Idiot's guide for newbie to allotments

debtfreeandlovingit_2

Hello,

I have just heard that I have been lucky enough to get my hands on an allotment. I will be able to choose which one I want from a selection of several but as yet this is the only information I know.

As an absolute beginner to gardening and allotments (I have never grown anything apart from herbs) is there anything I should bear in mind when choosing my plot? For example, is there anything to avoid, in particular?

Also can anyone recommend a really good idiot's guide to allotment gardening? I have looked around this section of the board, but there is so much information I am a little overwhelmed. I have read good reviews of "The Half-Hour Allotment" and wondered how good it is for an absolute beginner like me who wants to grow some veg but doesn't have all that much time available during the week.

Thanks in advance!

Sylvan

I'd say "The Half-Hour Allotment" would be very useful to you. It gives a lot of information about what to grow, and when, how to make best use of your time etc.
I think it even gives advice on choosing an allotment.

If you have a choice you want one that's on level ground, near the water source, not too overgrown (in particular try to avoid bindweed and ground elder!) and it would be useful if you can get a car to it, in case you want to deliver anything bulky/heavy.

Personally, if there was one with a greenhouse/polytunnel or shed I would go for it, since they will be very useful and can be expensive.

debtfreeandlovingit_2

:beer:
Thanks very much for taking the time to reply, Sylvan. I will definitely look out for all those points on Thursday when I make my choice!

Thefunkygibbons

The one with at least some ground which needs no work, so you can start straight away and not get too depressed by all the set up work

Otherwise, next to the best plot on the site as that person will be really good for practical advice

RAS

And check out the aspect as well. if you are there in the middle of the day, check out where the sun is - when you look at is you are facing south (west if you go oin the afternoon).

Does the ground slope down to the south, the most favoured aspect? Or does it slope down to the north, least favoured aspect? The best thing is a 15% slope to the south.

Are there any tall buildings or hedges to the south, east or west that will cast shade over your plot for all or part of the day, in summer or in winter.

it is infested with couch grass, marestail, bindweed or thistles? Not good. On the other hand if it is growing a healthy crop of annual weeds it will grow vegetables as well.

Any fruit trees, canes or bushes (rhubarb will have collapsed now leaving a few mushy leaves). great as you will get a crop for virtually no work next year.

mum_of_4

My plot takes abit of time to water and when it's hot I'm so please i'm only two plots away from a water tank.

It is always nice to have a plot that has some cleared space but dodn't choose it for that reason alone. You'll have time before spring to clear it anyway.

Mine's taken a few years to get it (almost) to how I think a allotment should be. Mine was weedy and half of it hadn't been worked for five years.

debtfreeandlovingit_2

Lots of great advice. Thanks so much to you all.
I'm looking forward to the challenge!

irishwexford

We took on our allotment in March this year. We had no experience of growing anything other than flowers and shrubs. When carrots started to grow there was a mass of weeds, as I did not know what the carrots looked like at this stage I pulled a lot of them out and nutured the weeds. When it came to the parsnips I asked my neighbour on allotment and managed to keep the full crop. Lesson learned. Made lots of mistakes but still managed a good crop of potatoes, onions (could be better), beets, butternut squashes, runner beans, parsnips, cabbages, caulies, and sweetcorn. I did grow most of these from seed in two mini greenhouses. Spent a lot of time reading books, looking on here and making notes. Next year I have made plan which should see us eating all year from land as I allow for follow-on crops. I did plant ten savoys and ten winter cabbages from seed which are looking pretty good. Should be eating these at Christmas along with my parsnips which are so big I can hardly believe I grew them. Have loads of runner beans in freezer also lots of rhubarb given to us from another user. We have 30 raspberry plants
waiting to go in and a supply of strawberry plants as well. Best of luck and enjoy:T

alibobs_2

I am also new to allotments and took on my very over grown plot in August. The only thing of any value on the plot was rhubarb so I now have a freezer full of the stuff.
I would say after clearing the old shed and green house we have managed to weed about an eighth of the plot as we have couch grass and have to get rid of every little bit of the roots. Where we are everyone is more than happy to give advice or help, it is a lovely community. The job of clearing the plot feels like it is never ending but as we clear a bed we have been planting and seeing everything grow is so rewarding, even though it will not be ready to eat until Spring/Summer next year.
I started growing a few weeks before the plot was handed over, you can start some peas and broad beens now at home in pots and when you get the plot you can plant them out, and also plant some onion sets and garlic.
I found this book very good Vegetable Growing - Month by Month by John Harrison, it is well laid out no fancy terms and easy to understand.
Good luck and take each day at a time, as my new allotment chums are so fond of telling me.

citroennut

Hi, another allotment newbie here. Our plot is on a so far uncultivated field and we have a quarter plot. Very excited about it, though as a novice am somewhat puzzled by some of our rules and regs. Just wondered if these sort of restrictions are widespread or only apply to our allotments. They are owned by the local council and leased to our allotment society. The council says that we must not have water butts for health and safety reasons, even though there is no provision for a water supply as yet. We are not allowed fencing of any kind on our plots as this might not be aesthetically pleasing. Huts are not permitted, nor greenhouses and even raised beds must be put before the council for approval. I realise that rules are necessary but just wondered if these rules are normal.
Would very much appreciate any advice.
Sorry for long post.

mum_of_4

citroennut wrote: »

Hi, another allotment newbie here. Our plot is on a so far uncultivated field and we have a quarter plot. Very excited about it, though as a novice am somewhat puzzled by some of our rules and regs. Just wondered if these sort of restrictions are widespread or only apply to our allotments. They are owned by the local council and leased to our allotment society. The council says that we must not have water butts for health and safety reasons, even though there is no provision for a water supply as yet. We are not allowed fencing of any kind on our plots as this might not be aesthetically pleasing. Huts are not permitted, nor greenhouses and even raised beds must be put before the council for approval. I realise that rules are necessary but just wondered if these rules are normal.
Would very much appreciate any advice.
Sorry for long post.

I can't believe the waterbutt thing, you should be able to argue,as it's saving water. I also think any newspaper that got hold of that story would have a feild day. Ask when they are providing water? Raised beds is another stupid thing - just build temp beds nothing to fixed.

Our site is leased from the council and they don't care too much about what is going on we just have to ask the site manager.

edited to say - ask what the policies are on other sites in your area