just got an allotment-havent a clue!!

[mrs baggins]

me and my son have got one between us-at his insistance!! We were lucky to get a plot near to him and went and had a look on saturday. Its not huge but big enough for us. Overgrown but not waist high! and as a bonus we can have a free polytunnel greenhouse - and we dont have to pay Until October!!

We are planning to clear a bit at a time starting from the front which is the best bit. Know its getting a bit late to probably do much this year but we hope to plant some potatoes, lettuce for the tortoise, parsnips, poss carrots. Hoping that we will be able to grow some tomoatoes and peppers in greenhouse maybe in grow bags. Oh and want to grow somw peas as well!

Hope thats not too adventurous considering we have never grown veg before.

Any advice on which varieties to grow in case we have another wet year like last one. Am in the Midlands so possible late frosts I guess??

[shirlthegirl43]

Welcome to the vine mrs baggins. Love the name! Congratulations on the lottie, take lots of piccies for us please.

There are loads of good tips on clearing overgrown allotments on here, have a good look about and you will find loads of tips.

Best advice is take it gently, clear one bed at a time and plant it up to give you a sense of achievement. You can get logs of seeds sown now and prepare beds for them to get planted out into later on, plant stuff that you enjoy eating and which is more expensive in the shops. Lucky you getting a free polytunnel too!

[The Nichols']

March is the ideal time to get started at the weather is (supposedly) beginning to warm up. It's unlikely you'll be able to grow as big as you would have if you'd started in propagators in February but a good crop is certainly possible, especially with the polytunnel.

As the person before me put, I'd advise doing one piece at a time completely. There's nothing worse than seeing weeds grow over a bit you've already cleared before you've had a chance to plant anything because you've gone onto another patch.

My own advise would be to plant things that are ready quickly. There's no point doing a corner then dedicating it to parsnips or sprouts which will take up the space all season.

This means lettuces, radishes or anything else you fancy.

For space to crop ratio, I'd highly recommend at least one courgette plant and a row of peas / mangetout.

[mrs baggins]

thanks both. The worst thing is is knowing where to start. the plot itself is a little overgrown with some kind of tree on the edge halfway down. but the back bit is all a bit of a no-go zone. 2 very broken down sheds, a big heap of brambles and things and discarded bits of everything!

We are def going to start at front and work ourselves to back and have decided to grow things like I mentioned. cabagges and brassicas in general neither of us like so wont grow those but i do like roast squash but there are so many vareties!!!

Just been following a thread on how to set out your plot with rotating beds of this and that and it all sounds a bit off putting! Think for this year we shall just try and clear what we can and plant a bit higgledy piggledy until we get ourselves soerted a bit more.

I was thinking of spraying the front bit with glypsophate (round up) then waiting a couple of weeks or am I too late to do this?

[shirlthegirl43]

Roundup needs to be used when there is active growth so it might be a bit early for that. There is a thread on spraying and rotovating which I have not read but it may help you.

http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...rly_13119.html

I would also suggest you buy a good reference book to help you out. An inexpensive one is The Vegetable and Herb Expert by Dr D G Hessayon. It gives good basic advice for new growers.

[PAULW]

MRS B
You could start planting first early spuds as soon as you have a bit of ground dug, dont worry to much about the squash as they wont be able to go out until May time so no rush and dont discount brassica's I couldn't stand cabbage until I grew my own

[HeyWayne]

The greatest journeys start with the smallest step - I think someone famous once said.

I, like you, had never grown anything this time last year, but started off by planting second early and main crop spuds around St Patricks day. I also managed to grow courgettes, runner beans, peas, cauliflowers, brussels sprouts, squash (with some success), tomatoes (as previous), onions and dwarf beans.

You'll be amazed what you can grow. Do it bit by bit and before you know it you'll be flying!

This year I'm hoping to grow a greater selection of veg - every day's a school day.

Good luck.

[chuffa]

Mrs B, welcome to the vine. Srart by drawing your plot on a piece of graph paper. Draw your polytunnel in, where you want your shed, compost heap etc. Then split your plot as for crop rotation.

The Allotment Book by Andi Clevely is great that gives you a guide to creating your plot, what, when to grow, as does grow your own mag and the guys and gals on the forum.

[The Germinator]

I got my plot a few months ago as was very overgrown. Through some carpet down over the overgrown bits as it helps to flatten it out (so you can actually see your full plot) and starts to kill off everything. Just do bit by bit and you'll be amazed how quickly things progress. Take pics to so you can see how much youve done.

[terrier]

Welcome to the GYO forum Mrs Baggins and The Nichols. Enjoy.

[moggssue]

Hi and welcome both. This is my first year with a lottie as well so I'm joining you on the adventure!! Good luck!

[Nicos]

Hello and welcome to you both from me too!

[nick the grief]

me and my son have got one between us-at his insistance!! We were lucky to get a plot near to him and went and had a look on saturday. Its not huge but big enough for us. Overgrown but not waist high! and as a bonus we can have a free polytunnel greenhouse - and we dont have to pay Until October!!

We are planning to clear a bit at a time starting from the front which is the best bit. Know its getting a bit late to probably do much this year but we hope to plant some potatoes, lettuce for the tortoise, parsnips, poss carrots. Hoping that we will be able to grow some tomoatoes and peppers in greenhouse maybe in grow bags. Oh and want to grow somw peas as well!

Hope thats not too adventurous considering we have never grown veg before.

Any advice on which varieties to grow in case we have another wet year like last one. Am in the Midlands so possible late frosts I guess??

I've had one for about 5 or 6 years and still don't know what I'm doing

Welcome to the Vine Mrs Baggins and I'll swap you a lettuce for a tortoise and I would go to your local £ shop and get some tubs and grow your toms in those rather than Growbags - the roots will have a cooler run and it will have a better water retention.

The best people to ask about frosts are the chaps and chapesses on your lottie site as it can vary wildly. My mate live 3 miles from me and he gets far more frosts than I do at home but I get less than on the site about half a mile away from home!

Where abouts are you in the Midland?

[rustylady]

Welcome to the Vine, Mrs Baggins. Enjoy your plot. The best advice I can give is take it easy. Clear a bit and plant it straight away. If you try to clear the whole lot before planting you will be back to square one before you get any crops in. Spuds are excellent for new plots. The foliage suppresses the weeds, and the roots help break up the soil (plus you get a very useful crop). Small cleared areas can be used for salad crops, carrots and onions but you will need to keep these weeded. Beans can be grown up tripods of canes, taking up little ground space.

[gardenplot]

Welcome to the vine Mrs Baggins and The Nichols.

the advice i was given is to clear the site and cover with black sheeting or cardboard to help keep weeds & grass down and just dig a small patch at a time. Good Luck