feeling disappointed in my allotment

[Wailywailywaily]

Its my second year. Last year i had a bit more time to work it and had a few crops that were great - French and runner beans, tomatoes and cucumbers but everything else was poor - spuds, peas, onions, garlic, squashes broad beans all veg I assumed would be easy least.

I put loads of effort into bringing in loads of well rotted horse manure and building boarded in beds and putting down chippings on the path to prevent weeds..I planted over winter garlic and onions and everything! This year the strawberries finished in days, I have had about ten raspberries from five bushes,bthe broad beans are dissapointing, the potatoes are almost a complete failure, the squashes have mould on the leaves and the beatroot is just keeling over on a bright note I have just harvested the garlic and it is great :)

I don't have loads of time and the more things are going wrong the more I feel demotivated. I have planted loads of calabrese but it just looks small and leafy. The shallots have rotted in the ground.

Is there anyway to renew my gardening mojo? Why is it all going wrong for me? I try not to compare with other gardeners but every other allotment looks lush and green.

[mrscumberbatch]

That's a shame. Maybe ask around what plant feed they are using? We didn't have a great yield last year but this year's is bumper, I think sometimes its just luck.

Have an attempt at complimentary/companion gardening if you have time- some vegetables just don't like being housed next to other ones. Also some herbs are great at preventing pests etc. have a good google, it's quite interesting but takes a lot of planning.

[Wailywailywaily]

I did have a plan but in my enthusiasm in spring it kinda went out of the window I'll look up companion planting.

My wild flowers are amazing too

[WestmorlandSausage]

you are trying too hard. I get my bumper crops when I am a little bit neglectful

In all seriousness it may be that your well rotted horse manure isn't as full as nutrients as it could be. Its also been a very dry summer, have you stepped up your watering to match it?

I swear by Bayer all purpose plant food.

[WestmorlandSausage]

also have a look at this link

www.growveg.com/growguides/crop-rotation.aspx

[Wailywailywaily]

My plot is alt the bottom of the slope, its dry on top but still damp just under the surface.

I think you may be right about the manure it is wood shavings based not straw but I thought it would be good for organic matter and hopefully nutrients.

I did rotate the crops and have been fairly neglectful so probably too many weeds in competition.

[Bearleigh]

Give it and yourself time - I grow veg. in the garden, and am gradually doing better and better each year. Fruit takes time to crop well.

Also maybe you need even more soil improvement - looking at Monty Don's garden it looks like he just keeps on topping up the soil.

My crops have done better as I have added even more manure, and planted spuds on a bed of manure. And watered well (Bob Flowerdew's top tip). And deal with slugs - that makes a difference too IME.

[AdamLambsbreath]

If the wood shavings in the manure are not sufficiently well rotted, they can actually reduce the amount of nitrogen in the soil in the first part of their breaking-down process.

I've just looked it up and 'Grow Your Own Vegetables' (my veg bible) says the following: 'Where wood shavings have been used as litter, stack the manure for 12-18 months to break it down. Otherwise nitrogen will be 'robbed' from the soil in the early stages of decomposition'.

I wonder if this may be the problem? If so you may find next year is more generous, once the decomp process is more advanced.

Could you get hold of manure that's mixed with straw instead? Apparently the urine-soaked straw (mmmm) is actually the most beneficial part of manure.

The main thing is, don't give up! Gardening requires a long view, I think. It's annoying when you miss out on a crop one year, but there's always the next

[Wailywailywaily]

Thanks for the help and support!

The horse manure is very well rotted - several years- but I think my mistake has been to assume that that would be enough son in have neglected to feed the crops since planting. I notice that where I did sprinkle some blood fish and bone meal the crop looks considerably healthier.

DH is being very helpful since I expressed dissatisfaction with the allotment and has come watering and feeding, it has to be done with watering cans which is a bit of a pain.

[WestmorlandSausage]

is it just a no hosepipe allotment? If so you could try one of these or similar

www.tesco.com/direct/tesco-5l-sprayer/213-5367.prd?pageLevel=&skuId=213-5367&ui=mercury&sc_cmp=pcp_GSF_Watering_213-5367kpid=213-5367&sc_cmp=ppc_g__&gclid=CMuomfiiwL8CFQsEwwodnGgAew

[WestmorlandSausage]

or even better this 8L one from Wilko for £10

www.wilko.com/hose-pipes-sprinklers+spray-guns/wilko-pressure-sprayer-8l/invt/0148140

[Wailywailywaily]

Yes a no hosepipe allotment, very annoying but the tap is just at the end of my plot so could be worse and then I'd more likely need this

[EmNetta]

Might be useful to check your soil before adding anything, particularly water. Holidaying neighbours were upset when we'd watered their garden, particularly the fruit and veg, saying soil was so light and chalky, water just ran away, whereas when left unwatered, plants just sent roots further down to find it. One of her degrees was in Horticulture, and garden was very impressive.

Adding coffee-grounds to soil last year was generally beneficial, (old rose was renewed etc.), but should have followed own advice as it seems to have killed off the Californian Poppies in front of border.

[dreamingofsun]

emnetta - thats interesting, as we have had no water at all at our site for most of the summer. i had expected everything to die, but it has done surprisingly well. we have, however, had ponies pooing on site for last 15 years - so this supports the 'needs more correct fertiliser school of thought'

[whataboutbob]

It s normal for squashes,and courgettes to have a downy mildew on the leaves. As above, fruit bushes take a while to get going. Only 1 of my black currant bushes has given a Decent crop after3 years. Don' t give up. Allotments really do get better as you go along. Mine is a lifeline and has helped me cope with the stress of dad's dementia and bro's mental illness.