I've got an allotment! Woo!

[catbud]

I went to see the private plot this morning and it's now all mine sooooooo excited! Just £10 per year and next year for free! There were 3 available, one medium plot and 2 small ones so I've got the medium one

Only small problem-no water on the allotment...so gonna buy a water butt and be nice to the neighbours near by

It has had pieces of old carpet on it so quite weed free-needs digging over though so that's my first job. Raining on and off today so that'll probably be started on next week.

Thinking of getting some excess timber from DIY stores to make a couple of raised beds and get some potatoes in there to break up the soil.

Any tips and advice as I'm completly new to this?

Oh the lottie is in Burton in Staffordshire.

[Pumpkin Becki]

Congratulations!
The only advise I'd offer at the moment is - don't try to do it all at once. Maybe uncover and dig a small achieveable area first, but leave everything else covered for now. Its much more satisfying to do really well in a small section than to try to tackle everything all at once.

Best of luck and hope the weather is kind to you.

[SarzWix]

That's fantastic news!!!

Yes, potatoes are a great idea for you first dug over bed, and you should still get away with onion sets if you find any.

Like Becki said though, don't rush to uncover it and lets the weeds get going, draw a plan of what you're having where, and then uncover each bit as you get to it.

We don't have any water on our site either, but we all manage. Collect water in everything you can lay your hands on - my plots have baths, old dustbins, an old cistern, a 1000 litre big square tank (IBC? IRC? something like that) plus 2 ordinary water butts!

Good luck, and enjoy it

[Victoria26]

Thats great hun! I just got mine too but Ive been rained off it this weekend. Mines hasn't been cultivated in years and there is a lot of nettles and clover over mine but I've drawn up plans and am raring to go!!!

Chuffed for you!

[catbud]

Ooh-we'll have to be posting lots of photos to show our allotment progression

[Eyren]

There's a good thread here:

http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...ent_29177.html

and probably several more if you do a search.

Good luck with your new lottie - exciting, isn't it?

[janeyo]

If there is no water I would also start saving plastic 2 litre bottles and bigger if you have any, or 4 pint milk ones to take extra water if you need to in the summer.

[catbud]

I went to my allotment yesterday for first time since getting it-a whole 3 days but weather was pants until then.
I've started to dig over the soil to get the roots out
Bought some seed potatoes yesterday as really wanna get them in soon!

[Cornish Maid]

Hi- I too have just got my first allotment and don't know where to start. This looks a great site to browse for help and advice. Where are you based?

[allotmentlady]

Congratulations, you must be so thrilled! Good idea of janeyos about the water containers.....i would start collecting now lol....they say its going to be a hot summer! Look forward to seeing the pics x

[Norburger]

Congrats. Let see some pictures.

[catbud]

I'm based in Burton upon Trent in Staffordshire

[bluemoon]

Congratulations, Catbud.