I’ve got an allotment, where to start?!

[Allotmenthelp]

I have been on the allotment waiting list for a while and finally got my keys today! I’m really excited but I’m feeling a bit lost with where to start with it all. It’s pretty much clear as the last person gave it up due to relocation, so luckily it’s not been left to get overgrown.

Ive grown potatoes, carrots and tomatoes at home but never anything in the ground, always in grow bags or pots. Have I missed the boat for most things this year? I’ve bought an allotment guide book which should be here tomorrow but I’m going up to the allotment later today and don’t know where to start!

make a list of things you like to eat, especially anything that is expensive in the shop. then concentrate on those. plus anything that is easy. use google to help - there are several allotment sites online. squashes and potatoes cover a lot of ground so are worth considering - then you can focus on elsewhere.

seed prices range a lot - there are some decent deals online. LIDL also sell cheap ones.

if you like strawberries then put weed membrane down and grow some through that (think they may still be available as bare rooted now.

read up on no dig. there may still be stuff underground like asparagus so be careful about digging.

what size is your plot?

Thank you. It’s half a plot (125 square metres) so not huge but when they told me it needs to be 70% cultivated it seemed massive.

I’ve just looked up weed membrane, I hadn’t thought of that before. I will buy some later. Potatoes are a good idea, I’ll start with those. I’ve seen plugs for sale, such as cabbage and broccoli etc. Can I just plant those and put them under netting? I’m going to be doing plenty of reading tonight.

If you're digging, dig backwards so you're facing the bit you've already dug, not the massive acreage you've still to dig.

just google is you arent sure - cabbages/brocoli need netting or pigeons/caterpillars will eat them. maybe lime the soil. if it seems massive then you can put down thick brown cardboard boxes and plant things through - things to keep the weeds down. and buy a hoe.

Excellent advice.

But I wouldn't dig...look up no dig allotments. Cover with mulch and cardboard and plant through it.

Don't try and do it all at once. You are perfect time of year for planting. Or local garden centre has loads of plug plants at the moment. Though don't buy radish or beans or lettuce as they are all dead easy and far too expensive to buy as plugs. . But cabbage, brocolli etc - also easy from plants but will get you on your way this year. And there's no shame in that.

Potatoes you might just get away with if you can find any seed potatoes. They are brilliant as they have lots of leaves that mean you don't have to weed. Ditto pumpkins and courgettes.

But really, grow what you like to eat.

Fruit is easy, you can freeze a glut easily too.

I cover up unused bits of the allotment with manure (freely available at my site) and very thick cardboard weighted down. That stops the weeds coming through.

This is all brilliant advice, thank you. I managed to have a good look around tonight and there are plenty of fruit bushes and rhubarb so I’ve been really lucky. I will definitely buy some plug plants then and try from seed next year, I think I need to get plenty of netting for the plugs.

Have a word with your allotment committee. They can get discounts on bulk orders, but you may be too late for that, or ask advise from some of the established allotment folk, they know the soil, the likely weather conditions, what always grows well, what's a bit more iffy stuff like that.

On my daughter's allotment there seems to be a lot of really experienced allotmenteers whose own allotments run like a dream, so have plenty of time (and opinions 😁) for newcomers, if they want it or not.

Potatoes, sweetcorn and pumpkins and are all good crops to start with that will fill a lot of ground and show the committee you're working the plot. Not too late to get any of these planted/sown - there are still plenty of seed potatoes in the garden centres. If you can get first or second earlies in they'll just come ready a few weeks later than those sown earlier in the year.

Check your allotment rules carefully, and see if there are any clauses that restrict "improvements" before putting in any permanent fruit trees/bushes or perennial crops.

It’s actually a perfect time to start and on the most part it’s not too late to sow from seeds. I started my beans off this morning. there will be plenty of other things you can get from garden centres or local plant swaps, even other holders.

chat to the other allotment holders they will tell you any issues. The last one I had had rabbit issues so all had to be protected from the little buggers.

invest in protection for brassicas netting from caterpillars etc.
grow some crop to use as a sacrificial crop for black fly etc. nasturtium work well for that and look pretty.

Raised beds are brilliant for that crucial 'under cultivation' look.

Fruit bushes: feel smug when you see the price of gooseberries and raspberries in the shops. Freeze well too. Plants in pots now will cost more then bare rooted plants next winter.

Don't forget about cut flowers as a crop too. We have some rows of daffodil bulbs which have done great service over about 20 years!

Second the suggestion of growing stuff that a) you like and b) is more expensive. We've really cut back on spuds, but are going for more beans and squashes this year.

Oh, and start watching Gardeners' World, if you don't already 😁

Definitely not too late for things like peas and beans. I only sowed seeds this weekend (at home in the plastic greenhouse for planting out later). Runner beans (if you like them) are easy and grow fast and seeing the canes set up on your allotment will make you feel like you are accomplishing something this year.
I've also just sown tomato seeds and sweetcorn seeds.

I’m really glad I asked, thank you! I’m going to sow some seeds this weekend. I’ve also bought some runner beans that I will grow up canes.

Great idea with the cut flowers too! I’ve always wanted to do something like that but hate taking them out of my garden.

Congratulations! We're on our second year and love it. As others have said definitely not too late for loads of stuff. If you feel a bit overwhelmed put some squashes in - they take up a lot of space when they get going! When we started someone recommended a Wolf Garten soil miller and it's been really useful - helps to break up the soil although I would say it only works really well when it's not too wet or really dry. I also love the website Real Seeds - lovely company and they have unusual varieties. They're slightly more expensive than budget options but they give you instructions on how to save seed for the following year (not possible with many seed companies).

Hopefully you've managed to get there for the weekend and let some other allotment owners. They are usually the loveliest most helpful bunch of people around. Quite often you will be gifted excess seedlings that you can plant.

Don't be afraid of asking their advice, they know the allotment and what grows well, what to look out for etc.

You don't have to plant it all at once, so cover over anything you aren't using. If you are covering with black plastic, use permeable, so rain and air can get through . If there are trees, there will be shade at certain times of day, so make sure you are planting the right things for shade there. Things like asparagus or rhubarb won't benefit you this year, but will after. Peppers/chilli would be too late to start now, with tomatoes only if you want them late. Otherwise most things are still fine. Check on the seed packet and propagate on a sunny window sill. I prefer the no dig method, but everyone will say what they do is best. Treat this as a learning year and have fun!

If your allotment society has a shop, the prices should be favourable.