Got my first allotment!

Smoffi

Small sections at a time... 6ft x 6ft for example.. get it bare soil and cover it.. then move onto next space.. atleast this way you can see some improvement instead of being disheartened by it all..

Lovely prospect for a nice patch thou!!

kinkyjinks

Smoffi wrote: »

Small sections at a time... 6ft x 6ft for example.. get it bare soil and cover it.. then move onto next space.. atleast this way you can see some improvement instead of being disheartened by it all..

Lovely prospect for a nice patch thou!!

I just got a phone call telling me I'd got an allotment too. I'm guessing it's going to look like the OPs and love the idea of taking it in small sections like that. Less intimidation. Good luck PeteW, maybe we can motivate each other :beer:

Smoffi

Remember when you have done all the area.. the 3 "p"'s

PLAN PLAN PLAN.. just make the same mistake as I did in my first year of growing veggies at home.. too many not enough space lol

kippers

I've just taken on another plot that was full of brambles 6 feet high. I spent two days cutting them back with a pair or shears and some loppers. I then paid a 'very nice man' to use his JCB digger to dig over the plot (he charged £20) and i literally walked around pulling the roots up by hand and then i burnt them. This was so much easier than digging them out by hand (i did this with my first plot and it was really really hard work). Ask your allotment association if they have 'a man' who has a digger.

Sally_A

Being a bit of a lazy tyke, I'd dig widthways in 3ft trenches and get some maincrop spuds in for a good 1/3rd to 1/2 plot for this year. You will be digging this until September/October. Don't go for a load of stuff this year, unless you've already started them off at home.

Parsnips, runners/french beans, courgettes and pumpkins are still on the agenda for outdoor growing (but would recommend you start them all off indoors). And if possible some leeks sown indoors like NOW!!! or earlier. Sweetcorn and mangetout will be sown in my unheted greenhouse in a week or two.

Your best return is from runner beans, so a well composted trench and about 24 bean poles will give you loads and some to freeze. Frozen isn't quite as good as fresh, but they taste fab during December to March.

In a nutshell grow what you like, and freeze so you can eat out of season.

emilyka

How exciting, I've had mine since late last year. Bloody hard work but it is starting to take shape. I would cut the brambles as short as possible and using a fork dig them out bit by bit. I thoroughly reccommend doing a little patch at a time on a nice day with some beers!! :beer:

zarazara

And its addictive. I've just ordered some micro fleece tunnels and green netting ones.
I am looking forward to growing insect -free lettuce and cabbage.

lbt_2

I am on the waiting list for an allotment (12th so it could be some time) but a friend has let me share some of hers while I wait.

I would love to see some photos of other people allotments if anyone has any?

Pete - I hope you'll keep us up to date

Rotwein44

I have just joined my list, my parish has 3 areas and one waiting list has 10 people on, the other 2 have just 2, so fingers crossed! I would be happy with just half or a 3rd of a plot though! Its very exciting, keep us uptodate with progress and tips!

Megansmum

I know people are on "lists" for lotties, but if you go direct to the chairman of your local plot, sometimes there are empty ones the council doesn't know about yet.

I got mine last year without going on any list, i just showed up and got offered one. If they see you're keen they want you.

(I did a little patch last year of spuds, covered the rest to kill off the weeds and got SIL digging new beds now for me).

Bit by bit is the best advice i can give!

Good luck!