We have an allotment-now what?

[MsIngaFewmarbles]

We really need help. We are complete novuces and have no clue about griwing fruit and veg. Canayone suggest books or offer general advice in where to wtart? I'm very enthusiastic but not sure where to statt.

www.allotment.org.uk/

www.nsalg.org.uk/

www.allotmentgardening.org.uk/

www.allotmenteer.co.uk/

www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/allotment/2012/jul/11/allotments-gardens

sort out your raised beds and water storage, good luck

Oh my goodness, thank you so much, I have been reading through a lot on the sites and it makes it all seem more do-able :)

Luckily we are right next to the water trough, not that we look like we'll need it in the next couple of weeks! Can't wait to get the keys so we can really get cracking.

good composting to you.

Don't be too ambitious for this year as it's not a good one. Spend a bit of time reading and work out how you're going to lay your plot out, what sort of paths you're going to put in, where your compost heap will be.

I'm assuming the allotment needs clearing, start doing it a little at a time. Once you've cleared a bit, sow something -lettuce, beetroot, pak choi. Also think now for winter, see if you can get some leek seedlings, sow some sprouts, cabbage, rainbow chard and kale, or you might be able to buy small plants.

In the autumn think about putting in soft fruit bushes. Gooseberries, raspberries, rhubarb etc. my friend has planted hers through weed membrane which I regret not doing as it really is keeping the weeds away. Autumn is also the time to plant garlic and onions (check they are the over wintering kind) plus some varieties of broad bean and peas.

Most importantly, make sure you find a place where you can sit and enjoy your hard work !

Thank you so much, I really want to get started once the monsoon stops :)

If it gets to the stage that it's too late to put anything in invest in some sheeting and just lay it over. It will kill the weeds so hopefully you can get cracking next year.

Potatoes are good at breaking up poor soil as well.

I dont know much about soil etc but it feels like clay :(

Hi. We also have a new allotment. We have bought some sweetcorn and leek plants from the garden centre, so we have at least something growing whilst we wait for the seeds to start growing. We also bought a raspberry plant which I am a bit confused about. There is one bit which has fruit on, and then about five canes all tied together. I just don't know how to plant it, and everything I have read seems to contradict the other. Can anyone help?
How have you got on so far Inga? I am loving it, particularly the community feel. Ours is very family orientated and its great to see all the kids getting involved and making new friends.

Go for a section of bushes (raspberry and red currants work well for us). Keeps the maintenance down. I recommend asparagus too. Takes a couple of years but is an easy/low maintenance use for one bed and will take amazing and very good for you too.

Ours is massively overgrown so it will take a while to clear it. You could lose children in there! We are aiming for a garlic/onion bed and perhaps a few wintering cabbages and spinach in the small area we have cleared so far and just concentrate on getting the plot ready for next season.

Spent 3 lovely childfree hours there this morning. Really pleased with how much I managed to do but it did just highlight how big a job ir is going to be to get it under control. I cleared about 1/8 of it :)

you can just put down lots and lots of salad. you can sow right up until the end of september with some varieties. just make sure you throw down lots of slug pellets

make sure you read the council's allotments rules before doing too much. You're often given a year before x per cent must be 'under cultivation' e.g. 75% so focus on laying out beds and clearing them - paths often have a max width.

On our site new Lottie owners often spend time on things that don't help them reach their 75% goal e.g. Planting expensive fruit bushes that take up little space, or building fences, when they should get ground cleared. It's v sad to see their allotment taken away from them...and this year our site got 80 weed notices i.e. Do more growing in 30 days or lose yr plot' out of 150 plots. Your rules will tell you how much to get done by when.

Have a picnic/allotment party - get a couple of friends to help out in exchange for food/beer.

The Dummies series has one on allotments.

Check out what the other plots are doing - what's growing well? We got cheap compost bins from the council, and weighed down a tarpaulin on uncultivated land to give us a chance to work the rest.

Finally, tell everyone you have an allotment. We were given loads of sspare plants.

Cover over what area you have managed to clear. It is soul destroying to have it knee high in weeds again come next spring and weed seeds will still be present in the soil. Use cardboard, old carpet , anything you can find for now and maybe think about investing in some black membrane for suppressing weeds in future.

Congratulations! Allotments are like hens teeth round here. I've had mine 8 years and I love it.