Allotments 4 All

After waiting for 4 years we've finally got an allotment!  Well, a half plot which is plenty big enough for us.  It hasn't been worked for about 2 years.  We even got a shed full of tools.  We've managed to clear the existing bed over the weekend and I've given it some blood, bone and fishmeal.

What can I start growing now?  Hopefully we'll be able to get a few things out of it this year before starting properly in the spring.  I've got some swiss chard, kale, lettuce, little carrots and radish seed. The other half of the plot is a complete overgrown mess so that's a project for over the winter I think.

Lynne

Welcome Campergirl. Is the plot ready for planting or have you got to get digging?

welcome, the world is your oyster !!! i have just sown a second sowing of peas, more dwarf french beans, more cabbage plants, more parsnips and just planted potatoes for Christmas! !!! don't be put off by recomended planting times, just plant it !! it it works , great if not !! well better luck next year ! ;D

all sorts of oriental salads can be sown now, we're still sowing radish and salad leaves, the garlic and onions will be going in in september, you could start some from seed now(onions). Have you got any fruit in, we'll be planting up a new strawberry bed  at the same time, have fun  ;D

Yesterday I sowed probably my last seeds for the season (I don't grow too much over winter) - I put in the last French dwarf beans, some late beetroot, some chard for autumn, late lettuce, late carrots, lamb's lettuce, coriander and sowed the spring cabbage (Durham early).  You can put in winter spinach more in late August.

Hi Campergirl,

Whatever you do...keep a diary of it...it will be full of invaluable information in years to come or what works and fails.

Steve...:)

Welcome to th forum, Lynne.Whereabouts are you?

Definately keep a diary.  Its my first year and its one mistake im regretting that i didn't!

Welcome to A4A.  I sowed some carrots very late a couple of years ago, and they produced a few before winter but were rather smell, the rest did a nice job of producing some in march suitable for a stew, they got  a lot of small hairy roots which made normal eating impossible.  There are some winter green stuffs you can sow and spring greens and spinach.   

Parsley will survive the winter, I suggest a pot from Tesco divided into four. 

I sowed several types of Dwarf bean last year and teepee was best, thought I would grow some in pots this year as well so they can come inside if there is a frost.

THe french bean Speedie should crop, Kohl rabi, fennel, late carrots, you could try the broad bean Express, it's very fast adn you might get away with it, if not it's good green manure....Right time for spring cabbage and caulis, you might be able to buy/beg some leek plants... overwintering onions from seed can be started off now though I'd wait a couple of weeks yet, otherwise get digging and if you haven't got anythign else for an area then field beans for green manure....

Thanks for all the suggestions.  We're in Sherborne, Dorset.  So hopefully we'll have decent growing weather for a few months yet.  I haven't had the opportunity to grow veg for about 15 years so I'm trying to remember what to do.  I guess just giving it a try is the best way and see what works and what doesn't. 

Lynne