about allotments. I have however put my name down for an allotment in my area and I am waiting on a reply. I live at home and Mum's garden is hers and doesn't take kindly to people 'interfering' as she sees it ;D
So I am going to get myself a plot of land and make it my own. The thing is I have only just got interested in gardening, growing things and I am at a loss as to where to start. I feel as if I am about to jump into the deep end of a very large swimming pool. Have I taken too much on? I hope not.
What type of considerations am I going to have to make? Will I have to prepare the land before I plant anything? What basic tools will I need? In fact, anything you can think of that you feel needs saying, please say as I am all ears. I don't want to go and make a fool of myself.
All the best,
Jonathan.
While you're waiting, try searching back for 'newbies' or 'allotments' - can't think where - but there's been a lot offered about starting out - the negotiation side & the 'getting-to-grips-with-it' side!! = Tim
Good on ya JJ - and welcome to A4A where you will get all the advice you could ask for (and then some) from the most knowledgeable folks on the planet! 8)
The search facility here is good too and worth a try is you have a specific problem you want info on.
My constant reference when I started was here:
http://www.hdra.org.uk/organicgardening/gh_allt.htm
I'd also suggest a browse at the library - Bob Flowerdew is always a good read - even if he is a little too 'alternative' for some!
A new allotment can be overwhelming as the weeds have a tendency to grow faster than you can control them This is a fact of life - go with the flow otherwise depression can rapidly set in! It isn't a race and gardening is there to be enjoyed, IMHO....
I'd advise your work your plot little and often and set yourself small and achievable targets for each visit.
First thing to get hold of is a seat so that you can sit occasionally and admire your handiwork!
AC ;D
excellent! i hope you don't have to wait too long! welcome to a4all, we're all friendly and a lot of us are very new to this too, balanced with members with a huge amount of knowledge and experience.
getting a plot was one of the best things i've ever donw, but you have to be prepared to get a plot that you can't see for weeds cos most people give them up after neglecting them for a while. as has been said, do a little at a time and get some plants in so at least you have something growing while you're working hard on the rest of it.
i wuldn't buy any tools til you have the plot, you may, like me, inherit a shed full of useful stuff that means less stuff to buy.
read through as much of teh posts here as you can and get an idea of what happens when and most of all enjoy it!
Hi Jonathan and welcome. All of the above. If there is no shed and no tools, I would suggest a fork and a spade, stainless steel. These are now available at very reasonable prices. A pair of secateurs, if you have brambles, to help cut them down before digging out.
I can't think of anything else you need when starting out. Later, you may want a hoe or hand fork for weeding but just see how you go.
Whatever you do, heed the above advice, and don't try to prepare the whole plot in one go! You will be in pain and get frustrated. Like everyone says, tackle maybe a four by four or four by six feet at a time. Sow or plant and then dig the next bit!
Talk to the other lottie holders, they will be a mine of useful information and can tell you what you need that the site may not offer.
Ooh! Are you going to have fun. Enjoy every moment! :D
Welcome aboard JJ. It's only eight months since I acquired my first allotment & I've managed to get some of it cleared & things planted (....and growing). I've worked on the principle of little and often to get where I am.
Equipment wise I kind of cheated & put gardening stuff on my christmas/birthday wish list. My best buys are a fork, spade & hoe approx thirty years old which I got from a car boot sale. The elderly gentleman selling them was having to give up his allotment due to ill health & let me have them for £8 as I was just starting out.
Keep us updated as to how you're getting along
Dig a bit, then plant it.
Dig a bit more, and plant that.
If like me you don't mind thick black plastic, cover the bits you're not digging, or that you have and are not planting yet. This helps me as the weeds can't grow behind my back if I don't go to the lottie every half an hour to hoe!
I got my plot in Aug/Sept last year, and drew lots of clever plans on paper and the computer - have I actually used any of the plans? er... no. Just dug a bit, planted a bit etc. etc.! I've got lots of lovely produce growing away and 2/3s of the plot under control.
As lots of questions to the other plotters on your site - they will know what grows well or not. Usually they are an amazing source of help, guidance and free plants! Acting particularly helpless works wonders - or is that just me?
Good luck and have fun
Welcome JJ!!!
See you have already got lots of good advice, but I'm going to stick my rake in and add a bit more ;D ;D ;D
First of all, decide what you want to grow - sounds obvious but I've met people who grow things "cos everyone does" and they don't like eating it :-\ Whatever you really enjoy eating is the best thing to start with as it will be an added incentive to keep going ;)
Get hold of a couple of seed catalogues (known as gardeners' porn in some circles :-X), and read up on what is available. Varieties which claim to be "easy to grow", "disease resistant" or "customers' favourite" are a good starting point for a beginner, and less likely to be a disappointment. ;)
Again, remember it isn't a race and nobody is judging you - there isn't an exam.
If you only get a couple of beds prepared early on - GOOD! Make the most of them :D
If not everything does as well as the pictures - DON'T WORRY! - You should have seen my peas last year (I didn't ;) - they were an unmitigated disaster). You should have seen my carrots though -I was proud of them!!! ;D
Most of all enjoy it - you will meet some lovely people who will share their knowledge and advice with you - and probably a few plants too to get you started.
:-*Tricia
sounds like your mum has some experience of growing stuff so get her involved. Welcome to this site - a fount of useful info (and scurrilous gossip, lurid jokes and bad taste). Have fun - every task, no matter how stupendous, will get done if you keep at it, little by little. Also, the first year is a weedy nightmare - it seems that the more you hoe, the worse it gets. Don't despair, next year, there will be so much less, mainly little annual things once the dock, mallow and couch has been dug. Every dandelion you whip out is a small victory! Well done.
cheers, suzy
Well JJ.
You asked and you got. Stick at it, take all the advise you can. Our lottie feels like it has been prepared by 300 lootie folk, most people on this site have some kind of input as to what and how we do things.
Enjoy your lottie when you get it and be sure to keep everyone updated.
Les.
When you are updating the good folks here, don't forget to keep a note of what you have done, for your own future reference.
Welcome to a great and friendly site, I too am a newbie. I got my lottie last year and searched the net for advice, I found Gavin's site he's also a member on here..... http://www.keirg.freeserve.co.uk/diary/indextec.htm very practical and with A4all you should do ok.