Overwhelmed

[Eyren]

There are always a lot of jobs to juggle this time of year, Droppey - the only way I can keep on top of things is with the aid of lots of notes and To-Do lists!

I think it helps that I started small, with just a few tomato plants and lettuces, and worked my way up to an allotment over the course of several years. I would suggest sticking to fairly easy-to-grow veg to begin with - nothing's ever guaranteed, but early potatoes, onion sets, runner beans, courgettes and tomatoes are all reasonably foolproof (provided you follow the sowing/planting times on the packet) and give a good yield for the amount of work you need to put in.

[weekendwellies]

I too have just got my first allotment and am feeling overwelmed.
I chatted for a long time with the allotment secretary before taking it.
One of the things I picked up on was that after a couple of days of heavy rain, as we get from time to time, the site becomes awash.
So I decided on raised beds for everything in order to raise the planting up a bit.
So far I have only built 2 beds.
Spuds are in the first, but I'm not sure if they will take as they werent chitted (I got them given to me) and I just wanted to get something growing.
The second is going to have cardboard put in the bottom to suppress the weeds and then topped up with compost.
I am then going to plant some salad seeds which I got a mixed pack of from B&Q which contains peppers beetroot tomato cucumber radish lettuce chilli and spring onion.
I am sticking to the things I like to eat this year.
I want to get some peas in the next bed.
I am just plodding along each weekend - make a bed, cardboard, compost, sow.
I dont want to get exhausted and then run out of steam.
I am just ignoring the weeds and brambles growing on the rest, I just focus on the 1mx2m bit that I am dealing with at that time.
Hopefully this will get me started.
And next year I can see what worked, what didnt, and think about other things I want to try.
This is a long term project which will take the next 30 years or so to get done.
Not a quick fix.
My advise is to go to your local library and borrow a few books.
Note down anything you like the look of and ignore the rest.
Talk to anyone who claims to know about gardening, and especially what you plan to grow, be it flowers, fruit or veg.
You dont have to take their advice, just listen and compare with what everyone else has said then come up with your own opinion.
If it works, stick with it, if not try something different.
If you grow too much, give it away to friends, neighbours, colleagues, etc. They may even give you some seeds to try in return, or more advice for your pot of knowledge.
Most importantly, enjoy your new hobby, and may it last a lifetime.

[Droppey]

Thanks for that, it helps that it isn't just me that feels overwhelmed

I want to do raised beds in a couple of the areas but I honestly do not know how to make them lol. At the mo there are makeshift beds, but not raised.

Have decided to focus on to areas and the rest I'll work on over time

[weekendwellies]

I am using 2.4m long decking planks. I cut 1 in half with a hand saw which makes the 2 short ends and leave 2 whole for the long sides. I nail in one 2x2cm piece cut to an appropriate length (leaving enough to hammer into the ground), to each corner, then nail each side together and put another nail into the corner 'post' for added security. Its really easy, I am no DIYer, but even I can do it with hand tools, no electric necessary. It doesnt need to be attractive, just so long as it does the job.

[Sue]

Hi
That word overwhelmed - well that struck a chord. I look at the allotment today and wondered how on earth I got from a waist high wasteland to a productive allotment looking (almost) how I imagined it.

One thing I would add to all the good gardening advice you've been given is take photographs and plenty of them. As soon as you start take pictures of the allotment as it is. If you can manage this in poor weather with any friends or relatives in the picture looking cold and glum then so much the better, if they're covered in mud - a plus! Then keep on taking pictures of your progress - any progress, as the plants grow and especially in the summer. Pictures of any twigs and sticks (newly planted fruit bushes and trees) are good too, recorded over the years, amazing to see these grow.
Now when you are feeling most overwhelmed get your pictures out and note the progress, marvel at what you've done, it's certainly kept me going and in the depths of the first two winters they were a salvation as I was faced with mud, lakes and a bit of a prepared allotment and a worry I'd taken on more than I could do.

I particularly like one I've got which is me sitting in front of my new shed with one raised bed, to the side of the photograph you can see the uncultivated mess to go but hey I'm so proud. I've now got 24 raised beds and in the photographs you see the one become two, then three and so on.
It's like painting by numbers as more and more of the picture becomes filled in. When finally I could take a picture from the bottom of the allotment in high summer - well that was a good day and I'm sad enough to have it as my screen saver.

You'll get there, you'll make mistakes, plants won't grow as promised, but oh boy, when they do it's wonderful and you gradually get over those mistakes and new ones will occur but that's the way it goes, I'd never grown anything before I'd started and it's been trial and error all along the way, but I wouldn't have missed the experience for the world.
best wishes
Sue

[snakeshack]

take lots of pics then whenever you don't seem to be progressing you can go back and look .
here are two one from my first allotment viewing in september 08
and one from 19 march 09
the second photo is taken from a top of the water tap on the right of the first image lookingleft down the plot

[Droppey]

Thanks for all the advice guys and gals I really do appreciate it

Well today I've planted my first lot of seeds in a cell and they're in a cold propagator on the spare bedroom window sill can't wait to see the little shoots growing through - unless i've over watered them of course

[Alice]

Just try to relax and enjoy your growing Droppey.
Forget any notion that you can ever learn everything.
Start small and master the basics and your knowledge and experience will grow year by year. It's a long term project. Happy growing.

[DexR]

Hi Droppey,
I did think it was just me until I found this site, grew a few things in beds in the garden last year whilst on the waiting list for lottie, wasn't too bad, but now got lottie (not as bad as the pics above).
After all of the advice I have received from other allotmenteers I still started off seeds too early & had all of the difficult to germinate( so put 2 or 3 in each pot) seeds germinate, so now have lots (am sure they just wanted spare plants).
Still every time I go I am bringing away a full wheelbarrow full of weeds, but will get there soon(next 20 years hopefully), but have cleared enough to get some potatoes, onions & broad beans, peas will be next (thin strips of land).
Hoping to clear a few strips to get some carrots etc before I plant my borlotti beans etc,
Can anybody help, can we add another day to the week(not a work day though)
Take Care & Good Luck

[Droppey]

LOL DexR an extra day in the week would be good. I used to, until recently, be extremely lazy such a contrast now just a shame I have to actually work *sighs*

[Tori]

5 day weekend 2 day week!! (same pay cheque thou!)

My advice:-
1. Buy Carol Klein - grow your own veg/ Haynes manual growing your own veg/or similar
2. read it!
3. read the back of seed packets (not all seed like to be planted 3 inches deep!)
4. Wade in and get on with it - nothing like learning as you go - and if it all goes wrong you can alwaysstart again! (no really, you can, it's not the end of the world!)
5. take lots of photos, then you can look back and them and see how much you achieved! (and laugh at the cock ups!)

Good Luck

[Creemteez]

Have you got a shed on your plot?
If so, copy these words onto a large sheet of paper and pin it up on the door
DON'T PANIC!!!
If you haven't got a shed, then write it in indelible ink on the back of your hand.
I know, I know, it's "Gibber-time" on most allotments at this time of year.
Everything is screaming to be planted or sown, and it can seem like it's never going to end, but then you'll suddenly find that you've got everything sown that the season demands, and then the waiting begins.
If you're like me, you'll be hovering over your seed rows every day yelling "WHERE THE HELL ARE YOU?!!- YOU'VE BEEN IN THREE DAYS!!!!".
I don't half get some looks!

[Droppey]

LOL Creemteez

Well I'm actually proud of myself today (BIG cheesy grin) I've cleared one whole bed, put some fertiliser in the ground and put new boarders (they don't match hehe) around the bed.

Tomorrow I will be planting my potatoes

Would do it today but Rovers are on the TV and then I'm going out but am proud of what I have done today

[womble]

take lots of pics then whenever you don't seem to be progressing you can go back and look .
here are two one from my first allotment viewing in september 08
and one from 19 march 09
the second photo is taken from a top of the water tap on the right of the first image lookingleft down the plot

Looking at those photos, I think you deserve a medal to go with all the scratches and cuts you must have