ready for planting or sowing. |
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| Video taken August 2008 |
| Photo July 2008 The plot is cropping fully with several beds covered in polythene glazed structures. These can be moved around easily to ensure crop rotation. I have started paving the paths at the far end. The Mersey is in the background. |
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| Video taken July 2009 |
| Photo July 2009 My plot being judged as a first time entrant to the "Best plot in Liverpool Competition". The criteria are set by the City Council and the Liverpool Area Federation of Allotment & Leisure Gardeners. (Details) |
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| YouTube Videos of my plot |