Just got an allotment (Merged)

louidog

Ooooh Mrs Dawn, well done you!
I shared an allotment with a friend and to be honest it was flippin hard work as the plot had not been used for years. I must say we got some wonderful veggies off that plot though so the hard work was worth it. We gave it up in the end as we just didn't have the time to get over there. A real shame.

We used to buy a monthly magazine called "Kitchen Garden" that would let you know all that had to be done that month and what to plant etc. Very helpful indeed!

Good luck with the digging!

Queen_Marge

One good tip when starting on a new plot is not to try and tackle the whole thing in one go. I would concentrate on tidying up the plot and working on it sections at a time. This way you won't be over whelmed by the amount of digging and weeding to do.

Mrs_Dawn

Thanks to you all for the advice.
Also best of luck to all of you fellow newbie allotmenteerers(not sure that's a word) but never mind.
Can't wait to get stuck in and thankfully the sight is clear and the previous tenant has left us two compost bins and a large rain bucket.
Going to sit down at the weekend and plan everything with OH and DS1 & DD2.
:j :j :j :j

annifranakapan

Hi, been lurking for ages (the first post is the hardest :rotfl: )

Heard yesterday that after waiting for ages we've now got an allotment :T :T :T I feel soooo lucky to have this as it's only around the corner from where we live.

It's 10 rods which looks huge to me. I measured it and it was about 90ft x 30ft, but I'm terrible at measuring so these measurements could be wrong.

Got to get it cleared now and start planning what to grow. Any tips on how to clear such a large area?

BTW, read the jobs for February thread - great stuff:T

U've_been_framed

Do it a bit at a time. Clear away what is on the surface and comes away easily. Compost what you can.
Google double digging. That is the hard work, but its worth it.
One of the best things about allotments is that you will find the other allotment holders friendly and helpful. It's a mixture of the best parts of free enterprise and socialism.
Good luck.

spendthrift66

Hey! annifranakapan (that took some spelling!)

Hello and welcome!

I found out on Saturday that I've got an allotment too! It's in such a state - really overgrown, and huge! I'm so excited - where abouts are you?

annifranakapan

I'm near Southend in Essex. Think my eyes are going square as I've spent hours reading all the advice on here - just got to make a start now.

I'm hoping the allotment is going to provide all our veg for the year (well that's the plan).

My Dad had an acre :eek: of garden when we were little and used to grow all our fruit and veg when we were little. He used to make us help out a lot with weeding, thinning out etc. We all hated it! Would never guess that over 30 years later I'd be so excited about growing veg myself. Sadly he's no longer around to give help and or advice so I'm really starting as a complete novice!

Sorry, I've rambled on with this post.

Anni

spendthrift66

I'm in Sheffield, and also a total novice! (I don't even own a fork or a spade as we don't have a garden, just a yard). I can't believe how excited I am.

I too shall be lurking around here to get any advice at all. There is also a Forum for Sheffield which has an allotment and gardening group - so I'm hoping for friendly help there too.

Well, good luck with it! How marvellous to think we might be eating our own produce in a few months! :j

hex2

www.allotments4all.co.uk is very good.

I have found that it is best to clear one area well rather than a large area badly. May be worth considering covering some of it with black plastic or old carpet until next spring - the idea being that the exclusion of light and water kills off most of the weeds for you. You will still need to dig and fertilise later on.

Is your name a tribute to fred franakapan? - five penny piece are my childrens favourite.

rockie4

I agree with hex2, clear a small area properly, cover the rest and do it gradually. We took on a double plot :eek: 18months ago that had been derelict for 25 years :eek: So far we've cleared half of it - we shifted nearly a skipful of rubbish, tellys, old bikes, enough bricks and glass to build a house :eek: and last year we managed to grow a fair bit on what we'd cleared.:D

It's VERY hard work but worth it, drag off any loose weeds etc and then dig!!!

Good luck!:T