My dream allotment
Post categories: Gilly Brennan
| 17:34 UK time, Friday, 10 July 2009
Years ago I had an allotment. It was huge and nothing but weeds, but I had big plans and a picture in my mind of how I wanted it to be. Alas it wasn't to be - my children were very young, the weeds were indestructible, the soil was thin and the tap was miles away. Reluctantly I gave up and now there's a long waiting list.
When I saw the Gold medal, Best in Show winning 'Growing Tastes Allotment Garden', I saw my dream allotment from all those years ago. It's perfect without being artificial and you feel you could just get right in and start working on it.
The first thing that caught my eye was the standard redcurrants, such a good idea. Apart from the fact that they look so gorgeous with the jewel-like fruit hanging down, it makes the picking really easy. Last year I bought my parents a standard gooseberry for the same reason and they were thrilled with it.
Looking colourful and a bit messy is the children's section. There's a sandpit, a few toys and raised beds for jolly flowers and veg. If only I'd thought of that - I used to have to bribe my children to keep them quiet, a penny for every dandelion they dug up!
I'm so jealous of the little greenhouse with the cold frames beside it - I remember how tedious it was going backwards and forwards with trays of seedlings. Having somewhere for early tomatoes and tender veg is a joy, not to mention somewhere to go when it's raining.
A cutting garden - what a luxury. This one is beautiful with dahlias, cosmos, cornflowers and lots of other favourites, there's even a row of ornamental annual grasses. Imagine never having to buy your flowers: you could stroll down the straw-lined path in the evening and pick and choose.
There's everything you could want in this marvellous allotment garden, fruit trees, compost bins, even hens; and I haven't even mentioned the rows and rows of healthy vegetables. I did have to ask one of the designers about the kohl rabi - it's one of those veg that no-one confesses to have eaten. Apparently it tastes like cabbage stalks, oh well, never mind - it looks pretty.
I hope I'll have an allotment again one day, I know it's a lot of work and the pests are waiting to get you, but I can dream...
Comment number 1.
At 10th Jul 2009, ecowolf16 wrote:This garden deserves best in show and I think it's how every family garden not just allotment will look like in not many years to come. My own garden has standard currants and sandpit too, but I haven't yet seen any coverage on the ´óÏó´«Ã½ episodes. I'm dissappointed because my 5 year old twins helped to make 'Sally the Scarecrow' at their school. It's such a boost for them, not only having won the competition at the local Garden Centre and have their scarecrow chosen to travel to Hampton Court but then to get Gold and best in show is fantastic. If anyone has any pictures of Sally, please post them on the website.
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