Allotment

[Aug12]

Hell everybody :)

After a 6month wait, we have finally been offered an allotment! We are viewing it this afternoon and I could burst with excitement! I have loads of plans whizzing through my head and can’t wait to get stuck in!

Any tips/tricks for first time allotment holders? Anything you did on your first growing season and regretted? Are there any questions I should definitely ask on our viewing today?

Many thanks

Good Luck!
Depending on size, I'd suggest you concentrate on one part to clear and start cultivating, for the rest, clear out obvious perennial weeds like brambles, docks etc.
Then take time to see what's already there like trees and soft fruit any any veg like asparagus.

Cardboard is great as a mulch. If you go to the supermarket you can get the squares of cardboard they put between the pallets of bottled water. No ink, glue or tape to remove. Enjoy your allotment. I'm green with envy 😃

Congratulations! Join the UK Allotment group on Facebook. It's a huge group and well worth it, especially at this time of year.

How did it go?
We got ours last year, it is a work in progress, though my family are entertained by what I dig out of the soil... (A sandpit, soil rake, Lego, toy cars, and around 50 tonnes of plastic...)
My number one tip would be don't go anywhere near weed membrane. It doesn't work, weeds grow through it, wood chip decomposes on top of it (and then weeds root in it) and it frays and you will forever find bits of it in your soil!
If you can get a small bit cleared, and get something easy growing (potatoes, onions, whatever) it will feel better while you are doing the rest of it!

Talk to other people on neighbouring allotments they will tell you what grows well in the soil, might offer you seeds or seedlings and tell you if there are issues like badgers so you know if you need to protect your beds. Join their whats app if they have one
Do not get obsessed with clearing the entire allotment, paths etc before you start- clear a bed and fertilize it and put something in (like potatoes, broad beans, cabbage at this time of year) seeing things grow will motivate you and reward you when you are doing something grim like clearing brambles.
Ask if there is a green waste dump on the site
Ask if they organize a council collection of other rubbish like plastics metal etc
Get a polytunnel (can get a decent one with a galvanized frame on ebay/amazon for about £100) this will allow you to grow tomatoes, peppers, chillis etc
www.amazon.co.uk/WOLTU-Greenhouse-Winterproof-Polytunnel-Cultivation/dp/B0BPJ22CQ1/ref=sr_1_57?crid=29TEVRVWBOEVR&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.20vOPkQId9fiU5L2Qz1a1Qmtn5y42b05F1m4YwVMrBnz653-Wi0e_uI_FZ6XGMc8x-EOX4w3XPpNJWlzrxXm2nSq6Xh3wbCYYE59obi_-JAJ8VFgUnoX0Pq03hTEGGO74UNHRfMMP9j_xGScM7UF4Y0taPRZ_Wc6TLh8VaBa7iiyZjNOn3V3xYneBnRo2WMrzKprTGBjdD4ATMJ_wWkhF6HxYS6DEMLOAQKAmypVLJNytMhrQzbZ4mzYdevvlpZBPRs8P4W97jOwObYog-xgDw8yZEjvPKzQXvZEYC9zufbsWWjJFIx8p4VWILSLEW-5i8o7EER0a2lmBR0TXn1Tp5LTWyNVMxEJTKs9SPwIeXz6hb_9VSDooRFDl2Y0c5IfxRLDyWv6p9zA5_ec0wgua973BqAkljlPX5k_su7B3uM75w-h5_9ueV-VpFV9tfKb.RzywNYartcL73resSq6GNwYedBfltreSYWEQZgyXW90&dib_tag=se&keywords=polytunnel&qid=1741976178&sprefix=polytunnel%2Caps%2C85&sr=8-57
Sow some tomatoes, radish, spinach and chilli seeds in a warm sunny place in trays at home now for later in the year.
Find out when they turn their water on
Get a water butt
Ask everyone- on allotment and off if they have a shed they are getting rid of- if not and your allotment does not have one get one off ebay. Then you do not have to drag all your tools there and back every time you go
Get something like this cordless strimmer
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Cordless-Strimmer-Erzneaoch-Trimmer-Batteries/dp/B0DQPL22CR/ref=sr11sspa?crid=4LXFCT0HLBR8&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.eJbH0nTOyUiO1nfMGSVtn40SfY2enyV1yKxGS9zYcrTtbMfR1na009wfOM80Vk9HehLO4Pvk15DtIM0AiFPnCOxUd5PyMCLY80YeO3ANWoe0xkx4Dga7KrPh6chIs2pYBQ5bci2HkgyJus03FPpI2E57yuMP6CSF5Rx1VRqOTNzWjf0ufDpUvcfl8QMPJQWQaYeaRgS7GAP-G0tH4ooyVvqEfTS5mz1HUc-AAXVk.jjok8wE1Loo9nGyZciqaCm79bu0MP44RW1M3ySG4r4&dibtag=se&keywords=battery%2Bstrimmers%2Bcordless&qid=1741975994&sprefix=battery%2Bstrimmer%2Caps%2C84&sr=8-1-spons&spcsd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9hdGY&th=1
Then you can keep the grass on the paths down before it seeds
Buy some insect net tunnels to avoid caterpillars
https://www.amazon.co.uk/GARDEN-TUNNEL-PROTECT-VEGETABLES-INSECTS/dp/B074H8938X/ref=sr_1_2_sspa?crid=1EQLFZLBJ35H5&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.XVRbAfni1puicPrSxvYDXj1pv6LttkOTl_23-kjHXfyXApOfE9gXN8omU8CXVd-BX82Cm0B3b8SqcWwCOMfwObLUxRfi2axyGv1vHqD8Z2SWhMgQJmLHSIu1wxp4SDgLD52XDMiwpHrQEuFu2q2fn6tOyRFt-jayAELDcBfiZ0yYTs3sJGqzIPKFl8OoiqC2d_je3lqUwtwYjoWrf-A-EUZMgUcsi1pGApfVoc70xNpS2HduJMkZbc6EQ6QaSI2FAP2zNSEKCId-W_HIlxR516YpSkn4OfMJyZR2TTMxK98.vT407MWm5ivOJ6WYOv8kN0SONqcg71xM95OCTfLVNOc&dib_tag=se&keywords=insect+net+tunnels&qid=1741976279&sprefix=insect+net+tunnels%2Caps%2C87&sr=8-2-spons&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9hdGY&psc=1
Do not use carpet as a weed suppressant
Consider getting some solar irrigation systems if you cannot go frequently in the summer

Agree with clearing a section and plant that one, before moving on. Also read your tenancy agreement as to whether you are allowed sheds, greenhouses etc.