Newbie - Autumn work

[Beisty]

hello everyone

I have just taken on an allotment for the first time.  It seems like a good site with storage sheds, water, toilets etc.

The plot is a bit of a mess so I suppose I will be spending the next couple of weeks cutting back and weeding.

I just wondered if anybody has any advise on anything else I should be doing at this time?  I plan on growing vegetables for my family, so is there any particular work that I could do now that would make life easier later on, or even anything I could be planting now?

Basically any advise is appreciated.

Thanks.

[Beisty]

[redimp]

Lots and lots of digging and perrenial root extraction - and because that can be a bit boring, plant some broad beans (Aquadulce), peas (Feltham First), onions (radar) and garlic so at least you have something green that you do want there and that you can look at when the digging is starting to get to you.

Good luck.

[terrace max]

Plant fruit trees, fruit trees & more fruit trees!

You could also cancel Christmas and buy yourself the mother of all polytunnels...

[Derekthefox]

These two guys have said it all really. If you are particularly adventurous, you could build yourself a polytunnel ...

whichever you decide, good luck!

Derekthefox :D

[Beisty]

Thanks for those pearls of wisdom.  :)

I know that I am not allowed to put up any structures like sheds, but a poly tunnel might be okay.  I suppose I could check.

[the_snail]

You got toilets on your site. You jammie s@d. I would love toilets on my site as I suffer with a stomach complaint which means I need to dash out the loo sometimes with out prior warning and if I am on my plot I am stuck as it is a 20 minute walk home from the allotment and I have no car.

The_Snail

[the_snail]

Bietsy Welcome to A4A hope you enjoy it here.

The_Snail

[EmmaLou]

I suppose I will be spending the next couple of weeks cutting back and weeding.

More like next few months, possibly years!  ;D Unless you have a very rare plot that doesn't have couchgrass, marestail, thistles, nettles etc etc. ::)


I agree with redclanger - get some stuff growing!

Pleased to have you join us btw!  :)

[hawhaw]

Hello, I'm new too so afraid I haven't got any advice but welcome to A4A ;D

[Beisty]

Wow, what a welcome!

Thank you everybody for your advice.  This is going to be a real learning curve for me but hopefully I will be able offer advice to some of you in the future.

Thanks

[Svea]

buy yourself a good book - i love joy larkcom's grow your own veg but others might recommend something else. a good book will explain all the things that you should be doing to your soil apart from growing stuff in it - how to nourish and look after the soil. and i agree with the others - grow something, anything, just to cheer you up
i mean, i have had my plot all summer and it's a great condition but even so i get depressed now with it because everything is drab and looks lifeless. so i am growing a few choice winter crops/overwintering crops. :)

welcome aboard. wrap up warm!

[Icyberjunkie]

...and when your finished digging...try some....sorry.......digging!   But this time of manure to spread as a mulch both to improve the soil and help keep weeds down.

But don't worry if you can't face it because your crops will grow anyway.

Welcome aboard!