Serious help needed!

[harvey moon]

Hi all - Have just joined the site whilst I try and rest my poor back after a morning digging at our new plot. We are absolute novices - can anyone recommend a really good book or idiots guide on what we should do first?!. I am champing at the bit to get something planted but I know not what, when or how.!. Do tell if you can - the more info I get the better - and what is the best stuff to put in the bath to rest my weary body...ouch it hurts!

[harvey moon]

[Dirkdigger]

Hi Harvey moon,
I'm also a complete novice, went to library a got book by Caroline Foley called The Allotment Handbook. Lots and lots of info for even a complete novice, part I really like, is the year planner. It reccomends jobs to do through the year, month by month.
Take it easy on the back, a little and often is what I have been advised by my fellow Lottie friends.
I'm sure the more experienced members will be forwarding some welcomes and advice in the next few hours.
So watch your post!!!!!
Nice to have you on board.

[newchangeling]

Definitely best to aim for little and often - if your trips to the lottie become a chore or punishment then there's not really any motivation to keep it up, so resist the temptation to push yourself too hard.

As far as deciding what to grow - keep it simple.  Are you looking to grow veg?  If so, what do you like to eat?  Base your list around that and then become more adventurous later.  Don't worry too much about varieties at this stage, you can branch out in coming years when you feel more confident about what you do know.

And a good bath soak is camomile teabags.  Much cheaper than bath oil, just pop one or two under a running tap to infuse the water.  A drop or two of lavender oil is great as well, but make sure there's someone available to keep an eye out in case you fall asleep! ;)

[harvey moon]

Thanks for the suggestions regarding the book - will hotfoot down to the library asap. May try the camomile teabags later - will look forward to that!. Have already picked up lots of tips from this site, it was a good find!

[Svea]

have a look at a fellow's allotment diary - loads of tips, and it explains veg, how hard/easy to grow, and when to sow.

also read the diary - quite interesting
(courtesy of gavin ;))

svea

[Mothy]

Hi Harvey Moon,

I too started with an overgrown plot over Xmas time. Kittle and often is definitely the key and it is surprising how quickly you can see the difference!  ;D

I bought the Allotment Holders Handbook by Alan Titchmarsh on E-Bay and Organic Gardening by Christine & Michael Lavelle on offer from WH Smiths at £4.99. Bets is the advice you get on here to be honest!!

Good luck and let us know how you are getting on  :D

[TULIP-23]

Harvey Moon ;)

Warm Welcome  :D  You see you've had some Excellent Advise so far.

Great crowd here dont be afraid to ask Questions. You will always receive excellent help, and suggestions. 8)

Enjoy yourself with the Lottie. ;)

Greetings Take Care Tulip-23 Mike

[ina]

Hi H.M. Ofcourse you are impatient to get started, that feeling in winter never goes away.

When we started our allotment I spent a lot of time reading and learning, only to get totally confused. It started to look like science to me. At the lottie I couln't remember anything. When I started a compost heap I did it by the book, I tried everything but it never got warm and I worried I'd never get compost. Well I did get compost, it just took a while. Now I just toss stuff on, mix it, add water when it's dry and it works just as well.

I think the advice of Newchangeling is right. Keep it simple to begin with. Buy seeds of common veggies you like, look on the pack and sow. The learning comes with the doing, little bits at the time. A bit from experience, a bit maybe from other allotmenteers where you are, a bit here and a bit there. Just take it one step at a time.

I don't do much planning, I just plant where there's room and try to remember what was there last year so I don't plant the same thing there. I like wide beds with trampled down paths in between so you can always change them. The beds are just so wide that I can reach the middle from either side.

Good luck.

[fosteri]

Hi harvey moon!

We (Nattyem) are also both novices to the game to!! We recently aquired our rather overgrown plot and we are really keen to get things in and growing.

All i'll say is do things bit by bit, don't rush it!!! Get in plenty of Radox for the bath and then go through this site with all your queries and questions and i'll bet you find the answers. I think this site is so much better than buying a book, you can get all the answers from people who have had the experiences and really do know what they are talking about!

Good luck.

Louisa xx

P.S At the moment we've only just planted the garlic, and the potatoes are chitting in the utility room!!

[Roy Bham UK]

Welcome Harvey Moon, Just thought I'd echo TimJ's recommendation for this book, it's ideal for beginners and a snip if WH Smith are still offering them at this price. :o

[Slaine]

I've had my allotment for 2 weeks now and still havent got round to getting a book.

the following link was helpful

http://myallotment.blogspot.com/2003_08_01_myallotment_archive.html

It'a day to day allotment diary and i found it quite helpful reading through someone elses experiences starting on a allotment.

Apart from that i'm hammering this forum whenever i need a question answered.

Have fun

George

[Roy Bham UK]

Useful link ;) thanks for that ;D

[tim]

Don't champ - sit back & read for a week or so?

[NattyEm]

And don't forget the search facility on this site (located up at the top) where you will find most questions have already been answered at some point or other!

I have two books, one is stolen from my parents shelves called Grow Your Own vegetables by L. Hills, I think it was written in the 70s very informative, very funny to read.  The other I got as a present it's Practicle Allotment Gardening by Caroline Foley which has some great basic information in it.

Good luck and don't forget to take piccies to show us :)

[Gadfium]

I'm new to the allotment world too. I got copies of most vegetable seed catalogues to start off with, then settled for:

1. Grow your Own Vegetables by Joy Larkcom (detailed, 380pp, info on just about everything)... bought a copy

2. Vegetable and Herb Expert by D G Hessayon - colour diagrams/easier to digest... been lent a copy.

[TULIP-23]

Gadfium :)

Welcome  here to A4A  Wishing you lots pleasure Lots of Questions Lots of Debates You´ll get lots of Answers  so
enjoy it its great here.

[wardy]

Brill info Nattyem  :)  I've been after that book for ages.  Read it in the library when I first got my plot and thought how good it was.  I tried to take it out again but couldn't find it.  Couldn't remember what it was called though.  They did a search for allotment but thousands came up so I gave up. 

I'll have a look on Amazon and buy myself a copy

Wardy

[Gadfium]

Tulip-23...

Dank u wel, het is heel vriendelijk hier!

[Roy Bham UK]

Gadfium

Zijn vrij aardig hier ook 8)

[TULIP-23]

Gadfuim :o

Thank You!!! :D

Mike