So tomorrow I am going to see my new allotment

[Hobnobswantshernameback]

I am beyond excited.
Been on the waiting list for a couple of years.
Meeting the chap who is going to give me my keys and show me around.
Any advice to a first time allotmenter

Congratulations! A lot will depend on what is there already.

As it's only February, you will have to wait and see what kind of bushes have been planted, if there are any.

It might need digging over, and you'll be shopping for basic gardening tools

There is usually a shed, and sometimes a greenhouse. You will need a padlock for the shed.

Enjoy - you can't get better food than home grown.

If there are lots of weeds (brambles, dock etc), don't use a rotavator. A new weed will grow from every piece of root!

Very few have sheds or greenhouses on our site, there are strict rules about them so if there isn't one ask about that. I've managed fine without one for 10 years but do have a greenhouse at home. I would say don't be put off if its very overgrown, you can tackle it a bit at a time and cover the rest with black membrane. Check about car access, parking etc (mine has no car park and although you can pull up briefly to unload you still have to barrow everything some distance, manure, compost etc).

@Hobnobswantshernameback

has it got a website? My nearest ones do & they set out very clearly what you can & can't do. Some of the rules are really weird. They do both have good car parks with easy access.

i Hope it all works out for you 🌱

I have some questions already for the chap tomorrow
I need to see what storage is there and what I'm allowed to have
FRom google maps views it looks like people have some stuff on there for storing stuff but tricky to tell
im definitely going to go one step at time
in my head I've committed to giving it a go for three years so slow and steady
I've grown stuff in tubs and raised beds in my back yard and grew up in a family which grew pretty much all our own veg so know it's going to a lot of work but hopefully also fun

Congrats. How exciting. Have you seen the plot yet? Sometimes they can be terribly overgrown. You might have some bulbs coming up which will give some colour though.

We renovated a derelict property and the garden hadn't been touched in 15+yrs! Once cleared, it was exciting seeing what things did still grow- spring bulbs, summer flowers and even a random asparagus right in the middle of what would have been the lawn!

I joined the gardeners world forum (free). It already has a wealth of knowledge on there, but you can post questions and photos too. There might be an allotment group/whatsapp/meet up too. Enjoy 😀

Make friends with the other allotment holders. Usually the old boys spend hours up there every day and are a wealth of advice, friendly chat and excess produce/plants. No doubt your neighbouring plot holders will be delighted if thr plot has been neglected for some time. Enjoy, life got too busy for us and we had to give it up but I have memories of the summer I was pregnant with DD when DH seemed to be bringing back every courgette in the world and I couldn't bear the sight of a single vegetable 😂

Get the book Allotment month by month. It is amazing and will really help you with what to do each month etc

Congratulations! My advice would be look into no dig approaches: it’s so much easier to get set up than digging over and lets you get set up so much faster. Plus minimises the weeding. Charles Dowding has some great clear intros of YouTube.

Look at what grows well and less well on neighbouring allotments, but plant what you actually want to eat. There’s a great allotment community on insta who are very supportive so worth finding a few people on there.

Oh and my greatest learning in the last few years (I’ve had allotments for about 14 years now) is diversifying to plant pollinator friendly flowers as well as veg: makes everything look so lovely and I’m convinced has also increased my yields.

Another thing I've done, is not only grow things I like and grow well here, but things that are less common/more expensive in the shops. I have jerusalem artichokes, yellow raspberries, heirloom tomatoes, yacon, padron peppers, purple runner beans, cardoon amongst more common veg.

My friends has offered to lend me this book,
So that's very handy 😂

I've had one for 8 years. My advice:
Check whether anything has been growing recently? Good time now to add some well rotted manure and fork through and the rain will wash it in.

Don't spend too much money. Its easy to get carried away when it's new. I've seen so many spend a lot then give up after a year or two.

Get yourself a good allotment book.i suggest allotment month by month.

Look on freecyle for old tools to start off with. Really good ones cost a lot. In fact all mine were either free and really cheap and they're still great.

Get some wildlife friendly flowers in, esp ones for bees. They really help. Also cut flowers too if you like those.

Have a look at no dig. It'll save your back and there is lot of research to suggest not churning up the soil keeps the integrity much more.

Good luck. I've just spent 3 hours at mine today folding back the weed membrane I use for winter and edging it all. Tomorrow I need to dig a little pond.

Take lots of photos as it's fantastic to look at the progress you have made.

Set up a seating area so you can take it all in ☺️

Enjoy!

A friend lent me the book originally and then decided to buy it when it was getting a bit embarrassing as I didn't want to let it go back.

As I don't have a shed I have one of those storage bench boxes which means I have somewhere to sit, I agree that's important, definitely pick the brains of the other plotholders, sometimes I spend more time up there chatting than working but you learn lots. Ours is always deserted on weekdays and so of you are around then its a great time for cracking on and very peaceful but busy on summer evenings and weekends.

You've got the main thing.
Slow and steady.
Repeat several times on every visit.

My daughter has just been getting her first allotment. She hasn't a clue what she is doing so I'm helping her. I haven't a clue either. I've watched a lot of YouTube videos about allotments and veg. We've made a start chitting our potatoes and sowing some seeds indoors. While they are growing we will be preparing the beds for planting. Going to put plenty of plants that attract pollinators and also insects throat will eat the pests that could ruin our crops. I hear alyssum is good for this.

Accept that some things dont always grow amazingly well - this might just be due to the weather that year and not you - so dont feel down. I try something for two years and if its still no good dont bother again, and put it down to my soil type.

I learned that the last couple of years. The first year I had amazing success and thought I had it sussed
ha ha ha
last year the weather put me firmly in my place 😂😂

how exciting!
waiting lists here are very long and the system is different (in forrin) that the whole site is rotivated in january and the the plots are put in a draw for the members. so no sheds or shrubs at all and everyone gets a new, virgin plot every year.
strictly organic.

have you got water access? that would be difficult if not. parcel trolleys and large water bottles/containers if you are a distance from the tap.

So
I Went to see the plot.
it's obviously been looked after
there are some raised beds that need some tlc.
The whole plot has been covered in membrane.
there's a compost heap
There's a shed - albeit a tad rickety and full of junk.
There are some fruit bushes that are well established
I am sooo excited.
I have my key for the gate lock so just need the weather to improve and I can get started

when you say covered in membrane..... does it look permanent or just placed there for the winter as a temporary measure? you may have things below the soil that will grow in a couple of months - rhubarb, asparagus. before you dig too aggressively it might be worth consulting your neighbours.

work out what direction the sun comes in. you should be planting your rows at right angles to it, so the sun goes down the row and all plants are same height and dont shade each other

Think it's just the winter membrane
will move some of it and have a peek.
its a decent sized plot so going to tackle it piece by piece.
I want to get the raised beds fixed and sorted first as that's an easy win.

The half hour allotment book is very good.

I buy plug plants rather than grow from seed for cabbages, broccoli, cauliflower. It just saves a bit of time. Carrots, lettuce, beetroot. Peas are v easy from seed.

fruit is easy too.

grow what you like to eat.

And look at no dig…..