hello need some help please

[spaf69]

Hi
We have just acquired our plot today, only waited a year and a bit, and what a great plot unfortunately the person who had it before had to give it up due to an accident at work, so we really don't need to do much to it apart from weeding.

the help we need is what to grow and where to plant it , we have bought so far...
onions-red, spring and white
garlic, sweetcorn, rhubarb, peas, butternut squash, tomatoes
we will be getting some spuds as well
any other suggestions? and where best to grow it (in rows or blocks?) and any other advice will be greatfully received.
thanks in advance

oohh yes nearly forgot our plot is approx 30ft x 10ft but may be wider (haven't measured it properly) and is very open plan.

[spaf69]

[plimsoll plot2]

welcome  :)

plant your carrots and oinons in rows next to each other 1 row of onions and 1row of carrots etc , i have fund this helpfull to ward of green and black fly.

have fun

[manicscousers]

beans, salady type stuff, swede, beetroot..things you can keep over winter or freeze..enjoy yourselves.. ;D

[Barnowl]

Since you're pushed for space it might be worth trying interplanting the sweetcorn.

Here are a couple of threads on it, but theres more if you use the search facility.

http://www.allotments4all.co.uk/joomla/component/option,com_smf/Itemid,91/topic,28104.0

http://www.allotments4all.co.uk/joomla/component/option,com_smf/Itemid,91/topic,27285.0

[Si]

Get fruit bushes and asparagus in early to establish.
I would just grow what you like to eat... In my case raspberries ;D

By the way, my sis reckons that our local plots are a bit boring so I am doing my planting on diagonals this year!

[jennym]

Be sure to allow anough space for the rhubarb and since it's a permanent plant dig in some muck before you plant. You need at least a 3 ft diameter circle for each rhubarb plant. Outdoor tomatoes take up about the same space too.  I'd plant in rows for the toms & peas & because they are easier to pick that way. Have found spring onions do well here planted in a small block. Sweetcorn is grown in blocks to aid wind pollination, each plant about a 12/18" apart would do. Scatter peas every couple of inches in rows  a shallow trench about 4" wide by about 2" deep. Garlic about 6" apart, rows or blocks. Onion usually in rows. Squash will take a lot of room if you let it, allow about a yard and a half diameter, then also the stems can be trailed along for a good few yards.

[Barnowl]

Garlic is meant to be good for intercropping / companion planting with everything except peas andbeans and I think that sweetcorn would also be excluded.

[STHLMgreen]

You need at least a 3 ft diameter circle for each rhubarb plant. Outdoor tomatoes take up about the same space too.

I'm new to the allotment and was wondering about this.

The rhubarb that came with the plot is not this big yet. Does this mean I should weed around it (am currently fighting the couch) and just leave this ground bare? Should I put a 3 foot round mulch down? Or do I plant things a bit closer for this season?

Thanks!

[Tee Gee]

You can have a look at my allotment here; http://tinyurl.com/y72ret it might give you a few tips & ideas.

[emmy1978]

As new allotment holder i have found The Allotment Handbook and Practical Allotment Gardening by Caroline Foley to be brilliant for where to plant advice. The thing is to plant what you want to eat, or use ( in my house we hate pumpkin but have 2 children so will grow for Halloween and donate innards to my dad who'll make pumpkin ravioli etc)
The latter of these books is more basic and has lots of pics in it, whereas the other is for when you're on your second year!! There are more in depth books but I can recommend these for beginners!!

[spaf69]

Many many thanks for all the answers supplied on this thread and to the PM I received.

all info duly recorded and my paper and pencils are ready to get sketching, hubby has just been to the site and the previous owner is growing leeks, onions,  cabbages and brussels sprouts which we don't know at the moment if he is taking or leaving will find out sat lunch time.

hardly any weeding to be done apart from round leeks we have been SO lucky with this plot.

[manicscousers]

fingers crossed for you he's leaving them..home grown before you start  ;D