Where Do I Start? Brain Bamboozled!

[RobintheBobin]

Hi All

Well after the initial excitement of getting a half plot I'm now thinking..."help!" Initially I thought I should think about digging the rotovated soil to get rid of the shredded couch (if it is couch) then I thought better of it and read that covering the soil would be a better start. BUT then I was advised by my neighbour to work out what I want to grow and then think about my paths

In the meantime I have onion and shallot sets waiting to go in somewhere, broadie seeds just looking at me and garlic bulbs under the stairs no of which I want to go to waste

All in all I'm having a bit of a moment - where do I start?

Some of you may have seen my plot - it is totally bare, starkers, mud - totalling 80sqm it would be a lot of cardboard to cover and I'm struggling to find a farm that supplies manure for that size. So do I just cardboard over the areas where I want to put beds (as I think I have managed to draw up some idea of a plot layout) leaving some beds open for the onions, etc?

Oh gawd, I can feel my brain going into overdrive again. I'm slightly concerned that I'll think and not do and then get thrown off by Christmas

One day I hope to be able to give useful advice of my own as I feel like I'm always asking but I've looked at various websites and not found a specific answer (understandably) so I hope you chaps and ladies can help

[zazen999]

Do you want your plot to be run traditionally, in rows - or with defined beds and paths?

I wanted paths and beds, so the first thing I did was to put 2 strips of weed fabric splitting the plot into 3 strips, then another 2 across splitting each bed into 3.

The beds did not have sides until I was happy with the set-up. I am still installing some this winter.

To be honest, you could just put your broadies, garlics and onions in a defined area, and try to get the rest covered with cardboard etc over winter, and it will give you time to think about what you want.

[OverWyreGrower]

Firstly - don't panic!!

TBH, you have plenty of time to decide about paths and plans...

Pick a corner of your plot and plant your onions, garlic etc...

In terms of manure - are there local riding stables near you? Our local ones actually deliver the muck for free just to get rid of it!!

In terms of covering over - I use our used/mucky straw from our ducks and chickens, horse manure and home made compost to cover.

I tried cardboard last year but wasn't too happy with it (personal opinion only!!). This year I have managed to cadge black plastic sheets from some builders who are working nearby. It's as thick as rubble bags are, but in large sheets. Think it has previously wrapped up wood or something. I'm laying these down over the manure/straw mixture.

You can then move things around and do your planning etc when you have time.

[Nicos]

This is what I would do......

OK...sit down with a pot of tea/coffee, pen and paper- and draw a plan of your site.
note N/S/E/W and any shade.
decide where you want your compost etc etc.
Then draw paths about 2-3ft wide and beds 4ft x 6/8/10 ft- depending on the width of the plot. No longer or you'll take a short cut through it!


decide what sort of fruit and veg you want to grow- and where the fruit is best sited.
Then ....work out a rough 3 year rotation and what you want to put in now.
Then ( here comes the harder bit....clear the plot of weeds ..now- before they take hold again- then cover over the dug bits.) you don't have to dig it all- just cover any un dug bits to prevent further weeds growing .
Aim for 1/4 plot max...and take it from there.
You could start with the beds you want to do now- but try and clear the localised area so the weeds don't spread sideways underground.

It's not really daunting...just too many starting points!
You can always move things later if you've not chosen the ideal location for the fruit.
Take piccies as you go along- and keep us posted- you'll be really chuffed as you see the steady progress!

[Keith2202]

Have you tried police stables? Presumably they have to get rid of their used bedding somehow and you might be able to persuede the driver to drop it off at your plot.

I personally would be inclined to dig out the roots while the soil is loose, it should be relatively easy. Before putting cardboard down

Bung in the broadies, onions, garlic and shallots. They probably will take up more space than you think when you have spaced them all out.

If you want fruit bushes they can go in now.

Plant spring flowering bulbs, daffodils etc, for colour, cutting and bees.

[SarzWix]

I was exactly the same as you when I got mine, full of enthusiasm, and then a 'slump' when it all just seemed tooo much! I think it's quite a common reaction, so don't worry Deep breath!

My advice, and what worked for me, is to draw a plan. You really need a rough idea of where you want everything to be. Have a wander round your site, see what sort of layout appeals to you on other people's plots, or, have a look through folks' photos on here (there's a couple of albums on my profile page, and lots of peeps have links to their blogs in their signature line).
Then, do what Nicos suggests; start off with a big rectangle, mark on it where N,S,E,W. are, where it will be easiest to site your compost bins, where you'd like your paths to start and end. Once you've got a rough plan you can mark your paths/beds out with canes and string, and decide whether to cover with cardboard/muck/straw/plastic, then start clearing one bed of couch grass bits before planting out onions/garlic etc.

Don't forget, onions and garlic can be planted in autumn AND spring, so you don't have to get them in now if you aren't ready.

Good luck, and try not to panic

[RobintheBobin]

The beds did not have sides until I was happy with the set-up. I am still installing some this winter.

Thanks Zazen - gives me hope

I tried cardboard last year but wasn't too happy with it (personal opinion only!!).

Ooo, may I ask why - be useful to know?

This is what I would do......

"OK...sit down with a pot of tea/coffee..."

"decide where you want your compost etc etc."

"decide what sort of fruit and veg you want to grow- and where the fruit is best sited"

"Aim for 1/4 plot max...and take it from there"

"Take piccies as you go along- and keep us posted- you'll be really chuffed as you see the steady progress!"

Awww Nicos you're an absolute diamond - your suggestions have constantly been spot on and made me a bit more chilled. Caaaaaaaaaaalm.

If you want fruit bushes they can go in now.

Plant spring flowering bulbs, daffodils etc, for colour, cutting and bees.

Oooo yes, I've got a big bag of daffs - thought if I don't have anything else come spring I'll have colour!!!

I was exactly the same as you when I got mine, full of enthusiasm, and then a 'slump' when it all just seemed tooo much! I think it's quite a common reaction, so don't worry Deep breath!

"Have a wander round your site, see what sort of layout appeals to you on other people's plots, or, have a look through folks' photos on here (there's a couple of albums on my profile page"
Good luck, and try not to panic

SarzWix, I had a good mooch the other day and it is a mish mash of traditional rows and beds - the newer, recently taken over plots were ALL beds and the older were rows. I found your album v useful - thanks for pointing me that way.

Oh grapes you are all total stars - I think I'm a bit more on track: going to mark out my beds with string and canes, dig them over as much as possible and a little around the area too, lay down cardboard (as I've been stashing loads at work so may as well use it) try and get some manure and get my onions and garlic in by guy fawkes weekend. PHEW

[SarzWix]

Really pleased that you're feeling a bit brighter
I remember only too well the overwhelmed feeling after I got my first plot! Everyone on here picked me up and set me on my way too, absolute stars Here, have a look;
http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...air_40751.html

It's still not a perfect plot (probably never will be ), but it's come a long way from when I posted that.

[Pies]

Dig a bit,plant a bit
Dig a bit,plant a bit
Dig a bit,plant a bit
Dig a bit,plant a bit
etc etc



Try not to look at the plot as one large expance.At the mo your priorities are to dig some space for you onions garlic and beans.There is no panic the rest can wait you wont be planting much on that for a few months now,so you have time to think and plan

[Two_Sheds]

Sarz, thanks for resurrecting that old thread. Haven't we all done a lot of hard work in 2 years: I'd forgotten I'd taken those snaps of my old plot (I give it up in 4 days time

[Bigmallly]

I'd like to echo Pies comments, I have 8 raised beds to fill but as long as they are done for spring I will do one at a time.

[zazen999]

I still use the
'dig a bit, plant a bit' motto.

Although without the 'dig' bit....I just clear and mulch and plant through

[SarzWix]

Sarz, thanks for resurrecting that old thread. Haven't we all done a lot of hard work in 2 years: I'd forgotten I'd taken those snaps of my old plot (I give it up in 4 days time

Awww, that's sad. I was a bit upset giving up our #2 plot when we took over next-door, and we'd only had that one 12 months. You should have a little goodbye/blessing/thank-you thingy up there, with a glass of wine or something.

[Snadger]

Dig a bit,plant a bit
Dig a bit,plant a bit
Dig a bit,plant a bit
Dig a bit,plant a bit
etc etc



Try not to look at the plot as one large expance.At the mo your priorities are to dig some space for you onions garlic and beans.There is no panic the rest can wait you wont be planting much on that for a few months now,so you have time to think and plan

Good advice Pies, at least for the first year anyway.!

Robinthebobin...........you really DO need to make your mind up whether your going beds or trad, or a mixture of both!

Like building a house you need to lay the foundations (the paths) first. A simple way of making beds for the first year is to trample on the marked out paths (usually 2 foot wide) only. Dig a 4 foot wide bed X whatever length you decide (but no more than abour 12 foot, as its a long hike around them.)
Once the bed is dug, don't whatever you do, walk on it agian. Plant it up and move to the next area ad infinitum!
You should be able quite easily to dig and weed a 4 foot X 12 foot bed in a day and the following day plant it up. You can then look at it and feel you have achieved something.
If you only walk on paths and only dig beds you will have created raised beds cheaply without sides. At a later date you can add sides if you like but it's not necessary (some of my beds are side less after three years)

[Bex]

Like building a house you need to lay the foundations (the paths) first. A simple way of making beds for the first year is to trample on the marked out paths (usually 2 foot wide) only. Dig a 4 foot wide bed X whatever length you decide (but no more than abour 12 foot, as its a long hike around them.)
Once the bed is dug, don't whatever you do, walk on it agian. Plant it up and move to the next area ad infinitum!
You should be able quite easily to dig and weed a 4 foot X 12 foot bed in a day and the following day plant it up. You can then look at it and feel you have achieved something.
If you only walk on paths and only dig beds you will have created raised beds cheaply without sides. At a later date you can add sides if you like but it's not necessary (some of my beds are side less after three years)

This is what I'm doing, I've managed to put sides on 3 beds so far which are 4 x 10 ft, 2 ft in between for paths because I got hold of some free wood, not sure how I'm going to do the others but I'm not too stressed. Only about 14 beds to go but I've got all winter. Like Snadger says I might not get sides on the rest.