Allotments 4 All

I AM STARTING AN ALLOTMENT ANYBODY WANT TO OFFER HELP AND ADVICE

Quote from: RIVER ALLOTMENTS on October 15, 2010, 21:40:55
I AM STARTING AN ALLOTMENT ANYBODY WANT TO OFFER HELP AND ADVICE

Hi gratz, some people have to wait years to get one, how was it for you ?

More information needed.

is it virgin land, or well worked up to  a few months ago, or not used for years?  is it waist high in weeds? whats the soil like? How big is it? what do you want to grow ?


PS, dont type in all upper case, its considered shouting in netiquette.

We need more info.    ;D ;D ;D

SNAP!        ;D ;D ;D

Hello RA, welcome to A4A.  Well done on the new site, it's very good to hear.

Do talk to the National Society of Allotment and Leisure Gardeners.  They have some resources here.

Do you haver any specifics?

Welcome.    Elbow grease & sweat at the ready ;D ;D ;D

Where in the country are you RA?

Quote from: RIVER ALLOTMENTS on October 15, 2010, 21:40:55
I AM STARTING AN ALLOTMENT ANYBODY WANT TO OFFER HELP AND ADVICE

yes.... stop SHOUTING :D

Dig.... gently does it and in sections but dig through the whole thing in the next few months and take out every white root adn wierd strandy thing with a grass plant at one end of it that you can find. The first is bindweed and the second is couch grass. You want them gone by spring cos they're sods to deal with once you've got plants in. You've still got time to get garlic, elephant garlic, overwintering onions and variosu brassicas in , so as soon as you've dug a bit plant them. None of them will want fertilizer just now, though the brassicas will be wanting to be planted firmly....

Work out a planting plan for next year... the classic four-bed rotation was drawn up in the days before courgettes, squashes and sweetcorn, not to mention reliable outdoor peppers, chillis and aubergines.....

Work out what you like to eat, work out what is stupidly expensive in the shops even in season ut is easy to grow (raspberries?), then work out your planting plan..... get involved on here, we're a friendly bunch, you'll find it's possible to keep the seed bill down by judicious use of special offers that get posted around as well as some sensible habits like seeds swapping and order combining circles.... If you'd like a few Catawissa tree onions (can be planted now) then let me know and I'll send you a few bulbils.....

chrisc

Take a flask,plenty of sarnies and something to sit on.  ;D

Lots of advice on here bit I recomend you get a couple of books about growing your own veg.

Good luck   ;D

doesnt look like hes coming back...............whats called a 'drive-by poster'...................

Give him a chance- he might have been at his new allotment all day! ;)

Do a bit leave a bit . expect failures, talk to other plotholders, compost everything you can. enjoy it. 

Quote from: picman on October 17, 2010, 14:57:50
compost everything you can.  

doesn't work with kids. and the wife took a dim view...............

The first thing to do with a new allotment is erect a good shed. Fix up a cooker with a kettle. Buy tea bags milk and sugar. Buy a comfortable seat and then get the Mrs to make a cupper whilst you sit and work out what job she has to do next.

Quote from: Amazingrotavator(Derby) on October 17, 2010, 16:02:56
The first thing to do with a new allotment is erect a good shed. Fix up a cooker with a kettle. Buy tea bags milk and sugar. Buy a comfortable seat and then get the Mrs to make a cupper whilst you sit and work out what job she has to do next.

Got all that................except the Mrs...she doesnt come anywhere near the plot!

raised beds are the quickest answer, and if you can afford it import topsoil to fill them, plus find a local cheap supply of well rotted horse manure.
What I did was cover the whole site in black membrane ( Travis Perkins ) lay out the raised beds on top of it then cut cross slits inside the raised beds pull them up and staple them to the inside of the boards, and cut off the surplus, lay cardboard over the whole area inside the raised beds and soil backfill, bingo no nasty weeds in your paths plus a long while before you see them in your beds. Worked for me a treat..

This link is in the Wiki tag on the toolbar but thought I would save you searching;

http://www.thegardenersalmanac.co.uk/Data/Allotments/01-Introduction.htm

Follow all the links and I think you will get most of the info you are after!

BTW; Welcome to A4A and I wish you the best of luck.

This is a good time to start up you have 4-6 months to get it ready for planting!