New Allotmenteer: New Allotment - Advice Please

[dafinchi]

Hey there. Having toyed with the idea of an allotment for a couple of years, I had a phone call yesterday to let me know that there are a couple of plots free now (Tonbridge, Kent) for my consideration. In assessing whether to take on a particular plot, what top piece/s of advice would you give to someone like me who is new to the world of allotments. What should I look out for, what are the pitfalls I should look to avoid.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

[veggiechicken]

Hi and welcome

Off the top of my head -
choose an open, sunny site, not shaded by trees or buildings.
Close to the water supply so you don't have to carry it too far.
Not too boggy
Look at the weeds - are they easy to pull out or deep-rooted - like docks and marestail.
Close to parking/deliveries of manure
Any structures like greenhouse or shed?
Fencing - if needed?
Most of all - gut feeling. Does it feel right.

Others will be along soon.

[MyWifesBrassicas]

Hi,

Take a compass with you and work out east to west, that's where the sun is sunrise to sunset, avoid a shady site.
Choose the biggest one if possible.
Everything VC say's, especially marestail/horsetails, google image these prehistoric plants, really hard to clear

[dafinchi]

Both - thanks for the advice so far. Will google a few of images of those weeds, sound familiar but could do with putting some names to faces! Good call on the water location too - amazing how heavy watering cans get after several laps of the garden filling and emptying.

We've had a small section of the garden set aside for growing stuff - got some overwintered garlic and onions coming along nicely this year - but really keen to spread out on an allotment of our own.

Once I see (and accept) the space I'll see if I can post a picture, and maybe crowdsource some tips along the way.

[veggiechicken]

You may need a few more forum posts before you can post pictures but I'm sure you'll have lots to talk about before you get to that point!

[MyWifesBrassicas]

Both - thanks for the advice so far. Will google a few of images of those weeds, sound familiar but could do with putting some names to faces! Good call on the water location too - amazing how heavy watering cans get after several laps of the garden filling and emptying.

We've had a small section of the garden set aside for growing stuff - got some overwintered garlic and onions coming along nicely this year - but really keen to spread out on an allotment of our own.

Once I see (and accept) the space I'll see if I can post a picture, and maybe crowdsource some tips along the way.

Just thought, the majority of "hard to shift" pesky weeds have not shown their face yet, It's still early in the season. You'll be able to spot dock, dandelion and buttercup though

[mcdood]

Yes - marestail will be a delightful surprise. I can't wait for mine to arrive again

[Atta]

Yes - marestail will be a delightful surprise. I can't wait for mine to arrive again

Mine is start poping out in places where I didnt dig yet.
I would go for sunny site,no hedges or big tress even if its with mare tails.They do good liquid feed aparently.

[nickdub]

no such thing as weeds in my garden - what I have are plants in an uncontrolled but extensive wild life habitat, which my wife refers to a as a "jungle of weeds " - which is obviously a pejorative view of the matter - beauty and weeds being in the eye of the beholder

[MyWifesBrassicas]

no such thing as weeds in my garden - what I have are plants in an uncontrolled but extensive wild life habitat, which my wife refers to a as a "jungle of weeds " - which is obviously a pejorative view of the matter - beauty and weeds being in the eye of the beholder

Maybe I should take this view, very holistic and calming, instead of my agitated view of weeds as space and nutrient thieves

[veggiechicken]

Weeds are just plants for which you have, as yet, found no use.

[MyWifesBrassicas]

Weeds are just plants for which you have, as yet, found no use.

I use them all, well most of them. I mixed em in with my comfrey and nettle tea. I've wrongly/rightly assumed that they all release nutrients as they decompose in a barrel

[Mark_Riga]

I think nettles and sturdy looking docks is a sign that the soil is good - probably any well growing weeds is a good sign.

[Chestnut]

Mares tail are supposed to be good for scouring pots, something to do with silica in their leaves if my memory is correct....

[Scarlet]

Weeds are just plants for which you have, as yet, found no use.

Ground elder has no use and is totally not edible. There really is no use for it. I dream of a ground elder free garden.

It is the worst weed in the planet. It has a mass of trailing roots under a tiny leaf. It takes over everything