New allotment

[Cornish Maid]

Hi- I have just got an allotment from April 1st, very welcome but completely overgrown and never had one before! Found this site, which looked to be full of helpful people; I will need to dig as I need to plant, bit by bit, what should my priority planting be? I am thinking spuds,but what is most urgent to get in the ground? thanks in advance for responses

[Comfreyfan]

Welcome Cornish Maid - is your allotment in Cornwall?

You're right potatoes and onions are the main ones to go in the ground now. Carrots, beetroot, parsnips can be sown from now onwards through the spring so they're not quite so urgent. Just about everything else that needs to be sown now - brassicas mainly, perhaps some peas? - can all be sown into modules/pots and brought on at home, giving you more time to prepare your plot.

Good luck and happy growing!

[Cornish Maid]

New allotment

Hi Comfrefan- thanks for welcome and useful list of things to start, yes I am in North Cornwall (though not a Maid!!)will note your advice and start the later stuff off at home. I expected to wait years for an allotment and read up in advance, but have got one almost straight away- aren't I lucky!

[jackie j]

Hi cornish maid welcome to the vine.

[catbud]

We'll have to keep each other informed as I'm new to having an allotment too! Gonna get my potatoes and onion sets in next week hopefully!

[Cornish Maid]

As well as a new allotment, I am now learning about threads and posts and other technical computer stuff, have no idea what any of it means, but loving reading all the great messages! Perhaps Gardening Granny would have been a better name than Cornish Maid, on reflection.....

[Two_Sheds]

As well as a new allotment, I am now learning about threads and posts and other technical computer stuff, have no idea what any of it means, but loving reading all the great messages! Perhaps Gardening Granny would have been a better name than Cornish Maid, on reflection.....

thread: a topic
post: a message within a thread

Welcome! We had a week in Mevagissey last year - terrible it was.

anyway.
Yes, get cleared what you can. Don't stress too much this year - the weeds will get away with you now it's spring, if you can't keep on top of them.
That is your priority - weeds.

Then I would clear a bit, and immediately plant it up - spuds are great because you can stick them in and almost forget them.

Same with onion sets.

If you don't have time to sow your own veg seeds this year, buy some in. Your fellow allotmenteers will prob. have spares too.

[Cornish Maid]

Excellent help, thanks everyone- off to the allotment now, will get back to the computer later next week but appreciate all the advice and tips!
ps Everywhere in Cornwall was wet last year not just Mevagissey! This year is already glorious...

[selfraising]

Hi welcome Cornish Maid and good luck with the growing!

[dragonaxe]

Hi Cornish Maid

I think you should keep the name..it's great, although does make me think of Pam Ferris in The Darling Buds of May ;0)

It's a good question. I've been very lax this year, and haven't even thought of what to plant in my greenhouse yet (so I'm looking forward to hearing the responses too).
Actually, I will try some spuds in a bag...anyone have suggestions on what type would be good for salads???

Good luck with the allotment, and please keep us up to date with progress.
You should keep a photographic record f how it goes! That'd be really interesting to see.

Gareth

[BumbleB]

Hi Cornish Maid

I think you should keep the name..it's great, although does make me think of Pam Ferris in The Darling Buds of May ;0)

Gareth

Oh but that was a Maid from Kent, Pluckley near Ashford I believe, Apple orchards and garden of kent etc.

[BumbleB]

Excellent help, thanks everyone- off to the allotment now, will get back to the computer later next week but appreciate all the advice and tips!
ps Everywhere in Cornwall was wet last year not just Mevagissey! This year is already glorious...

Sounds great if you have lots of sunshine it helps with the motivation to get started. We have had mixed weather here. Some days glorious sun and then a shock of a colder day. Today is middling !