New at this!! Any help appreciated!!

[suzi]

Hi there,
We are lucky enough to have a big garden in which we have decided to have an allotment and grow our own produce.... ;D

Only problem is neither of us have done this before!  ??? We have been busy digging and preparing our soil. So the queation is what and how to grow things...We have bought some seeds for carrots, beetroot, swede etc and have a friend who has some potatoes ready soon... :D

Any advice will be greatfully recieved!!!
Suzi x

[suzi]

[Lauren S]

Hello Suzi and welcome to A4A.

Sounds like you're doing a great job and you seem very excited about your new plot.

Can you get access to some well rotted manure? Dig in as much as you can get hold of.

Just remember no manure needed for root veg.

Good Luck

[tim]

Look at WIKI at the top of the page?

Might give you a lead to more particular questions.

Old hat or not, I still go for Hessayon's book for starters.

[suzi]

Hi Lauren, Thanks for replying.

Am thinking of just doing root veg 1st as don't have a green house and lots of birds and cats near us.

The soil looks really good and have bought loads of compost that we have dug in. Is that right?

Am very excited yeah but a bit worried too! Lol

[suzi]

Will do... Thanks Tim  :)

[Lauren S]

Hi Lauren, Thanks for replying.

Am thinking of just doing root veg 1st as don't have a green house and lots of birds and cats near us.

Don't let the birds and cats stop you growing what you like...That's what nets are for   ;)

[suzi]

Nice one! Thanks!  ;D

[saddad]

Welcome to the site Suzi....  ;D

[THE MASTER]

your best friend is your soil .... look after it and it will look after you

[Squash63]

Hi Suzi and welcome to the group.
One of the easiest things to grow are courgettes, and butternut squash are pretty easy too.  The seeds can be planted indoors in May, and the plants put outside when there is no more danger of frost.  Courgettes stay as bushes, and butternuts send out shoots so if you don't have much room it might be easier to just stick with courgettes.  That's assuming you like courgettes of course! :) :)

[Tee Gee]

Hi Suzi

I have uploaded this bit of information onto my website today in the hope that it will help people such as you.

http://www.thegardenersalmanac.co.uk/Data/Allotments/Introduction.htm

[cornykev]

Hi Suzi you can put onions and shallots in and peas and spuds in a few weeks time.  ;D ;D ;D

[spudsmummy]

 :D aww Tee Gee, i do love your web site. thank you  :D

[STEVEB]

im assuming youve taken over a piece of lawn?if so its best too start of with potatoes as it may be full of leatherjacks.
And as tim said dr hessayon is a godsend except his over zealous spraying methods in my oppinion

[Lauren S]

Courgettes stay as bushes, and butternuts send out shoots so if you don't have much room it might be easier to just stick with courgettes. 

There is a Butternut Squash variety that grows bushy too

[Weed-Digga]

Hi Suzi
It has taken us about 18 months to almost cultivate our whole plot. We took it on in August 2007. We have made it into a series of 18 raised beds, 12 are 8 ft x 4ft and 6 are 11ft x 4 ft with 2 ft paths between.The paths have weed-suppressant fabric on and are covered in bark.We planted each bed up as soon as it was made as this gave us something to watch growing while we were still hard at work on the rest of the plot!! We also have a shed, coldframe and compost bins. Now that we only have 2 of the beds left to put in, we decided to take on the plot next door!!

Weed-Digga

[Squash63]

There is a Butternut Squash variety that grows bushy too
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Do you know the variety Lauren? Have you grown it?