New Allotment... advice please.

stewby

Hello.

OH and my dad are looking for a hobby and have decided on an allotment. This is because Dad has now retired and OH loves gardening but is feeling a bit "restricted" by our small garden.

I am getting a section of it to grow fruit.
Plan is to grow raspberries, blueberries and a couple of dwarf trees (possibly plum and peach). I already have a small apple tree in our back garden.

The allotment we are getting is not very sheltered, although we are going to put up mesh fencing to try and protect the plants from the worst of the wind.

I have been doing a fair bit of research but it is all a bit confusing. Can anyone recommend any types of fruits (like names of raspberry plants, etc)??
If I do get raspberries, do I buy two different types or the same ones??

We live in the north-east of Scotland so would like something that will survive the weather here.
Any sort of advice would be gratefully received. Thanks in advance.

zaax

Putting a hedge at the north end will help stop most of the cold winds.
See what everyone else is growing.
Onion; lettuce; radish and potatoes can still be planted for a crop this year.
Talk to your neighbouring plot holders they will be very helpful, sometimes there is an allotment association.

wellused

As zaax says ask your allotment neighbours they will have made all the mistakes before you do and will know what does and doesn't work, you will find that better than asking advice from someone who gardens miles from your allotment as they will know the whys and wherefores of your specific site. I thought that Scotland was the place for raspberries so you should be spoilt for choice up there. Good luck with the new project allotments are hard work but rewarding when you get it right.

Mojisola

stewby wrote: »

If I do get raspberries, do I buy two different types or the same ones??

Have a range of varieties so that you can harvest fruit from early on right through to the autumn.

McKneff

And I can totally recommend the Book, Allotments for Dummies from Amazon for about a tenner.

Linda32

It is true that talking to the other plot holders will help you. I have found that other gardeners love to talk about gardening.

I am in the East Midlands so different area to you. But having spoke to a few plot holders and noticing what they grow, I have seen that main crop potatoes do not work. No one really knows why. Leeks just about manage to over winter and Kale.

Early broad beans just rot away, you can't sow onions the same, its better to sow in the spring.

Scottish_Mike

Regarding raspberries, definitely get both summer and autumn fruiting varieties, then you'll get more fruit over a longer period. I can't remember the varieties of summer fruiting rasps we got. I got a variety of Malling from Poundland and they've barely fruited (however they're in an overcrowded pot which could be the reason they're not doing well).

Autumn varieties we ordered from T&M and got All Gold (HUGE plump raspberries, nice flavour; not as tart as some varieties) and Joan J and Polka, neither of which have fruited yet.

Mulch with a good thick layer of rotted manure and water regularly and they'll be very happy. Gumtree and chatting to other plot holders is handy in this regard.

I'm not much use with fruit trees, but if your site isn't sheltered get the sturdiest stakes you can find for your trees.

Also, if you have the time, go to the Beechgrove Garden's website and check out their factsheets. There's loads of them, and they're in NE Scotland so may have similar conditions to you.

Also, grow strawberries - fresh ones are divine!! Good luck

wellused

Linda I'm in the south east midlands and have had some great crops of maincrop potatoes over the last couple of years, no problems with leeks Musselburg work just great for me as long as you can keep the leek moth off them, and I grew autumn sown broad beans Aquadulce Claudia and had a better crop than previously spring sown broad beans. I was disappointed with my first attempt to grow overwintering Japanese Onions though as the ground is too heavy. Just goes to show how different allotment sites in the same region can vary so much.

andrewf75

For blueberries you need very acid soil I think.