Starting again?

[gary]

Like many others, this year has been a total right off! So what do I/we do next?

When I first saw my plot for the first time after returning from holiday my first thoughts were to hand the key in and say sod it!
After going back this morning and speaking to other plot holders I just cannot give up as much as I would love to!

So what next? I have already caught all the fish that were swimming around and give them to someone who lost his. Salvaged my "darlek" compost bin, a normal bin and timber other compost bins were made from, from next doors plot.

Now what?

Wait for all the water to go (could take a while)?
Start pulling plants out of the water (onions and cabbages mainly)?
"Weil's Deseases" must be plenty of rats about!
Bin everything or compost?
Soil condition?
When to replant?
Floating strawberry runners bin or keep?

Sorry for all the questions but I could have kept going a lot longer I just don't no what to do!

Gary

[gary]

[dtw]

It sounds like you need pots on stilts.  ;D


Is there any way of pumping the water away?

[chuffa]

I am afraid old buddy that all you can do is rescue as much veg and equip as you can and wait until the water subsides.  I am sure like a lot of people, I don't really know where to start as this has never happened to me and what advice to give,  all i can do is wish you the very best in bringing it back to its glory if thats what you decide.  Good luck buddy.  Chuffa

[manicscousers]

how deep was the water, gary..at it's worst..our plot, before we took it on, was under water for 3 months a year..we solved it by building raised beds, from 12 to 16" high, we've managed a good harvest from them this year, despite the water..of course, if you're talking feet, it's a different matter,
whatever you decide, good luck with it  :)

[Robert_Brenchley]

Everything depends on how deep the water's likely to get. I'm assuming they didn't establish an allotment site in a permanent lake! Waterlogging in winter isn't so desperate, as not so much is in then, and plants aren't actively growing. Summer waterlogging is deadly, so, firstly, can you stop it getting onto the plot, by building flood banks, for instance? Secondly, what happens once the water is on? If it pools in part of the plot, try to raise the level there so that it flows straight off. If you're dealing with general waterlogging, raised beds may be the way to go.

[Susiebelle]

Like many others I cannot offer a solution to your present crisis  :'(- but would say don't walk away in on impulse, you may well regret it.  Growing your own becomes a way of life, (a very good one) the experienced guys on my site tell me I have to learn to embrace disappointment as it makes you appreciate the good years. I haven't quite got there yet but am working on it. I am glad you have good Allotment neighbours to chivvy you on. I have found allomentees a very supportive bunch :) mine lift my spirits no end.
If you are still undecided  leave it be for a while and give some thought as to how you are going to tackle it and start again in the Autumn
Best of luck let us know what you decide.

[gary]

First of all thanks for your comments.

I got up the plot again tonight, and things still not too bright. The water level is dropping deepest place is now about 12 inches deep.

I am planning on raised beds for next year as soon as I can get on it to start work, just got to find out where I can get approximately 26 cubic meters of material to fill my 20 12 inch high raised beds (may take a while).

The only problem I have at the minute is that the water is starting to smell as things start to rot in the water/wet soil.

How long before I will be able to plant in the soil? Will I have to wait a while or as soon as it is workable as parts of my plot are no longer under water?

Gary

[manicscousers]

is there anywhere around you can get well rotted manure, we filled some of our beds with this, over cardboard and left it over winter, the soil was wet, clayey, stunk when disturbed and full of marestail..not all of it but lots..we put a large fork in and wiggled it, to loosen it up, before we put down the card..hope it dries out soon and you can get a start  :)

[Robert_Brenchley]

Fortunately the floods were unusually bad; I was flooded three times in my first year, the water took several days to drain away each time, and I felt the same as you do. Last weeks' flood was the first time i've had water across the plot in several years. many urban sites, including mine, would have been built over long ago if they didn't flood occasionally, so maybe we shouldn't complain too much.

[Oldmanofthewoods]

Hello Gary

Bad luck.  Raised beds are an option which is what I had to do throughout my first year as the plot regularly floods in winter, which as Peter B says above is the natural order of things which we shouldn't mess about with too much.  However the raised beds are great, 12" high secured done with pressure treated timber - works a treat as long as your not in deeper water than that!

Good luck chap.

Jack