[paddy mac fisto]

Not sure whether this thread should be in the Garden Gallery section of the board (so feel free to move it Verge or GPI) but I'm posting it here initially. Some nice evening light photos of the plot. I can't think of a better way to spend an hour on a sunny evening then with my daughter down on the plot, her digging for imaginary treasure (usually she says it's smarties or ice cream...dunno what they'd be doing buried in my allotment ) and me trying to make inroads on the thistle invasion. This is our first year on the plot so really after almost 3 months we're just getting to grips with it. The priority is a fence and some nets for the cabbages. I might even try that pumpkins trick that was mentioned in the Irish Times yesterday.

I also set up a blog for the Maynooth Allotments. It's slowly coming together. One of our allotment holders has been keeping a great blog himself though if you want to have a look.

[Belfast]

Nice plants

[Her Outdoors]

Looks great! Everything looks really healthy. Well done.

[davidh]

Great Job - everything is thriving ! I have been trying to uploads some pics of my own plot but without success ! I will keep trying - nice work again macfisto !

[Homegrown]

Thats looks really beautiful, great work!
I agree, that there is nothing better than playing in the garden with children. My daughter also digs for treasures!

[verge]

Firstly, fair play on a great job on a first year allotment. You would swear you were at it years paddy mac fisto.

[paddy mac fisto]

I tried to keep it fairly conventional for the first year. In reality I don't get that much time down there, maybe 5-7 hours a week so I tried to just plant things that wouldn't need too much minding. The fence is urgently required, between the rabbits and the farmers sheep escaping a few weeks ago I'm getting increasingly nervous. Thanks for all the comments, nothing would look half as good without the help of the posters on this site. It's great to have this website to fall back on.

[michael brenock]

great plots great pictures keep it going.
try pulling the thistles usin a good leather glove.
michael brenock

[Moggi]

hey paddy mac those pics are great well done to you and your daughter on a fantastic job, keep up the good work.

[sharonl]

Wow!! everything looks fantastic!! By the time we got our plot it was end of april so to get everything dug and then sown we're a good couple of months behind. I'm really hoping theres a bit of a growth spurt over the next few weeks. Most of our stuff only went in between the beginning of may to the middle may Gave everything a good feed with some seaweed extract and lightly dug in some chicken manure pellets to try and give everything a bit of a boost.

sharon

[paddy mac fisto]

The first year I guess is gonna be the hardest. I was the same, I didn't get on the plot til the end of March and then it was the end of April before I got most stuff planted. At least the hard bit is done now and next year we can focus on the veg rather than preparing the plot itself. A vigorous dig through this winter and loads of manure and we'll be right on track for 2010. I've checked your blog a few times over the weeks though and you seem to be doing great. Keep watching out for the squirrels/rats/butterflies.

[Tatty Hoaker]

Your plants look to be Thriving Paddy.Well worth all the effort now.Great to she the child enjoying helping out.

Here is a photo of my plot. This is my first year at the vegetables.Short video of garden on

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9YqJuJ2LtXQ

[paddy mac fisto]

Yowzers Tatty Hoaker that is one organisised plot you've got there. The veg look great as well. Do you find the li'l uns eat the veg a little easier if they've picked it themselves? I went down with the childer and picked some rainbow chard last night and they actually ate it! The best I was hoping for was a nibble and then probably a "I've had enough of that Daddy I'm all fullup" from them.

[Tatty Hoaker]