New half plot - need some advice (as always)

[funstuie]

So I received a new half plot on an allotment site ten minutes down the road. I have given up my other half plot which was too far away.

I finally got my key last week so Saturday myself and my son spent the morning checking it out and doing some tidying.

It's a half plot which is being shared by two gentlemen who don't have the time to work the full plot. There is a Plum tree, Bay tree (bush) and a massive Rosemary plant (tree?) on my half of the plot so the area around them is not in use at the moment.

Here is a plan (I know it's crap but my design skill are rubbish). Sizes are approximate:



The numbers on the plan (01, 02 etc) refer to the photos below. I have number the photos and on the plan is where I was standing when I took the photo.

The southern corner of the plot looking up. The plot is south-facing, the red line indicates the outline of my plot:



Southern corner facing east (I think):

[funstuie]

North eastern corner of my plot (again I think my compass is always wrong ):



Looking across the east part of the plot from the corner of the "tree section). Note the ginger hair is a permanent feature on the plot:



South eastern corner looking up at the compost bin (shared). I am thinking of putting a plastic green house just in front of the compost bin:

[funstuie]

And finally the trees (the potty was not for me):



Sorry about the quality of the photo's. I took them with my phone.

So I started to dig the grassy section but it was impossible. I kept uncovering loads of house bricks and rubbish. So I gave up as the grass was impenetrable and I was getting nowhere. I cleared out all the rubbish and bricks and went home and got a tarp which I could never fold up properly and covered most of the grass section. I need to get another tarp to completely cover the whole section.

I am going to get some scaffold boards as I found a place selling them for £4 but I have to go get them, hopefully they will fit in an estate car. I will then create some raised beds in the section which has the weed control fabric down (photo 01) as this has been down for a while and the soil underneath is pretty clear.

I need to work out what to plant in these beds. Also I have a load of strawberry plants at home and I want to transfer these to the allotment. Where do you suggest would be the best place to put them on the plot?

[funstuie]

No one up for offering any advice?

I going to order some seeds and plugs soon as I really want to get something this year. The weather keeps going against me though it's just horrible at the moment.

[Sanjo]

Sorry Funstuie,I can't understand why you haven't received any answers from any of those grapes with allotments and as I don't have one I'm probably not much use to you, but at least I'm here!!!!!
Unfortunately not all of your post has appeared so some of the writing is missing.
I think you'll find that the Rosemary is a shrub/bush and it can get very unruly if left untamed.
Do you like Rosemary? Would the other sharers let you hack it back?
It doesn't need to be massive so if it's in your way and they let you, then cut it back.
The Bay is a tree, and most of the growth should be on the top, like a ball I think.

You are very lucky that it is south facing (all that lovely sunshine!)
I know is seems like a big job, what with all the rubble etc but don't be downhearted. Get it done a bit at a time, covering as you go.
If it was me I would choose the sunniest spot for the strawberries.
Are you growing potatoes? If so then just clear what rubble you can, dig a small hole (a job that your littlie might like) put in some compost and plant the spud on the top. Either cover with cardboard/grass clippings etc (for the no dig method) or when the green growth appears pull the soil up around the plants (earthing up).
You don't say what other plants you would be interested in growing.
Is there a greenhouse/growhouse/polytunnel etc that you can have the use of, only it may help with expanding what you can grow.
Looking at your photos, you might think it's a big job, but have a look at some of the before and after photos of the other allotmenteers and it might inspire you.
I hope somebody else will spot your request for help but if not then feel free to post again and if I can help, I will. Good luck anyway - Sanjo

[Two_Sheds]

No one up for offering any advice?

hang on! It's taken a day to load your massive photos

[Two_Sheds]

So I started to dig the grassy section but it was impossible. ... the grass was impenetrable and I was getting nowhere.

Glyphosate it? Otherwise cover it till it dies, which will take months.

I will then create some raised beds in the section

Why do you need raised beds?

I need to work out what to plant in these beds.

What do you want to eat?

Also I have a load of strawberry plants ...Where do you suggest would be the best place to put them on the plot?

Strawbs need sunshine to ripen, and don't sitting in the wet

[Sanjo]

Why do you need raised beds?

What do you want to eat?

Strawbs need sunshine to ripen, and don't sitting in the wet

Perhaps because the soil is difficult to work at the moment, what with all the rubble etc?

[snakeshack]

I would consider a few trial digs to find the extent of the rubble.
then if you find a rubble free area see if you can dig that and plant some spuds as a colonisation crop.
the rubble covered area needs to be ascertained and the decision made on how to develop it,there is always the possibility that this plot is uncultivated because there is so much rubble that no one wanted it,and you have "bin stitched up guv"however all is not lost,you could as you say use raised beds, but there are drawbacks.
raised beds can be expensive to build although the price you have quoted is good for scaffold boards.
you will have to fill your raised beds if the soil below is full of rubble especially if you want to grow root veg like carrots as they will not grow into the rubble area below.
the accepted way of filling raised beds is to use some soil from the paths between them but this may not be practical if the soil is that bad.
filling with topsoil is possible but assuredly very expensive.
the other option is to cover the good areas and grow through a weed suppressing membrane(plastic,mypex or card board).
as for what you want to grow look at what you eat,salad is usually a good bet as it is so expensive
see picture of my raised beds this time last year,I am gradually filling with compost and manure.

[Two_Sheds]

Perhaps because the soil is difficult to work at the moment, what with all the rubble etc?

...but he'd still have to fork over the ground under the raised beds: either that or build the sides high enough to avoid any hard pan.

How high? Maybe 2 or 3 feet

[eieio]

I would probably start by clearing some of the rubble areas and skimming the grassy bits off (mind you, like you I am a newbie - got mine last year) and then doing some small beds to do trial planting. Use this year as 'trial and error' whilst getting the allotment cleared and the way you want it.

Isn't it fun! I just love my jungle!

[Two_Sheds]

I would probably start by ...skimming the grassy bits off

Do you mean strimming?

I wouldn't. Cutting grass just encourages it to grow.
I would either cover it until it weakens enough to dig it out (several months) or spray it (April/May).

If you literally meant skimming, ie slicing off the visible parts, leaving the roots: it will just regrow, so it's a waste of time & energy.

Sorry I don't mean to be negative, but you can't mess around with grass: it's a survivor

[Lazgaot]

Depending on how quickly you want to start using the plot you have a few options.
1)If you have time and the energy then you could cover and slowly dig and sift out all the weeds, grass and rubble and clear the plot entirely.

2)Spray with Roundup as already advised and wait for it all to die off then dig, remove large rubble and plant.

3)Locate your nearest mushroom farm and try and secure a few tons of well composted spent mushroom compost. Cover the plot with a few layers of cardboard, build raised beds with the scafford boards and infill with the compost and plant straight away.

[funstuie]

Thanks all for the advice.

I am going to go with raised beds as the ground is a right mish mash. The covered area in the photos has been covered for over a year so should be clear underneath but the clay is rock hard and dark grey. Also another plot holder told me that a previous tennant only grew asparagus on that plot so "you might have some trouble". Not sure what he means?

I am going to dig out a section of the grassy bit and hopefully get it cleared and grow potatoes the rest I will cover with tarp for a few months.

So that leaves me with the covered section (old asparagus) to put in raised beds and start growing. That will give me half and half plot to work with.

Would it be worth growing anything around the base of the tree? Herbs or something?

Ideally I would like to get going this year with

Onions,
,
Beetroot,
Carrots
leeks,
cabbage,

There is more I will think of. I would also like to put one of them plastic greenhouses in the section in front of the compost bin (nothing else can be grown there) and get some tomatoes and peppers in there.

[funstuie]

I think I have been given a bit of a duff plot. I spent all day on Saturday down there and the plot is a mess. The soil is full of rubble and rubbish, it took me 4 hours to dig and clear out a 4x4 foot section. The bed which had asparagus in it also took hours to clear (I only got halfway through before giving up).

I also started to dig out the grass over by the compost heap (a 4x6ft section which I had no covered with tarp) as I wanted to put potatoes in that section but I uncovered most of a patio (slate, house bricks, wood) all about 6 or so inches down. I was knackered so I gave up and went home. It was too cold on Sunday to deal with all that so I didn't go back down.

It's going to take some effort just to get something in the ground this spring.