New here & new to allotments!

[PotteringAtPlot12]

Hi Everyone,
I'm new here, 32 from sunny west yorkshire.
I've just taken on a full plot and (im)patiently waiting for my key, I've taken this opportunity to buy more seeds than I could ever possibly grow and do some research so I can convince myself I kind of know what I'm doing. I've never grown beyond the pots of my patioed, postage stamp of a garden and the only edibles I've ever grown we're some potatoes in primary school as part of a class project!
My garden is now full of perennials hence the upgrade to a plot just a 5 minute walk from my house. It's terribly overgrown and weedy as expected so now I'm just itching to get in there and make a start, any hits & tips are all greatly welcomed and appreciated, I've been lurking for a while trying to soak up all the wonderful knowledge but I have a few specific questions so I thought it time to pipe up and say hello

[Guest]

Hi and welcome to the vine. You might as well jump right in - what are your specific questions?

[burnie]

Key thing, if it's weedy and over grown, don't try to clear it all in one go, have a good look at what you have, there may be some strawberry plants or something like that which may be worth keeping, at least for the first year. Too early to be sowing seeds outside yet, so maybe begin with clearing a manageable strip and getting the weeds out, that could have some early potatoes in it later. Do you have a shed? that'll no doubt need tidying up if you do.

[PotteringAtPlot12]

Thanks all!
Norfolkgrey I've popped a separate post with one question on regarding greenhouses and sheds it's probably a ridiculous one but it's one I seem to be questioning myself about constantly
I'm sure the rest of the questions will steadily flow over the coming weeks, many are chicken related haha!
No shed Burnie all that I could see was a small 3 sided wooden structure that I could only just make out between the weeds my first thought was compost but Im sure I saw a bench? I shall investigate and report back once I can get in there, yes I'm planning to grab some black sheeting and just clear it bit by bit I'm lucky in that I'm self employed so I can pop down as and when, the plot is on the way to my youngests school so hoping I can get there most days before I pick him up.

[Mr Bones]

Hello, welcome to the Vine and congratulations on getting your allotment Be sure to take lots of photos, you'll soon forget how overgrown it was.

[Nicos]

Hi there, and welcome to the Vine from me too!

[bramble]

Hallo and welcome...
Little and often is the key.
Dont overdo it.
Lots of cardboard to keep down the weeds as well.
Good luck and plenty of pics, it will encourage you when you look back on them.

[Bren In Pots]

Hello and welcome to the vine

[mothhawk]

Hello P12, and welcome to the vine

[Snoop Puss]

Hello and welcome. Congrats on the plot. Sounds like it's in a perfect location for you. Hope you have lots of growing fun.

[muck lover]

Hello. Good luck with your new allotment. Just take it slowly. Cover up weeds meanwhile. Start a compost heap. I’ve always got true enjoyment from my gardening activities and you will too.

[yogi_gardener]

Hello and welcome! I am also new here and new to allotments.

My plot is very overgrown so I plan to cut it all back to begin with and cover with cardboard to kill off the weeds. then I am going to clear a small space to start growing while leaving everything else covered over. My goal for 2020 is really to just kill the weeds and grow a couple of veg. If I can make that work I will be happy

The best advice I've heard so far is that an allotment is a marathon not a sprint so just take your time and enjoy the slow pace. Enjoy!

[bikermike]

Welcome! (even if as a technical Lancastrian I am bound to blow raspberries accross the pennines...) sounds like a perfect distance to your plot

My advice is
1) if possible, start gathering now (a) compost - uncooked kitchen waste, grass clippings, shredded paper etc (in a compost bin)
2) cardboard - bigger the better - if anyone is having an new kitchen/flatpack furniture etc, grab the packing now. If you want to do no-dig (which IMO you should, but obv, do your own research) then you cannot have enough cardboard
3) buy a notepad (I know expenditure doesn't come easy to white rose folk), but a record of what you did and where becomes useful in the future
4) stop and drink tea on the plot. Watch where the sun falls, where the deep shade etc is.

Hope it goes well!

[cptncrackoff]

Hello and welcome!

Like most people when we got our plot it was overgrown and had clearly been neglected for a while before it was handed over to us.

This coming season - you're going to have weeds.. lots of weeds.

Keep in top of them as much as possible and next year, in theory you'll have less, year after that less again.

Another tip I wish someone had told me, if you have Couch grass and bindweed DO NOT rotorvate.. that's going to make things much, much worse..

[MyWifesBrassicas]

Hello and welcome!

Like most people when we got our plot it was overgrown and had clearly been neglected for a while before it was handed over to us.

This coming season - you're going to have weeds.. lots of weeds.

Keep in top of them as much as possible and next year, in theory you'll have less, year after that less again.

Another tip I wish someone had told me, if you have Couch grass and bindweed DO NOT rotorvate.. that's going to make things much, much worse..

Don't forget rotavating horsetails is similar to the Mickey Mouse Fantasia scene