Hello from Me! Brand New Allotment and Brand New Allotmenteer - advice welcomed

[kirstyjo]

Hi
My name is Kirsty and I have just got my first ever allotment. It's a brand new allotment (one of six new ones - neighbouring several mature allotments) which has been rotorvated (if that's the right word - lol)
The site used to be a hangar and there is a great deal of debris in the soil.
We (me, partner, children) are considering raised beds. I thought I might give the children free reign on one small bed.
Any advice would be very gratefully received. We grew some tomatoes in a gh last year and some carrots in the garden, but apart from that we are lottie vigins so pretty clueless really.
Thank you!
K

[ginger ninger]

Hello Kirsty and a very warm welcome to the vine from Jinny Cat & me. Congratulations on your lotty by the way.

[Bren In Pots]

Hell and welcome to the vine Kirsty find a comfy chair and have a good look around there's lots of useful info here.

[SarzWix]

Welcome to the 'Vine Kirsty One of my plots was full of debris when I took it on too. Even with raised beds, there's still one I have to use thick gloves with as glass keeps rising to the surface Might be an idea to sieve the soil in the bed for the kids if 'sharp bits' are a problem on your plot.

Have a look on the Allotment Advice board for inspiration - somewhere near the top there is a 'Before and After' thread, very good for the the moments when you get disheartened - we've all been there

Good luck, and feel free to ask if you get stuck

[zazen999]

Hi Kirsty

Welcome to the Vine.

One of my schools is nearby to you - and the climate down there is fantastic for growing veg, you lucky thing!

The one bit of advice for growing in beds, is to not put sides on them for the first year; just put weed fabric down for the paths and grow in the beds for the first season - then you know if they work for you or not. Then, in your first winter - you can source cheap wood/free wood from freecycle and make the sides up in your own time. Apart from the one bed for the kids - which I probably would put sides on so that they know it's their bed.

[Two_Sheds]

as for debris ... my own lotty is full of stones, rubbish & broken glass (it's not really sharp though, the soil seems to quickly smooth off the edges)

When I weed I use 3 buckets: one for weeds, one for big stones (which go on the path) and one for glass (which goes in the bottle banks on my way home)

[chris]

My plot has so much glass in it, I feel as if I'll be growing in mainly glass! I do the same as TS, although I'm clearing a bed at a time, and will plant that up.. etc!

[Headfry]

Hi kirstyjo, welcome to the vine, its a great place and has helped me with the many questions I have had over the years- dont ever be afraid to ask. I still have to ask even the most basic of questions.
I started with deep beds- I work full time and found it better for my soul having clearly marked areas to water and weed, rather than vast amounts of 'open' ground to worry about and you can always add more beds if you have room and the want.
Just watch the watering- they tend to dry out quicker than you expect.

[elsie-scot]

Welcome to the vine

Do a little at a time. Grow veg you like. Use green manure if you've cleared a bit, but won't be planting for a while.
Annual flowers are great, esp for kids, scatter, rake, grow

[pauco]

Hi Kirsty, welcome to the Vine from me too.

paul.

[Florence Fennel]

Hello and a very warm welcome to the Vine.

[Jeanied]

Welcome to the vine Kirstyjo - it will soon be time to start sowing your pumpkins, squashes and courgettes - great for covering over a section of the lottie when you are not sure what to put in - as long as you give them a bucket full of really rich compost to grow in when you plant them out.

[kirstyjo]

Thank you everyone for your kind welcome, I am taking pictures and will let you know of progress!
I'm sure I'll have a million questions!

[SawPaw]

Hi

Welcome to the vine. It really is a place for good advice and many friendly people who will always help you out.
Good luck with the new plot, you will enjoy it, I know I enjoy mine. It's my little haven and I can get lost for hours down there, especially in the summer.