Introduction - and sorry about the smugness

[Deleted]

We are new to gardening and are devouring garden literature and trying out forums, generally titillating the already heightened excitement of our first season.
We applied for an allotment in July 2006. With a waiting list of over two years here in Zürich, we only had to wait three months, (surprising how a little British blagging can cut through some Swiss red tape). The late man who had the allotment had had it for forty years was a professional gardener before he retired. We had to buy the shed. 2000 Swiss francs as it was, or 3000 cleared. As it was - meant having to accept the tools (all beautifully oiled), nets, poles, chairs, tables, charcoal and his wet weather gear including wellies. The soil is beautiful, we have current and raspberry bushes and a plum tree, a mountain of compost, water butts and . . . the shed has a cellar. A cellar! I couldn't believe it either, sheds in Swiss allotments have cellars, to keep the wine and beer chilled, though ours had schnapps (Pflumli) in it, made from the plums that grew last year and its been a headache to clear up, My only other complaint is that the call to offer us the garden came on my wife's birthday and I had bought her an iPod. She never mentioned the present I bought her once when she received all those subsequent calls wishing her a happy birthday.

[Spruance]

Hi Weedhatch and

It sounds as though you have landed on your feet there.

How long is the growing season in Switzerland? It sounds as though it might be comparable to the UK if you are able to grow plums.

I can't say that we will necessarily be able to help you on local specifics, but gardening is gardening, and there are some very experienced people here. So please feel free to ask away, and to visit us as often as you wish. ;D

[Rosefriend]

Welcome Weedhatch - lovely to have someone else on this side of the water.

You certainly seemed to have struck gold with your allotment. As Spruance says there are some experienced gardeners on the board, so if you have any questions, just shout.

Happy gardening.

Rosefriend

[Deleted]

Thank you for the welcome.

The growing season is similar to the UK. The summers are generally hotter but we don't have hose pipe bans. In the seven years I have lived here, it always seems to be sunny Monday - Friday and rains on the weekend. The frosts can be a bit later and are often harsher.

I am hoping I can grow some English apple varieties here next year. I especially want Bramleys and some sharp desserts and have been looking at root stocks and scions to bring over. Do you have any advice?

[skarloey]

Hi Weedhatch and a big welcome from me too! ;D

You lucky, lucky things! I'm green with envy. Those tools sound fantastic! And a CELLAR? ;D
We've just taken over one half plot which has been worked but needed completely sorting, the soil is okayish! Well it will be with all the horse muck we are shoveling into it. We have also acquired a quarter plot (although it's not much smaller than the half plot) and that is just grass which is very uneven and has tractor tracks through the middle! This may take some sorting!!! Although it's going to have to be ready in two weeks as the spuds are going to have to go in!!!
This is my first proper season in allotmenteering too and I am looking forward to hearing all about how you get on. Some of us have our own threads to show pictures and a comments thread to chat about it. (Having said that, mine is in the wrong place, I'll have to chat Spruance up again! ;D) It would be great if we could see this little gold mine you have inherited!

Hope to chat soon, Skarloey.

[oldmoleskins]

weedhatch said:

I am hoping I can grow some English apple varieties here next year. I especially want Bramleys and some sharp desserts and have been looking at root stocks and scions to bring over. Do you have any advice?

hi weedhatch - do you mean you want them seperately, to graft yourself, maybe to avoid some import problem?
If so, these people may be able to help:

www.keepers-nursery.co.uk

or these:

www.talatonplants.co.uk/old/trees

or these:

www.bernwodeplants.co.uk/

but rootstocks are generally sold 'bare-root' and scions taken before bud-break - so you may have missed the boat this year, unless you go in for bud grafting which can be done later.

this RHS page might help:

www.rhs.org.uk/advice/problems_fruitveg.asp

But if you want ready-grafted English varieties in pots (and from the sound of it, your climate won't force you to use any other rootstock) then Keepers/Adams/Bernwode Nurseries are a good start point - they might be able to put you onto a nursery close to your UK 'base' for the next time you're over here.

OM.

[Deleted]

Thank you OM. Thanks also for your initial welcome. I must say your a far more welcoming than the other forums I have been trying to associate with.

I had thought there may be problems importing trees or root stock in earth. I assume bare root is without earth, so that may be an option. Otherwise, I'll try and get a root stock here that will be suitable for grafting myself. What's the smallest stock Bramely will grow on effectively, I know it is a tip bearer so espalier wouldn't be suitable. Have you any suggestions of plants, designs or other architecture I could put in the garden that would make it more British, I don't really want to put up a flag as most of my fellow allotment holders do.

[roxann57]

Hi Weedhatch and welcome.

You could turn a corner of your plot into an "English" garden with all the usual favourites or at least a rose. It would do wonders for attracting pollenating insects for your fruit and veg.

[Chuckles]

Hi weedhatch sounds like you have a lovely set up look forward to hearing more about it

I'm curious, was the headache from clearing the cellar caused by you drinking all the schnapps

[Deleted]

Hello weedhatch and a very warm welcome

I am intrigued by your allotment shed with cellar , and I'm wondering how much 2000 swiss francs is in sterling?

AND...... I'm now wondering if I can make a cellar in my allotment shed - although the temptation to store wine and beer might be too great which would probably mean I would get around to planting that much

My suggestion for the 'English' part of your allotment would have to be a lawn.......or perhaps a wigwam of Sweet Peas.

Hope to 'see' you about soon
GH

[Deleted]

Hello GH,

CH Fr2000 is about £800. We had to forfeit a holiday in Ecuador, but there was no contest, the holiday would have been over by now and instead we still have a garden and a few bottles of Pflumli left.

I think a wigwam of peas is a good idea. We have a lawn, I'm thinking of painting a batting crease on it, putting in some stumps and bails and hooking up some numbers on the shed to make it look like a score box.

Thanks Roxann for your suggestion, roses are good but the dear man was too fond of roses and planted lots of them. I've already left a lot of my favourite jumper on them.

[Deleted]

Hi again weedhatch

I'm still intrigued by your shed! Pictures please !!
However my turn to be smug as my allotment shed cost £19 (thanks to good old ebay!!). It doesn't have a cellar and didn't come with any tools but it's perfectly servicable for my needs - somewhere to shelter when it rains, somewhere to have lunch and somewhere to store tools and the parasol!!

Would I be right in thinking that your allotment is more of a garden than soley for vegetable growing?

I think turning the lawn into a batting crease is a great/eccentric idea, but you'd have to provide 'afternoon tea' in the interval, and start referring to the shed as the Pavillion!!!

If I think of anything else 'British' for your garden I'll let you know ....Strawberries perhaps.

Best Wishes
GH

[Deleted]

GH

They call it a Schrebergarten, it's an area in the middle of the city for people who live in tower blocks and want to garden. The community is more mixed these days, mostly European, but it doesn't have the creativity or the dynamism of British allotments. The sheds don't differ so widely from each other. The blue and white one in the corner where you come in, is almost too much for the Swiss, who wince when they come in and only say Grüezi to its occupants. The sheds are well built, and the Swiss are fastidious in cleaning and looking after things. You have never seen a wood pile until you've seen a Swiss wood pile. But those are the rules. . . .

I don't think we have shows or competitions, yet. When I'm more confident of German and can communicate enthusiasm better, I'll put it forward in the AGM. As for photos, we haven't even thought about it, I don't take photos so much anymore, we don't have a digital camera, only an old SLR. I don't have a mobile either. I'll have to borrow one and post them soon.

[Deleted]

Weedhatch

I've just googled 'Schrebergarten' and now have abit more of an idea of your 'allotment'.

You'll have to practice the German and borrow a camera from someone - I'm sure I'm not the only one who is intrigued!!

I have had another idea for your 'English' garden - although abit cheesy - how about a garden gnome!!! That would get the neighbours talking!!

GH

[Deleted]

Hi Weedhatch!

Go on get a cheapie digi camera*, or a cheapie scanner we are all dying to see your leisure garden. As for the Plumbli, don't drink it! Send it to me for analysis

Having spent many times in Schweiz (my fawlty sister was in Basel for a number of years and Zurich was a business destination), if you want a truly British plot - Then break all the rules

Mind you - You could end up in the canton's "little black book" (I certainly did)

* Interesting to note that www.pixmania.com call sell cameras everywhere in Europe EXCEPT Switzerland.

[lottielady]

www.wdr.de/themen/panorama/extra/bild2005/_img/telefonzelle_400q.jpg

I googled too! You can't get more English than this

You could 'thatch' the roof of your shed weedhatch to make it in to a country cottage!

Lx

[Deleted]

I've now got some photos of my garden and cellar. I've tried dragging them on to the reply window and looked through help for how to but I can't do it. Could someone please direct me? Thank you.

[Rosefriend]

Well to post photos you need to open Photobucket account (we mostly use that here) and if you go to the top of the board there is a thread called "How To - Get the Most from GWD" and there is a section on "How to add Photographs".

It is very easy but should you have any questions, just shout.

Also perhaps it would be easier for you if you started a Weedhatch Garden thread in My Garden/Allotment - which you can find when you click on Garden Gallery.

You can post your pics there and also start a Weedhatch Comments Thread, as have the other members.

Rosefriend

[Deleted]

Thank you Rosefriend.