New Allotment - What to plant?

[Mortality]

Ive just accepted an allotment, atm it is just grass covered and probabily only requires a digging over.

What can I plant now? and what should i avoid planting (if anything) ?

[Mortality]

[steveg1966]

I first got my plot around this time of year and aimed for spring planting because it was overgrown and found that they were enough work to last all winter with the short day's etc.So if I was you I would concentrate on preparing and getting a plan together on what you want from the plot. Anyway congratulations on getting your plot have you had to wait long.

[Mortality]

Amost 3 years.

[Flighty]

Congratulations, and happy plotting.
I would concentrate on getting as much clearing and digging done as you can over the coming months ready for planting from March onwards when you can then start planting and sowing things like broad beans, early potatoes and onion sets.
One thing that should be planted now are bare root soft fruit plants such as raspberries.

[Digeroo]

Garlic just before Xmas, strawberries, raspberries and other soft fruit.     I would get your potato, broad bean, early peas and parsnip areas ready, so you can throw them straight in next year.   That will give to time to sort out your next areas for carrots and onions, later broad beans,  brassicas etc etc.

The urge to plant may be strong, maybe some parsley under plastic bottles.  Divide a Tesco one into four.   Though March would be better.

Soon be time to start things like peppers and broad beans off.     

You are supposed to be able to sow broad beans but I find they do better if you wait until February.

[antipodes]

Yes I agree, don't really plant anything now, it's too cold. Dig manure into your beds, cover them if you like with thick cardboard for example to dissuade the weeds, prepare your beds and paths generally. You can still plant garlic if you like, add plenty of compost to the soil first.
I don't start till February and first things in are shallots and brown onions and broad beans if the weather is clement enough.

[gray1720]

I agree that it's probably better to plant stuff in March rather than now, but definitely get digging now. If you can, cover as much as you can to kill the grass and weeds, which will make your life much easier come spring. Just roll it back a little at a time and dig what you can, then re-cover the rest.* I also wouldn't worry too much about digging all the roots and stuff out - just turn it over and the frost will break it down for you, you can go through it for roots and stuff in early spring, and re-digging then to clear the roots with the clods broken up will be much easier. I have heard it said that you shouldn't dig when it's frozen hard, but I've been out at -8C taking 1 inch slices with a spade, and it's broken up beautifully over the winter.

Happy digging and good luck!

Adrian

*For some reason on our allotments, we have several people who cover plots, then uncover them and leave them to get overgrown again. I have no idea whatsoever why.

[Paulh]

Plant garlic now.

Also autumn onion sets if you are not on heavy soil.

It's the right time for garlic.

Did I mention garlic?

[artichoke]

I have just planted elephant garlic. It is an encouraging first allotment crop apart from weeding because although it spends the winter building up its roots invisibly, when it does come up it is a large, elegant, bombproof plant that needs no attention apart from weeding. It has beautiful flowers that bees adore, and when you finally dig it up the result is so huge it has other garlic growers gasping with envy if they haven't met the elephant before.

I roasted some cloves last night in a tray of chopped up sweet potatoes and red peppers, and it was absolutely gorgeous.

Sadly, they are expensive to buy, but you can increase your stock steadily from year to year, and never buy them again.