Been offered a free plot... where do I start?

[cocopops]

Joined A4A two years ago with intention of growing my own veg.  I tried but my soil is really thin and it was a disaster.  I was going to wait until next year by which raised beds could be made by by OH.  This year I have been concentrating on flowers, fruit plants and trees and my wonderful hens.

One of my neighbours has a holiday home here and he has just got the other neighbour, a farmer, to plough two beds for him.  One has been filled with potatoes and onions and he said last night that I can use his other bed and we can share the produce.

Where do I start?????  I live in rural Brittany which has the same weather as Cornwall (apparently).  I do not want to be put off again so need to grow something that is good for a novice like me, but I can get to enjoying doing.

The bed is approx. 15m by 7m I think.

I think the word is 'help'

Thanks, Allie

[cocopops]

[reddyreddy]

split into beds put salad stuff is good and quick - lettuce, spring onions, radishes, etc. and then maybe plant some longer term stuff in the other beds, whatever you like, courgettes, onions, pots, etc. Good Luck! I got my allotment a month ago and am addicted with all the space have been dealing with a back garden veg plot till now.

[daileg]

Joined A4A two years ago with intention of growing my own veg.  I tried but my soil is really thin and it was a disaster.  I was going to wait until next year by which raised beds could be made by by OH.  This year I have been concentrating on flowers, fruit plants and trees and my wonderful hens.

One of my neighbours has a holiday home here and he has just got the other neighbour, a farmer, to plough two beds for him.  One has been filled with potatoes and onions and he said last night that I can use his other bed and we can share the produce.

Where do I start?????  I live in rural Brittany which has the same weather as Cornwall (apparently).  I do not want to be put off again so need to grow something that is good for a novice like me, but I can get to enjoying doing.

The bed is approx. 15m by 7m I think.

I think the word is 'help'

Thanks, Allie

I would plant pots and onions as they need little maintenance and good returns

[allaboutliverpool]

Why not start with raised beds, I did and have never regretted it.



See how to get started on:-

http://www.allaboutliverpool.com/allaboutallotments1_homepage

[tonybloke]

have a look here
http://downtheplot.com/index.php
and here
http://www.thegardenersalmanac.co.uk/Indexes/index.htm
that should answer most of the questions you have!! ;)

[SMP1704]

At the risk of being the wet blanket, I would want to explore a bit more this comment - "he said last night that I can use his other bed and we can share the produce" and agree the ground rules (pun sort of intended) before you start growing.  In this arrangement, who is buying the seeds etc and is the share 50/50 and will you be happy with that?

Right now you might be happy with anything, but think carefully how you will feel in July/August and find all the lettuce has been taken???

These arrangements often work really well, but need clear agreement at the very start.  Once you have sorted that, decide what you enjoy eating and grow that.  It sounds like the hard stuff has been done - breaking the soil - so you get to go straight to the fun stuff ;D

Enjoy

[Pescador]

Hi, Cocopops,

If you're just starting I wouldn't go for raised beds at this stage.
Why not try a season or two on normal flat beds and see how you go.

Can't see the point of going to all that extra work and cost if its not needed.

Grow for it (!), and enjoy. 

[saddad]

At one end, rather than in the middle, is always a good idea....
::) sorry, couldn't resist that one...  :-X

[PurpleHeather]

Digging it over and getting it perfect for next year is not a bad aim.

Build and add what ever you can to a compost heap.

Put in as many sprouting potatoes as you can find.

Start off some beans and peas.

Courgettes and marrows do like rich soil but will give ground cover too and come on quick.

Salad stuff too.

Don't aim too high, get something growing that will satisfy the desire to grow.

[Stork]

I have a holiday home in eastern Brittany where the soil is like black gold that most of us can only dream of.

If your soil is like this, I would not bother with raised beds. Just get what you like sown and watch it flourish. Of course the weeds will thrive as well so you're going to have to earn your lovely harvest.

Bon chance,

Stork.

[1066]

Where do I start?????  I live in rural Brittany which has the same weather as Cornwall (apparently).  I do not want to be put off again so need to grow something that is good for a novice like me, but I can get to enjoying doing.

Hi congrats and good luck. I'd go for stuff you like to eat, but would recommend peas and beans, pumpkins, courgettes, salad leaves etc- all good basics and as you want fairly easy
1066

[Barnowl]

If the other bed with potatoes and onions is also being shared, I'd concentrate on greens.

Climbing beans (both French beans and runners ) are easy to grow, but avoid planting them where they'll shadow the rest of the bed.  Kale is also a good hardy crop and will provide winter greens.

Perpetual spinach (a cut and come again type) and cut and come again lettuces will be useful.

[cocopops]

Thanks so much for the advice.  I am going to use this summer as a learning curve before building beds in my garden for next year.

The idea of eating what you like is a really good and obvious idea  ::).  I have just been out and bought seeds for lettuce, pumpkin, spring onions, beetroot, cabbage, turnip,  carrots (fingers crossed for that), melon, peas and yellow harricot beans.  Will get some butternut squash, swede and spinach and that will be my lot.  I treated myself to a lightweight spade as well so all I need to do is get myself out there and start.

'Borrowing' the bed is not a problem.  Our neighbours are not over that often and we are always helping each other out and exhanging things such as books, eggs, ready meals etc.  I think that they would rather the plot be used now it is ploughed rather than left to grass over.  The soil is really good there so I expect that the weeds will thrive but heyho I will give it my best shot.