i got offered a real allotment plot yesterday

[baby_blue]

i was originally offered a 'plot'from a lady who had excess garden space, i went to look at it the other day as she said she had laid planks along where my part would start, it appears that i have not got the size she had originally had said and the shed i was meant to have she says i cant have it yet. i didt know what to do about it, but..

by chance i got a phone call from the allotment manager in my area who said a plot was coming available on 15th june and would i be intested. i jumped at the chance. its 300 sq yards, which meant nothing to me, but i went to view it today, when i eventually worked out which one it was (none were numbered!) and it is a very large space! i'm definitely going to take it.

so much grass! i'm thinking i should mark out my beds first and only tackle a small bit at a time. i think i want rid of all the grass, i cant be doing with all that strimming when it starts to get long, also i'm certain there are other weeds on the plot too.

what would be the best thing to do, spray the parts i'm going to use first with a weed killer and cover the rest with black sheets until i get to them? or not use a weed killer and just do alot of digging?. i havent a clue really. i just know i dont want the grass or the weeds and i want to have at least two beds of veg before the year is out!

i've attached some piccies

ta muchly

x

[geoff]

It looks pretty good, compared to some of the overgrown plots we have seen. And does it have a shed? That's very much a plus point, you will have somewhere to work from (and brew tea!); it's much harder if you have to keep taking tools backwards and forwards

Don't panic or rush; accept that it will take some time, perhaps 2 or 3 years to get it in really good shape, just concentrate on getting a small part right ie planted this year, and spend the rest of the year clearing and preparing for the future

If you get a move on you there is still time to plant seed potatoes and onions
Potatoes are robust and reliable, and don't need absolutely perfect soil; roughly dug will do

a couple of suggestions:
Arrange for a large delivery of manure, a whole trailer load if poss. Put down newspaper and manure, then top it with the manure . That will keep things under control, and give you time to clear and/or dig it in at a civilised pace

Read about it. Carry on getting GYO each month, and also get gardening books from your library, they will give you ideas, get you used to the jargon, and generally give you background knowledge and experience. Look for titles specifically about allotments or vegetables as general gardening books tend to concentrate on flowers
Also look through previous posts on these forums, as advice to newcomers and neglected plots apears regularly

[Currysniffa]

Hey BB, I used Round-up on my plot when I first got it to kill all the grass and weeds then I turned it over by hand so I could remove all the roots before I used the sits rotavator.. The round-up took about 3 weeks to work.. Good luck

[jackie j]

My plot was covered in grass ( well OH's actually ) when I got it in February. I didnt use any weed killer, I just dug it over getting rid of the grass and weeds. It is nearly done I just have a small bit at the bottom to do. But dig a small area and plant / sow something, then do the next area. Decide if you want beds or if you are just going to have large area's to divide into sections. Keep on top of the planted area's in between digging the next bit. If the soil isnt any good ( mine is stony and dry ) add compost in with the Plants / seeds add chicken manure pellets for feed. This will all help the process of good soil.
In the winter add manure but check its ok first. You dont want Zazzen's problem.
Most of all enjoy its great fun. Make friends with other plot holders and accept any plants that they have spare.
Good luck.

[susieq100]

It's huge! All that potential ... lucky you. Newspaper/cardboard and manure. Cover what you can't dig. Dig a bit and plant it. I would be tempted to skim off the turf and lay the turves to one side (there was a good thread here about composting turf) or turn them over and 'plant through' them eg spuds. Some GC's are selling seed potatoes now for 30-40 pence because it is late. But what have you got to lose?

You can get plants from GC's and there is still lots of stuff you can still grow from seed. My local B&Q had sweetcorn modules for sale yesterday 25p for 4 plants and mystery brassicas - 8 for 25p. I was sorely tempted even though I don't actually have room for them. Good luck!

[chengjing]

Very nice plot, good luck with it.