Hi all,

Firstly, thank you to Geoff for setting up the SF Allotment and Gardening Group!

The SF Allotment and Gardening group is a place for established gardeners
and novices alike. Here you can ask for advice on everything from dealing with pests through to creating water features; get help sourcing particular plants, seeds or equipment; recommend local gardening centres and good online resources and share your top hints and tips. The SF Gardening and Allotment group will cover topics relating to the 3,000 allotments in Sheffield and is also a place where proud gardeners can share photos of their handy work with other green fingered forummers!

Unfortunately, we're a little late for the main growing season, but Zweena and I (group leaders for the SF gardening and allotment group) are looking forward to seeing your posts and pictures!

:banana: Great news Tracie!!! :)

I'm sure we can keep ourselves occupied quite easily through the winter months too though ;)

Thanks Tracie and hello everyone! I've got a big :-) on my face while reading about the new group. Really looking forward to seeing all the new posts, and hopefully picking up some useful tips!

Zweena

Wow, Ive only just noticed this group.When did it start ?

Wow, Ive only just noticed this group.When did it start ?
Only very recently Pattricia - some relevant threads have been brought through from previous postings. And welcome!

Only very recently Pattricia - some relevant threads have been brought through from previous postings. And welcome!
Oh, I see.Thought I had seen some threads before.I read where they kept asking if a group could be started, but didnt know it had.I think it will be very successful,as there isnt a lot to organise really.Thanks Geoff.

hello there,
great to know there is an allotment forum out there,i've just rented one in the rivelin valley,very overgrown and needs alot of clearing but i am looking forwards to making a start but i think i will need some help,would anyone know someone who has gardening experience and would like to earn some spare cash to do some digging and ground clearing
thank you
claire

Hi Claire

I'm afraid OI can't recommend someone to help with clearing your allotment, but I just wanted to say say welcome to the SF gardening and allotment group! Looking forward to hearing how you get on with your allotment :thumbsup:

Hello group. Im at grimesthorpe allotments, looking forward to my second growing year (the first year was just clearing 10 years of debris and bramble)

Damnit I don't have an allotment! :( am on the waiting list for highcliffe (the nearest to me is Rustlings Road but I didn't fancy a 6-year wait). I think I've got a year and a half of my 2-year wait left.

BTW Trotter.... I'll help with your allotment if you like? I'm trying to remember if the Rivelin Valley ones are where my frind Ceri keeps her pet chickens...

Hi Tracie
Could you take note of the thread on the Sheffield Forum site re Roe Wood Allotments meeting with council etc. on 27 Jan.07and pass info onto your friends.

I'm a new member of Sheffield Forum and I'm still finding my way around... I'm very slowly working on an allotment in Rivelin Valley, it was pretty overgrown when I got it, and had a small shed/outbuilding at the bottom of it. Even though it was falling down and missing some walls, the yobs still decided to burn down the shed last summer (oh hurrah)... planting in some hedging to secure the place shortly, hopefully that will help...

Is anyone else actively maintaining an allotment on Rivelin Valley? It'd be nice to meet some other folk down there, it seems quiet most of the time I'm down there these days :(

Hi edwardc - you might want to take a look at this thread!
http://www.sheffieldforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=142184
I have an allotment with friends on the Rivelin Valley site, the area nearest the fire station. We have only just started, and someone set a fire in there the other day ($*@!") but it is great fun!

Damnit I don't have an allotment! :( am on the waiting list for highcliffe (the nearest to me is Rustlings Road but I didn't fancy a 6-year wait). I think I've got a year and a half of my 2-year wait left.

BTW Trotter.... I'll help with your allotment if you like? I'm trying to remember if the Rivelin Valley ones are where my frind Ceri keeps her pet chickens...

How do you know how long you have to wait? I'm 28th on the waiting list for Morley Street, I'll probably have moved again before I get one there :(
I'm reduced to growing things in the garden at the mo...

Hi all, I'm looking forward to starting my first ever allotment possibly on the Hagg Hill Two site (surrounded by Bole Hill Lane, Hagg Hill and Rivelin Valley Road).

Is anybody else in these allotments? They are seriously overgrown! It's great to see them starting to be used though. Anyway I'll start trawling through the posts to pick up wisdom!

Regards to all who read this

Hi all, I'm looking forward to starting my first ever allotment possibly on the Hagg Hill Two site (surrounded by Bole Hill Lane, Hagg Hill and Rivelin Valley Road).

Is anybody else in these allotments? They are seriously overgrown! It's great to see them starting to be used though. Anyway I'll start trawling through the posts to pick up wisdom!

Regards to all who read this

Welcome BusConsultan :wave:

If you use the search function for this group, you'll find plenty of threads about these allotments. Think we're going to have to arrange a big meet up soon!

How do you know how long you have to wait? I'm 28th on the waiting list for Morley Street, I'll probably have moved again before I get one there :(
I'm reduced to growing things in the garden at the mo...

Hmm, don't know...I'm going to email them every few months. It's taken me 6 months to get almost halfway down the list so I'm guessing just after next summer I might get my allotment :)

Until then I'll stick to invading my friend's gardens/allotments (mind you, that's still only one of my friends)...

Hiya, i to have put my name down for an allotment, but on the Rodney Hill loxley list. Just waiting for info how long the list is and a map to go and look around.Love to speak to any fellow lotties from Rodney Hill.

You'll be waiting one hell of a long time. I put my name down last year and was 37th of the list, there are only about 30 allotments there.

Just got my site map.32 allotments in total.

where are you on the waiting list?

Hmm, don't know...I'm going to email them every few months. It's taken me 6 months to get almost halfway down the list so I'm guessing just after next summer I might get my allotment :)

Until then I'll stick to invading my friend's gardens/allotments (mind you, that's still only one of my friends)...

I wonder if anyone who has an allotment would share a bit with an SF allotment wannabe? :hihi:

I wonder if anyone who has an allotment would share a bit with an SF allotment wannabe? :hihi:

Since you are on the waiting list for Morley Street have you considered the Hagg House allotments just a bit further up the Rivelin valley, no waiting list and a great community. The allotments are a bit overgrown, but nothing that can't be sorted in a few weeks. This surely beats waiting for years for a plot to become available.

:thumbsup:

Well I've got one down at Rivelin but I can't cope with it at the moment. I'm going to be growing things in the garden this year ( I bought a raspberry cane today!) and get back to allotmenting when life has settled down a bit.
Not to mention the heavy duty rubbish on it that we can't shift because they've blocked the bridleway off or the people who use it as a recreation ground and/or steal things...

near the bottom i think. Have been up and had a look around, will see what march brings with the no payers etc.

near the bottom i think. Have been up and had a look around, will see what march brings with the no payers etc.

Unfortunately the invoices were sent out in January and due by the end of January. So people should have been evicted already if they hadn't paid! The next payment is not now due until Jan 2008.

Well I've got one down at Rivelin but I can't cope with it at the moment. I'm going to be growing things in the garden this year ( I bought a raspberry cane today!) and get back to allotmenting when life has settled down a bit.
Not to mention the heavy duty rubbish on it that we can't shift because they've blocked the bridleway off or the people who use it as a recreation ground and/or steal things...

When you get back into allotmenting life, consider Hagg House. It's just that bit further up the hill and the miscreants don't seem to want to walk up it.

I will. Though I'm still hanging on for Morley Street, i'd have to walk past them to get to Hagg Hill!
The one we had was right next to a footpath and bridleway, too convenient for the scrotes to use.
I haven't had a bill this year, I suspect I've now been evicted anyway :)

hi all i am very new to gardening only started this year for something to keep me occupied after a serious illness made me unable to work.
anyway i bought a greenhouse and have grown the usual tommatoes,cucumbers,chillys,& peppers wich i am very proud of
but it looks like the tommatoes have all but done and i was wondering if their is any other veg i could grow in their place i am only interested in things i can eat or is that my lot till next year hope someone can help because i spend every second i get in the greenhouse its become a passion and i will be lost without it
also for next years crop of tommatoes is their a giant variety anyone can recomend grew one this year and it wasent a lot bigger than the others thanks (steve) sorry i entered this question in wrong section

hello im pretty much new to actually trying to grow summat so i look forward to reading & asking questions etc

hi all i am very new to gardening only started this year for something to keep me occupied after a serious illness made me unable to work.
anyway i bought a greenhouse and have grown the usual tommatoes,cucumbers,chillys,& peppers wich i am very proud of
but it looks like the tommatoes have all but done and i was wondering if their is any other veg i could grow in their place i am only interested in things i can eat or is that my lot till next year hope someone can help because i spend every second i get in the greenhouse its become a passion and i will be lost without it
also for next years crop of tommatoes is their a giant variety anyone can recomend grew one this year and it wasent a lot bigger than the others thanks (steve) sorry i entered this question in wrong section


Welcome to the allotment and garden section. You could try lettuces. They should still germinate and may be OK as it gets colder. They'll slow down over the winter but with a cut and come again variety you should be able to harvest a bit. Or use cornsalad (lambslettuce). It's winter hardy and I'm sure would love being in a greenhouse. I'm not a massive greenhouse grower so others will have more imaginative idea no doubt. Good luck

well iv had an allotment for 2 years now at woodhouse behind the angel pub and i love every minute the people you meet and the things i grow but the only down side is we are constantly being broken in to by children the only advice i can give to new plot owners is bethour you dig put up a large gate and loads of barb wire because theres nothing worse than some little thug destroying all your hard work .
......months to grow and minutes to destroy.......

Anyone got ideas of what can be grown at this time of year. We've got garlic to put in but wondered if there was anything else we could start off

Hi ,I have got an allotment at riverlin .Had it since august.Let me know if you want to meet up.What number are you.

well iv had an allotment for 2 years now at woodhouse behind the angel pub and i love every minute the people you meet and the things i grow but the only down side is we are constantly being broken in to by children the only advice i can give to new plot owners is bethour you dig put up a large gate and loads of barb wire because theres nothing worse than some little thug destroying all your hard work .
......months to grow and minutes to destroy.......

That's why we gave up :( Partly anyway

Hi,

I don't have an allotment any more. I used to have one at Rustlings Road and spent many, many wonderful hours there. Once I planted a whole row of Chrysanthemums. There were so many I told all my neighbours to go and help themselves. They were wonderful. There is nothing like new potatoes straight from the ground, or some fresh green beans, anything really. Anyway, when I went on the list for Rustlings Road, the Council said I would have a very long wait. Then after about a year, I was offerred one, just like that. A guy decided to leave the Country and gave his up. So, things change very quickly. I miss the allotment, but now have a lovely garden, which is more than big enough to keep me going. Too busy working these days, but can't wait to retire and start again. I am a real garden bod. I actually love pruning and clearing and get great satisfaction at looking at end results.

Does anyone out there know where to get a supply of bark chippings?
A good mate at the allotments needs some.He's working so hard, it would be good to help.

Does anyone know where we can get bark chippings cheap or free.
or how the council and landscape gardeners get rid of the trees they cut down.
Redbox

I would like to just say hi to everyone and explain why I havent been at large lately.

Im having problems with one of my children and have been putting all my energy into her getting a diagnosis. Also the younger members of the household have chicken pox so I have been chasing them round with the calamine!

Hope to be back with you in a couple of weeks!

Id like to hear about peoples experiences of gaining an allotment, how long they waited for it, what sort of state it was in when they took it on, if they have been evicted or anything else related to sheffields allotment policies and procedures.
Sheffield council is reviewing its allotment and green space strategy in the near future and while I hesitate to get involved in anything to do with the council ( I worked for them for many years) I am passionate about maintaining easy access to allotments and resisting them being left to over grow and being redeveloped.

The Council (Parks and Countryside) is undetaking a review of their policies with regard to many aspects of allotments. One of these is the issuing of notices to improve/quit. There are invites to join the groups in 'Allotment News' that was sent out with invoices for the coming year. If you want to try to improve the system then get involved in these groups and encourage others to do the same. There has been a recent explosion of interest in allotments over the last couplke of years an the Council is trying to respond to meet the demand and work out how to get unused ploys back into play.

Sheffield Allotment Federation also meets quarterly with Parks and Countryside representatives to discuss these and other issues. One of the main issues recently has been plots that are uncultivated but rented in sites with waiting lists. It's a long process but at least they're forming working groups.

Try to get involved and spread the word.

Id like to hear about peoples experiences of gaining an allotment, how long they waited for it, what sort of state it was in when they took it on, if they have been evicted or anything else related to sheffields allotment policies and procedures.
Sheffield council is reviewing its allotment and green space strategy in the near future and while I hesitate to get involved in anything to do with the council ( I worked for them for many years) I am passionate about maintaining easy access to allotments and resisting them being left to over grow and being redeveloped.

I gave up my allotment in the end, it was just an uphill challenge and I never really managed to break the back of it. I had a plot on Rivelin Valley - I got it very quickly (which on reflection was probably a bad sign) but it was really over-grown and full of rubbish. Once I got it cleared and started planting things in, I would find plants dug up and trampled, things stolen, and we had a falling-down shed at the bottom of the plot burnt down.

I planted in a thick blackthorn hedge, which I figured would offer a little more security, but it got stolen. That was the last straw, really, it just wasn't worth pouring any more money or effort into.

These days I have a thriving vegetable plot in my back garden, growing brassicas, beans, herbs and a wide variety of fruits. I've got absolutely no regrets about giving up the allotment.

...

I should add, despite giving up the allotment, giving written notice and telephoning to confirm my intention to quit, I still get rent bills every now and then from the council, I've phoned them up and explained the situation and they just blame it on computer errors and tell me to ignore them. It really is a bloody shambles.

Unfortunately your experiences are far from unusual. I am planning to collate a file on peoples experiences to take to up and coming review of allotments and green spaces,although this was done in 2002. It would be useful to know which site you were at.
many thanks for your reply
Jo D

Just an innocent question - how many people has there got to be on a waiting list before the council buy land to extend allotment provision? Only there are a lot of people in the most popular areas who may wait several years before getting to the top of the list. Surely it would be a prime time to buy land (cheaply) and encourage people to be sustainable, healthy and beat the credit crunch?

There is now a new site at Oughtibridge and there is one planned at Totley and one at Dore where the waiting lists are very long (timewise). My impression is that they look at the expected time to get a plot at various sites and prioritise. They also probably take into account availability of land and the objections that are likely to be raised by local people near a new site. Oughtibridge had a lot of opposition, well there were a handful of very vocal locals who were oppossed. Not everyone wants allotments near them.

I think there is a statutory duty for councils to provide 'sufficient' allotment provision. I don't know how this is determined but I think Sheffield considers itself fine in this regard and I suspect isn't bad in terms of the numbers of plots available per capita, although as to the state of some of them...

The site at Oughtibridge was provided by Bradfield Parish Council.

The allotment authority for an area has a statutory obligation to provide allotments if an unsatisfied demand exists. The definition of demand is 5 or 6 residents requesting allotments.

Thanks guys, that's interesting. I have been on the waiting list for almost 3 years for the Oxley Park site in Stocksbridge. It feels like a long time, but is that a 'long time' in Council terms, I am not sure!

Hello
Only just joined the forum :-)
Just want to ask a question. I have emailed the Council allotment office to get my name on the waiting list for the S10 area allotments. As yet I have not heard a thing. I just want to know how long the waiting list is?
I really enjoy the Good Life and I am finding my little vegetable plot too small.

There is now a new site at Oughtibridge and there is one planned at Totley and one at Dore where the waiting lists are very long (timewise).

Does anyone have any information about the planned allotment at Totley? I have emailed the council with no reply as yet.

Does anyone know how much a plot is on the allotments in hind house lane? please.

What about sharing your garden? Some people in sheffield have gardens too large for them to manage on their own. Could SF start a buddy system/

What about sharing your garden? Some people in sheffield have gardens too large for them to manage on their own. Could SF start a buddy system/

Landshare http://landshare.channel4.com/

I have lived in S8 - Norton Lees for 9 years and have had my name down for an A. Plot for 3-4 years. I got offered one last August near Callow Mount (it appeared to me), long walk, near the woods with a young child. I refused it as it was not safe I thought.

I have emailed the SCC regarding my position, age , family and safety aspect. I have had little response. I have joined the Heeley Wiki to get more info.

Basically I am in the dark. I have no idea how long I will need to wait, who to talk to, go to etc. Ideally I would like a patch, however overgrown, off Norton Lees Lane.

I am 40 soon, so I can help if people need some help with their plot. I find i need to be in the fresh air most of the time.

Any ideas?

Many thanks

m

Look on landshare as their is land on offer near Norton Lees. It might not have been updated but worth a look.

http://www.landshare.net/listings/8053/

Hello :)

I'm a new comer in Sheffield. I used to grow vegetables and flowers on my tropical home country, Indonesia. I'm happy to find this forum and hope to learn how to grow food here. Thanks.

Hello :)

I'm a new comer in Sheffield. I used to grow vegetables and flowers on my tropical home country, Indonesia. I'm happy to find this forum and hope to learn how to grow food here. Thanks.

hi Eunike - welcome to Sheffield - not quite so sunny as Indonesia ! What will you try and grow here ?

hi Eunike - welcome to Sheffield - not quite so sunny as Indonesia ! What will you try and grow here ?

Thanks for welcoming me :)
Yes, Indonesia is sunny all the year that I could start sowing almost anytime. That's why I need to learn it first here.

I want to grow chili and herbs that I need to cook some recipes (hard to get them fresh at supermarkets and the prices are much higher). Right now I'm trying to grow lemongrass and keeping some hot chili seeds to sow for the right time (that I need to know when it is ^^)

Is there anyone grow tropical herbs in Sheffield? I would love to know her/him. Thanks.

hi Eunike - welcome to Sheffield - not quite so sunny as Indonesia ! What will you try and grow here ?

I just read your post on "Want an Allotment / just got an Allotment ?".
Somehow it gave me an enlightenment how foods are grown here.. also lots of useful links (included the herb expert). Thanks a million :)

Hello :)

I'm a new comer in Sheffield. I used to grow vegetables and flowers on my tropical home country, Indonesia. I'm happy to find this forum and hope to learn how to grow food here. Thanks.

Hello. This year was my first year growing lots of veg. I have been a gardener for almost 30 years but mainly grown greenhouse crops, veg in tubs or fruit previously.

I do have a small area of tropical garden at the back of my house as its south facing. Unfortunately last winter killed a lot of mature tropical plants even though they were well packed with straw and fleece or in the greenhouse.

Hello. This year was my first year growing lots of veg. I have been a gardener for almost 30 years but mainly grown greenhouse crops, veg in tubs or fruit previously.

I do have a small area of tropical garden at the back of my house as its south facing. Unfortunately last winter killed a lot of mature tropical plants even though they were well packed with straw and fleece or in the greenhouse.

I'm sorry the hear the winter effect. Yes, I heard that last winter was anomaly with think snow. Too bad that you lost a lot of tropical plants that I'm sure not easy to find.

as your experience on growing those tropical plants, do you have any recommendation how and when to start? any links to read are very appreciated. and where to get the starter (seeds/plants). Thanks.

I have also started to use plants that look tropical as its expensive to use just tropical plants. I have some hardy palm trees that managed to survive last winter. I have purchased a small palm from a hobby keeper in Wentworth who imports and grows from seed. He sells on ebay.

I cut my bananas down to the ground each year now and let them shoot again. They only grow to about four or five foot in a season but I can leave them in the ground. If I cover them uo and they get damaged they go slimey and don't grow as fast the next season. I cut my ginger down each year and move it into an outbuilding. I re pot it about April and put it in the greenhouse until the end of May. I used to treat my cannas in the same way but after 9 yeas they were looking bad due to a virus so I need new stock. I move a big pot of bird of paradise into an outbuilding for winter.

Aloes and such like are kept in pots and moved into an outbuilding over winter. Some can tolerate lower temperatures than others if you keep them bone dry when it cold. If the main plants die you can usually take the tiny plats growing from the roots and start again.

I have lots of succulents but the key is to select ones that are most hardy and keep them bone dry when its cold.

another thing to perhaps try is a hot manure bed ... they used to grow pineapples in them in Victorian times in / outside those fabulous glass houses that you see in Stately home gardens. I think they used to put fresh manure (a lot) in the bottom of the bed and then add straw to keep the soil toasty.

I've grown sweet potatoes under black fabric before and managed to get a reasonable crop. Chillies grow well in the UK under glass.

You might want to consider opening a new thread as people are more likely to read that rather than the welcome thread :)

Hi im new here... im interested in getting a garden allotment to grow some fruit and veg, my problem at the moment is finding an allotment to rent or buy I live in the s35 worrall Oughtibridge area. Can anyone help?

Hi im new here... im interested in getting a garden allotment to grow some fruit and veg, my problem at the moment is finding an allotment to rent or buy I live in the s35 worrall Oughtibridge area. Can anyone help?

Have you tried Landshare?
http://www.landshare.net/