New Allotment

[PLSteve]

I've just heard that I am getting my first allotment - probably getting the keys early April.

I want to get organised and get my seeds ordered and start somethings in pots (courgettes, cabbages, caulis etc). But my problem is that I have no idea at all how many seeds to buy!!

The allotment itself is 18mx9m - wich will be divided up in to the 4 usual areas. I was thinking in terms of area about a third for potatoes, and area for herbs, strawberries, shed, water butt and compost. The rest would be split into beds for the other 3 families.

How many potato tubers should I buy to cover something like 9m x 5m?

And advice to an allotment newbie much appreciated

Ta
Steve.

[Two_Sheds]

I have no idea at all how many seeds to buy!

You won't need more than one pack of each kind.
It's far too early for courgettes anyway.

Just go to the shop (or look online) and see what you fancy. Make sure you look at the sowing dates & instructions (many don't )

[basketcase]

Hi Steve!

Congratulations and welcome to the Vine. Whereabouts in Aberdeenshire are you?

One thing about sowing/planting dates: don't go for the early end of the range unless you're in a very sheltered spot, or have a greenhouse etc. We don't really get the heat and light up here as fast as elsewhere in the UK.

Have fun.

[PLSteve]

Hi,

I am out in Banchory. The allotment is going to be with a place called the Woodend barn. There is an existing field of 60 allotments there already, and they are converting another field of 60 just now.

I should find out on Sunday if I have one - but certain it will be ok. I think there will be a few spare too for anyone out this way.

Cant wait to get started - but they wont be ready till April, hence why I am thinking of starting things in pots inside in March. And I have just bought a house about 100 yards for there. Couldn't be better

Steve.

[Pies]

you could start some broad beans off in pots

[Paulottie]

Goodness by the look of the news it will probably take you till April just to find it under the snow!

Spuds in rows approx 500cm apart. so that's about 8 x 9m rows. (approx 24 in each row)
so that's 192 seed spuds. That's quite a lot of spuds!

[Lazgaot]

Last year I ordered 10Kg (4 x 2.5kg packs) of seed potatoes from Tattieman. Each pack had between 17 and 25 tubers. Despite our best efforts we cannot eat what we produced fast enough and some are starting to sprout and go soft. As a rule of thumb each spud easily produced enough tatties for a meal for three adults. Some were less, some MUCH more.

[PLSteve]

Hi all,

Finally got my alltoment last Thursday evening! The organisation that are letting them kindly arranged for the field to be ploughed, but this took longer than expected as all the local farmers are so far behind due to the winter we had in Scotland.

However, just about enough time to get everything planted in time this year, so I have been at the plot as much as possible.

The field before ploughing was completely covered in couch grass. This is where my question arises - the advice from the allotment committe was as follows -

"Digging, DO NOT DIG YOUR PLOT, it has just been dug and the grass/stubble turned over (mostly). Best to leave it below, simply hoe and rake or use a shallow 10cm/4" 3 pronged mini plough attachment. these are great at bringing stones to the surface"

To give you an idea of what I inherited -



My unserstanding was that the best way of dealing with couch grass was to remove as much as possible by digging and forking the soil, removing as much of the roots as possible? This is exactly what I have been doing, totally contridicting the advice given.

A bit of hard work over the last few days has resulted in the following -





Now before I go any further trying to break my back, am I going about the removal of the couch grass the right way? Almost everyone else on the site is simply flattening and raking. To me, getting it dug properly and as many roots/stones removed as possible is the best way forward. However I would appreciate any help!!

Cheers
Steve.

[SarzWix]

That looks cracking

And for what it's worth, I think getting the bits out now will save you a bit of work later. Also, couch grass has been known to grow through potato tubers, meaning that they don't store. Plus, you'll get to know your soil, and break it up a bit.

Some areas might well be okay to plant into though - e.g. squashes, pumpkins, courgettes will be happy enough being planted through cardboard to suppress weeds. Definitely don't plant any permanent crops like soft fruit, aparagus, rhubarb etc., unless you've thoroughly cleared the soil... Couch is a b*gger in the fruit bed!

[Two_Sheds]

Are you sure it WAS couch grass? with white brittle roots over a foot long? If so, you've done the right thing in removing them, they'll only grow back from every bit of root left in the soil.

If it was just annual meadow grass, that can be turned over and left to rot into the soil. Some will regrow, but it's easier to remove than couch.

Anyways, your plot is looking great. Are those paths wide enough for you though? Plants will spill and flop over them to an extent

[Nicos]

Gosh- that looks great!
Yup- dig for Britain- you'll not regret it! ( well- once the Ralgex kicks in!!!)

It's already looking good-not half bad for a weeks wrk!
( and I se you've got some tatties in too? Perfect timing!)

[di]

Good going!!!
From the pics I'd have guessed you'd had it for at least a few months!
Happy Growing

[black olive]

bloody hell, thats a field.
know what you mean about the seeds, Im inundated with the things- our local society dont do a seed swap, will have to sort that next year.

Ive found good old ebay to be a much better bet for seeds and potato tubers than the garden centrs- for example just got 2000 little gem lettuce seeds for 99p- couldnt find little gem in any of the local garden centres .

happy planting

steve

[PLSteve]

Thanks for all the advice folks. Definately is couch grass, its started coming through so quickly!! I never seem to be done hoeing now!!

Thought it was a good time for an update. Had the plot for a month now, constantly been digging and getting the couch out. Been a struggle, but broke up the digging with some planting in between. Some pics of progress so far...







Now to get the brassicas in the 2 far beds, and the potatoes in the big bed on the left. Then its time to sort the paths out and get the wood thats lying about fixed around the beds. Lots of work to do!!

Cheers
Steve.

[binley100]

Looks like you've got well stuck into it.
What's going where the posts are?