Ouch my back hurts

[gripper]

Im a newbie to this allotment stuff ive been diggin a 250 square allotment in Bexley London for the past two weekends the ground is like concrete and i have ended up using a pick axe to break up the hard clay. But im loving it its better than the gym and very satisfying. Question what do you guys and girls reccomend as a first year planting, im thinking potatoes and sweet corn, toms and beans any other suggestions to a newbie please.

[gripper]

[cornykev]

Hi Gripper, sounds like you mad  :P enough to join the nuthouse  here, how about carrots, beetroot, onions, cabbages, lettuce, the list goes on. Hows life after Grangehill then Gripper.  ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

[Trevor_D]

Potatoes (to help break up the ground). Forget roots & stuff, but if you can get some ground decent, think about onions, beans (broad beans can put up with a lot) & squashes, which romp over the ground & help suppress weeds.

Try to get a bit prepared at a time, with a definite aim; eg enough land ready for potatoes by early March.

And welcome to the madhouse....

[silverbirch]

Quick stuff as well.  We tend to forget about things like lettuce and radish, but it gives you something to harvest, which makes all the hard work worthwhile.

Don't forget to get plenty of organic matter in (if you can get hold of it, as it will stop the ground compacting down again.  Also, set out permament paths so you don't have to walk on ground you've dug.  I think 4' wide beds with 18" paths are ideal.

[asbean]

Or wider if you've got big feet ...  ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

[cornykev]

And you know what they say about big feet,                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           Big socks.  ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

[gripper]

Thanks guys and yes gripper is from grange hill LOL at least some else can remember that far back, gripper is my online name for gaming as i play a few online games too like halo and BF2142. I am planning paths and have been digging plots about 6 -  8 meter square i am also diggin narrower plots for things like french beans and tomatoes. I have put a layer of horse manure/ straw wood chippings on top of the plots. I am taking photos too so i will post them when its finished could not do any digging today because my back has got to have a rest.

[Emagggie]

No no no Gripper, no slacking please  ;D ;).
Not too late to wop some garlic in I think.  Good old Purple sprouting broccoli is a good one to plan for next year (if you like to eat it, that is).
What about planning a soft fruit bed? And rhubarb. On with the good work, and good luck.
Oh and welcome to you. ;D

[caroline7758]

I've found the easiest thing to grow is courgettes. On the other hand I never have much success with pumpkins or squash. ??? Asparagus is great, too- needs a bit of work to prepare the bed (didn't weed ours well enough and are paying for it now) but once they are established that's it, and you'll feel very smug when you see how much they are asking in the supermarket!

[saddad]

Welcome to the madhouse... Look forward to the pics... hope you took some "before" as well. I'm too old to have taken too much notice of Grange Hill!
:-[

[gripper]

I did take a before pic, now i have two beds dug and yepee a shed too!, how do you plant Asparagus  cos i luv that?.