New to gardening and need tips and advice please ...

[Andiwiddow]

Hiya my name is Andy and I am new to this gardening and would love some advice and tips on starting my first allotment as I took ownership of a plot today and wanting help and what to do from now till March to get it ready for planting.


Thanks Andy

[Alison]

Hi Andy. The best thing to do will depend on how much time you have and what state it is in. Do you know what you want to grow? Can you put up some photos so people know how much there is to do. Oh and congratulations on getting your lottie.

[Martin H]

Hi Andy, welcome. You've come to the right place for advice, although you'll get lots of different answers to choose from!

Congratulations on the allotment, looking forward to hearing more about it.

[arpoet]

Welcome to the madhouse. As above, also let us know where abouts you are... makes it easier for us to answer.
Clearing weeds and rubbish, pruning friut trees making paths... lots to do in winter.

[veggiechicken]

Hello Andy and welcome
What condition is the plot in? Overgrown or recently worked?

[noviceveggrower]

Hello there and welcome

[cariann88]

Hello and welcome to the vine

[Bigmallly]

Hello Andy & welcome to the jungle. It's a perfect time to be getting started on a plot.

[muddled]

Hello Andy, congratulations!

Walk over your plot,
measure it,
note features like any trees; existing raised beds etc and which way is south.
take some photos (so you can have before and after shots later)
and if possible, chat with neighbours who might know your soil type or know where the last tenant had excellent rhubarb or asparagus or other perrenial that can't be seen in winter.

And get to work on your chrimbo list....you may just have time to persuade santa to drop you off some raspberry canes and garden tools

[Tripmeup]

Welcome..congrats on the allotment..

[Guest]

Hi and welcome to the vine.

Don't be scared to ask questions. It is very easy at this stage to be excited but very quickly get overwhelmed. So little steps are better than no steps. Everyone here is friendly, the more you ask the more help you will get

[Knight of Albion]

A very warm welcome to the forum, dear Andy.

[Aberdeenplotter]

Hi Andy and a big welcome from me as well. As you will already have gathered, the advice you are likely to get will very much depend on the state of your allotment.

I agree with BM that it is the perfect time to get an allotment but bear in mind that sowing and planting time will be here in three months or so and with the winter weather to come, you won't have that much time to get your plot into order. The nights will start to stretch again shortly but being realistic, if you are working, you will only have weekends and holidays. Personally, ground conditions permitting, I would be digging over as much of the plot as is possible. Leave it as rough as you like. The winter frosts will breakdown any clods and that is the hard bit. Again personally, with a new plot, I would plant the whole thing in tatties the first year as this is the best crop for cleaning a weedy plot. It's not the tatties doing cleaning though. It's the frequent moving of the soil. First when digging, then when taking out the trenches before planting, then backfilling the trenches, then furrowing up the plants as they grow and finally when lifting the spuds. A lot of hard work but very much the foundation on which your future vegetable growing will be built.

Good luck with your plot and do enjoy it.

[Andiwiddow]

Wooooow thanks eveyone !!!

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Wow thanks everyone I let you look at the pictures first before I ask questions if that's ok Let me know if you can't see pictures

Cheers Andy

[Scarlet]

Hello Andi, congratulations and welcome to the vine!

....I can't see the pics - can you try again?