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Gardening

Find tips and tricks to make your garden or allotment flourish on our Gardening forum.

Allotment book for absolute beginner?

18 replies

Ginismyfriend · 05/01/2019 12:46

I have just taken on an allotment (made my way up the waiting list much faster than expected!), which seemed like a fab idea but now I’m standing here looking at it I feel a bit panicked. I have no idea what to do first. Could anyone recommend a ‘how to manage an allotment’ book written as if for a complete idiot?

OP posts:
PurpleWithRed · 05/01/2019 12:50

Join allotment facebook groups. Buy Kitchen Garden magazine. The Allotment Month By Month is good. Also look at No-Dig techniques.

concretesieve · 05/01/2019 16:57

I'm sorry I can't make a link but try allotment-garden.org. There was a link to it here in Gardening a little while ago and it seems to be a very useful and comprehensive site.

concretesieve · 05/01/2019 17:01

Forgot t o say - congratulations and good luck! Don't panic - get stuck into some reading ASAP and you'll be ready for the new season as spring comes along.

elephantoverthehill · 05/01/2019 17:07

I bought the Reader's Digest book 'Food from your garden and allotment' which I found in a charity shop. It's pretty good. There is also the allotment thread where I find a lot of help and advice.

whataboutbob · 05/01/2019 17:13

I bought Joe’s Allotment by Joe Swift- ironic as he gave up after a year. However I still refer to it often.
For added comedy, his dad is the much put upon husband in Keeping up Appearances and he doesn’t half look like him.

PostNotInHaste · 05/01/2019 19:32

Congratulations! Agree the forums are good and I used them rather than books. If you wanted to post photos we could probably make some suggestions. Great time of year to do your planning !

Ginismyfriend · 05/01/2019 19:49

Thanks all! I’ll find the allotment thread too.

OP posts:
Ginismyfriend · 05/01/2019 19:54

Just in case anyone fancied making some recommendations! Here’s what it looks like currently (so far I have mainly cleared lucozade bottles and picked up old potatoes...). It’s a lovely plot, just need a plan.

Allotment book for absolute beginner?
Allotment book for absolute beginner?
OP posts:
elephantoverthehill · 05/01/2019 20:04

It looks a great plot and flat too. Everyones advice always seems to be cover what you can't tackle yet eg cardboard, old carpet etc. I use black polythene sheeting as I was given a roll and weigh it down with milk cartons filled with water. link to the allotment thread here

PostNotInHaste · 07/01/2019 20:05

That’s actually in pretty good condition, result ! You’ll be amazed once you get going how. You can get that up and running. Have a think about how you want to lay it out. I’ve found it really helps to have a bed and path system. My beds are just heaped up soil mostly. In one place I flipped the turf then dumped a load of manure and topsoil (Gumtree handy for this in the spring) on top. Squash loved it and grew very enthusiastically last year.

Somewhere to compost handy , Gumtree again good for this or pallets lashed together with cable ties. Not entirely sure what those wire things are? Also what is the situation re water?

Are those tall things sweetcorn? If so I’d start on that section as don’t think it will take a lot to get them out and gently dig over a bit to make it look good quickly for a bit. Think about if you want soft fruits and if so get some of them in the spring.

We’re not allowed to cover our plots but if you are there’s a lot to be said for covering a section with membrane or cardboard and growing squash through it which will make it look cultivated this year then when uncover next year it should be easier to deal with.

Only plant courgettes if you can get there regularly and don’t mind marrows, never more than 2 plants whatever you do or you will turn into the courgette fairy with your neighbors.

Very important. You will need somewhere to sit so you can admire your work this is a vital bit of allotmenteering and must be taking seriously. Don’t over do it at the beginning, let your body get used to it gradually, one bit at a time. Only grow what you actually like . Enjoy!

BeetrootBonanza · 07/01/2019 20:12

I've only got three small raised beds in a section of my garden - not quite as much as an allotment, but a reasonable enough size for me to manage battling weeds against!
I have been watching all of Charles Dowdings YouTube videos and have found them ever so informative and useful with all sorts of tips on growing and managing a vegetable plot, as someone mentioned up thread he came up with the no dig principles. I've been following them as much as I can and have found they are helpful in instructions for growing all year round as well as managing the land.

PostNotInHaste · 07/01/2019 20:13

Not the brightest of pictures but here’s mine just before Christmas. As you can see I haven’t edged the beds. I got it last March and had a very productive summer.

I plan to eradicate the grass on the paths as it’s a hassle and one more thing to deal with, will ultimately do bark chopping s I think as tree surgeons will do free loads.

Allotment book for absolute beginner?
PostNotInHaste · 07/01/2019 20:13

Bark chippings that should be.

IAMcorbyndallas · 20/01/2019 22:49

Browse allotment-garden.org. Buy his book and use the website and news letters. This resource will give you everything you need.

Good luck!

beachyhead · 23/01/2019 16:21

This has been my go to book for the last few years, which is why it's so knackered!

Allotment book for absolute beginner?
dreamingofsun · 24/01/2019 09:32

if you google you will find lots of really good websites, a lot of the allotment sites have them. and facebook has some good groups too

RubySlippers77 · 28/01/2019 21:29

I've just found this thread after coming on here looking for similar advice! Thank you to everyone for their help Smile

I have a small garden but no soil as such to grow in, so everything will have to be in pots or similar. Last year we used a small two tier greenhouse from Argos - think it cost about £15 - and grew loads of herbs etc. The larger ones are now in the clearance sale but none in our area Sad and terracotta pots seem to be £££. It'll be back to cheapo plastic pots and reused yogurt pots for us.....

Seriously though, I'm really trying to go more 'Good Life' this year, any advice gratefully appreciated. At the moment I'm far more Margot although much less posh than Barbara! I'm trying to encourage my DC to get out in the garden more and grow some of their own food (might even encourage them to eat more of it!) and I'm quite sad that all the skills my grandparents had seem to have been lost; my mum is hopeless at everything like that. We need to cut back on our food bill a lot this year and spend less on going out, hopefully getting out in the fresh air will help with both.

If anyone has any websites they can recommend to buy cheap basic products please do let me know. Otherwise I think it's Wilkos for me!

PlumCakeChica · 28/01/2019 21:33

Charles Dowding on YouTube.
Check out your local library before you buy books.
Gardeners World website.
Good luck

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