Allotment newbie. Tips please!

[Agirlhasnoname95]

After years on the waiting list we finally got the call for an allotment!

Im so excited but a little daunted. We are going to visit and choose a plot tomorrow. Any advice on what to look out for and first jobs? I’m not a novice gardener and have grown various fruit and veg over the last few years in the raised beds in the garden, but that was on a much smaller scale. It’s a good time of year to take an allotment on I guess but I want things to be as prepped as is reasonably possible in time for spring.

thanks in advance!

Check shade from hedges and trees, wind exposure, proximity to tap, ease of access from gate if you're having anything delivered.

Look for one that hasn't been neglected for the last few years. Neglected allotments tend to have copious amounts of brambles, nettles, dock etc - and worse still, large quantities of weed seeds present in the soil and/or an extensive network of roots underground (nettles and brambles are terrible for this!) which makes clearing the allotment a very lengthy process.