just got an allotment-havent a clue!!

[clare3411]

Hi and welcome

Hi Mrs Baggins!, like you I am what they call a newbie!

Just got my allotment, all 250 sq yards ish its a whopper!

Mine is full of bramble roots, going to dig some out (Volunteered my family for a day out, I called it orienteering). Little do they know they will be very busy!

Do you have a lidl near you? If so they are having a garden selling week - there are some tubs that have a water resevoir at the bottom for a about £4 - They are £12 at my local Wyevale nursery! Also mini greenhouses and cloches and polytunnels for a few pounds. They have a website too with details of everything on sale have a look for the past weeks things and the new stuff.

I will be at my local one first thing Thursday am. Good luck for the Allotment and use lots of weed suppressant fabric/plastic on bits you are not digging, it will make it easier - try Wilko's mine is 8 metres by 1.5 for about £3.

I am going to put in a perennial veg bed with asparagus, rhubarb and artichokes, again they are reasonable from the seed catalogues and garden centres. If anyone has any more ideas for perennial veg let me know.

Clare

[nick the grief]

Hi Mrs Baggins!, like you I am what they call a newbie!

Just got my allotment, all 250 sq yards ish its a whopper!

Mine is full of bramble roots, going to dig some out (Volunteered my family for a day out, I called it orienteering). Little do they know they will be very busy!

Do you have a lidl near you? If so they are having a garden selling week - there are some tubs that have a water resevoir at the bottom for a about £4 - They are £12 at my local Wyevale nursery! Also mini greenhouses and cloches and polytunnels for a few pounds. They have a website too with details of everything on sale have a look for the past weeks things and the new stuff.

I will be at my local one first thing Thursday am. Good luck for the Allotment and use lots of weed suppressant fabric/plastic on bits you are not digging, it will make it easier - try Wilko's mine is 8 metres by 1.5 for about £3.

I am going to put in a perennial veg bed with asparagus, rhubarb and artichokes, again they are reasonable from the seed catalogues and garden centres. If anyone has any more ideas for perennial veg let me know.

Clare

Don't buy Rhubarb Claire, I'm sure someone on your plot will let you have some when they lift and separate theirs (back to the sports bras ) at the back end of the year. Just drop hints to everyone

Also tell folks that you want gardening vouchers for chrimbo & birthdays - It pays for half my wants a year

[Norm]

I KNOW I'm going to get shot down in flames AGAIN for saying this, but it seems that the old fashioned gardeners like me are outnumbered by the organics. Even so, here goes.
When I got my present plots (600 sq yds) in the March, 11 years ago, I covered the lot in glyphosate weed killer. Two weeks later I did it again. By the second week of May, everything green was dead, roots and all. I then took a rotavator and turned it all over. In the mean time I had set all my seeds away and had a good crop ready to go in. The third week in May had me planting everything. All that was left to do was hoe between plants and rows, feed occasionally with peleted chicken muck and water when it didn't rain. By the end of June all that could be seen was growing veg. No aching back, no frustration, just lots of food and a great deal of satisfaction.

[SarzWix]

Welcome to the 'Vine Mrs Baggins, and The Nichols. Good luck with your new plots. Whatever you do, don't rush at it & end up tired and demoralised! Little and often, and be sure to spend some time just enjoying the peace/time with your family, so that you become attached to the place & not just see it as 'more work to be done'. There's plenty of inspirational stories on here from people who have tamed a wilderness, have a look if you feel a bit down, or come on here & have a good whinge - you'll get plenty of encouragement

[mrs baggins]

thank you

thanks everyone for the big welcome!!! I have already bought some packets iof seeds!! just wished the days were a bit longer at the moment as by time I get home its dark so only have the weekends to do something > am planning to get a little bit dug at weekend if weather permits

[Flummery]

The clocks will change soon Mrs Baggins - then we'll all be out there after tea!

[moggssue]

I'm with you there Mrs Baggins, waiting for the clocks to change ..... cant wait!

[Becca]

Sarah's advice it absolutely right I've had my plot about 4 months now and when I took it on it was an inpenetrable jungle of brambles and nettle (really wish I'd taken a pick but i just got stuck in) a brushcutter made it traversable and now I'm just digging and having a really good time I ignored the glycophosphate advice as I just didn't feel comfortable with it and figure that I'd still have to dig it would just mean I'd have to wait.. Not got much planted at yet but I find every moment I get to spend there (mostly at weekends) a joy and I'm definatly getting fitter (at 26 quid a year it's considerably cheaper than a gym) so I'm a happy bunny.. my advice is, take it one step (or patch) at a time and be happy with what you achieve rather than worry about how much you have to do and you'll have a whale of a time

[Becca]

doh.. pick as in picture rather than axe (tho I tried that.. too heavy for little ole me :P)