Hello there from Blackpool

[Coldfingers]

Hello to everybody on the forum. I'm a bit new to all this forum thing and also a bit new to growing vegs.

I started off a year or so ago with a greenhouse and some grow bags, but last week I became a very excited allotmenteer. I just got a half plot (15' x 60') in nothing more than a newly ploughed field. In fact there isn't even any water close by yet. So it's virgin territory and I'm feeling a bit out of my depth. I'd be gratefull if someone could give me some pointers on planning a plot from scratch.

Hope to be posting some interesting things soon.

Diane

[Sweepster]

Welcome

[FionaH]

Hi welcome to the Vine

[Coldfingers]

Thanks for the welcome note, Sweepster and FionaH

Diane

[Lottieval]

Hi and welcome. Don't panic, just get it done a bit at a time and put in what you can this year. You can start with some seed sowing at home, things like salads, runner beans and french beans and you'll soon be harvesting your own veggies which is so exciting. Most of the stuff which can be grown outdoors can still be sown on the plot, especially as you're a bit further north so a couple of weeks behind them down south. Enjoy it and keep us posted.

[sweetiepea]

Hello Coldfingers, welcome to the vine.

[Coldfingers]

Thanks for the advice. I've just been in touch with the private landlord who owns the allotments, and I've asked him if I could take on the half plot next to mine because it appears to be unworked. It's very addictive all this digging and sowing.

[dexterdoglancashire]

Hi Coldfingers and welcome to the Vine! Youve certainly come to the right place. Everyone is very friendly and helpful - just ask a question and you'll get lots of top advice and help. Try the search facility first, you never know, someone may have asked the question before.
Im just down the road in Preston - awful weather forecast for the next days
.
One top tip is - take it easy and dont do too much, else you'll end up with a bad back like me!
Looking forward to hearing how get you on.
Bernie

[bluemoon]

Hi, Coldfingers. We started out with a greenhouse and a couple of growbags, now it's allotments, chickens, growing enough spuds to last all year, more chickens, another greenhouse....... Hope you know what you've started!

[Coldfingers]

Thank you everyone who has replied thus far. DDL my plot is in Elswick, if you know where that is.

[blito]

first thing i would plan out is where to put the important stuff such as sheds/greenhouse/waterbutts/sacrificialalter/etc, then plant some huge trees to shade your neighbours plots (seems to be an essential part of allotmenteering).
your first "half size" plot should be enough to keep you going for a few years once you learn some tricks like companion planting/underplanting/stealingyourneighbourscropswhentheyarentlooking etc.
eg - At the minute i`m growing fast maturing crops such as lettuce and redish in amongst my rows of peas and beans to save on space.
Then for your second plot its chickens... then goats....then, well then you`ll be Hugh Fearnly Wassischops

[Coldfingers]

first thing i would plan out is where to put the important stuff such as sheds/greenhouse/waterbutts/sacrificialalter/etc, then plant some huge trees to shade your neighbours plots (seems to be an essential part of allotmenteering).
your first "half size" plot should be enough to keep you going for a few years once you learn some tricks like companion planting/underplanting/stealingyourneighbourscropswhentheyarentlooking etc.
eg - At the minute i`m growing fast maturing crops such as lettuce and redish in amongst my rows of peas and beans to save on space.
Then for your second plot its chickens... then goats....then, well then you`ll be Hugh Fearnly Wassischops

luvvin luvvin luvvin. I really want to keep chickens, but I don't know how this might be possible. eg. what happens with the darling little girlies while we are away on holiday? Besides, I've already enquired about having them on my (half) plot, but the other plot holders seem a little hostile to the idea because they might escape and plunder the spoils. hey ho.