totally ovewhelmed...so much reading!

[baby_blue]

i have a lovely plot, very large, 300 sq yards, that i will have access to in a couple of weeks, i've been reading loads of info on here and all over the web and now i just feel totally overwhelmed and its taken all my initial excitement away - not to mention an unhelpful partner who asked how much time i plan on spending there and will i be able to keep it up when i go back to work in september (on maternity leave at the mo!)

i know the types of things i wat to grow and i know that most of them i wont get down this yr.

all this reading about plot designing, bed sizes, crop rotation, soil types, north or south facing, sheltered but sunny (huh?! isnt that like saying i'm short and tall!! )

anyway i think i just need to get digging, i want to sort out three beds for the time being - makes sense for crop rotation? then do the rest as and when.

now, if i've read correctly there are some things that do not need rotating, like asparagus and berries? my son would like some raspberries and blackberries and in the future i would like to get asparagus down, so i need to prepare a permanent home for these?

really, i just want to moan, lol sory! i just want to get out there and dig, grow lush veggies, get some fresh air and have some fun with my 6yr old who was major excited to see the plot...


i think all this planning, reading and a negative partner is taking the fun away. I bet he wont complain when his shopping bill is reduced!

i'm going to go now and see if i dream about my allotment for the second night in a row! oh, in my dream, my plot is so lush!

sophie.x

[SarzWix]

Don't worry hun., I think most people who get an allotment have this moment. It's a bit like the baby blues It all hits you in a big whammy, and you get proper over-emotional for a few days
The good news is that once you get stuck in, you'll be fine. It sounds like you've got some important things worked out already - you're absolutely right about the asparagus and soft fruit. Because they'll be in that bed/position for a long time, it's worth getting the prep right from the start, get the bed properly cleared of painful weeds like couch grass (whose roots will happily twine through and round all your fruit and be impossible to get rid of. I know....) and the soil improved with compost etc.. You can plant things like raspberry canes over winter/early spring, so that gives you more time to get prepared.

Yes, I think 3 beds will be good to start with. That was my initial goal too. I managed to get 3 done, and then planted spuds and sweetcorn in 2 beds that were roughly dug, then covered in cardboard, manure, straw and weed fabric. I made holes to plant through and the cover killed most of the weeds, so that it was a lot easier to dig over the next winter.

The whole sun/shelter, north/south bit of planning your plot - don't worry about it. Your plot is what it is, and if it's windy, or shaded, or whatever, you can't change it! The main thing is to take note where the sun is in the morning and where it goes in the afternoon, and if you can, set the beds up so that the morning sun shines on one side of them, and the afternoon sun on the other. If you can't do that because of the way your plot is (mine would have to be diagonal across the plot for instance) then just get as close as you can. You'll get a clue by looking at other plots on the site.

As for unsupportive partners... Mine has temporary enthusiasms for it, but they don't last long... Mostly he acts like a sulky teenager when I ask to him to do anything. I manage 2 plots more or less on my own, so it can be done And at least you get the massive satisfaction all to yourself when you eat a meal that you've grown every single item on the plate (except the meat if you eat it), or when you look at an expanse of plot that is dug, weeded, mucked and full of growing veg. ~'Tis DEFINITELY worth it!


PS. If you are preggers, be bloody careful with the digging!!

[zazen999]

I think our plot is the sameish size and I knew I wanted bed areas and path areas [rather than digging every year and walking on the dug soil] so the first thing I did was to mark out paths with weed fabric. And we covered what beds we weren't using with cardboard to stop the weeds from growing in the meantime.

And then much as you plan to do, just work a bed at a time.

[Two_Sheds]

Sheltered means from the wind, not the sun. I have an exposed site, ie very windy.

Just get digging, get planting. The design stuff will come next year when you have more of an idea what it's all about.

[Nicos]

If you get things wrong don't worry...99% of plants can be resited!

Just enjoy yourself- and learn on the way!

[baby_blue]

Don't worry hun., I think most people who get an allotment have this moment. It's a bit like the baby blues It all hits you in a big whammy, and you get proper over-emotional for a few days :

Yes, I think 3 beds will be good to start with. That was my initial goal too.

As for unsupportive partners... Mine has temporary enthusiasms for it, but they don't last long... Mostly he acts like a sulky teenager when I ask to him to do anything.

PS. If you are preggers, be bloody careful with the digging!!

thankyou so much for your advice! i feel much better knowing i'm not the only one! at least your parter has some enthusiasm, mine has none! although he did say if i needed it he could get me a rotavator for free and would do it for me, so at least thats something! lol.

not preggers anymore, my beautiful boy is 17weeks old and likes sleeping in his pram alot! so hopefully will get to the plot in the week too. cant wait till he is walking and he can join in with my 6yr old too!

I think our plot is the sameish size and I knew I wanted bed areas and path areas [rather than digging every year and walking on the dug soil] so the first thing I did was to mark out paths with weed fabric. And we covered what beds we weren't using with cardboard to stop the weeds from growing in the meantime.

And then much as you plan to do, just work a bed at a time.

great advice, ty. just what i want too. in my head (and my dreams, i dream about my allotment alot!) i know just how it will look! i've got some pegs and string and i'll mark it all out, i think it will help me alot!

Sheltered means from the wind, not the sun. I have an exposed site, ie very windy.

ROFL! i knew i was missing a trick with this one! it all makes sense now!

If you get things wrong don't worry...99% of plants can be resited!

Just enjoy yourself- and learn on the way!

thankyou for your advice, knowing me i think i'll end of moving things alot!

xx

[Snadger]

Try and form a mental image in your mind of how you would like it to be, maybe incorporating individual facets you've seen elsewhere and liked.................then go for it!

[binley100]

Once you get something growing ( even if it's a few radishes) it'll spur you on

[Two_Sheds]

As for unsupportive partners... Mine ...acts like a sulky teenager when I ask to him to do anything.

Oh same here.
He will always wear a 'best' tee shirt and sandals to the plot on the rare occasions I get him to do anything: so that he can moan all week about nettle stings and compost stains

I like having the plot to myself though, it's my little escape, my bolt-hole

[SarzWix]

I agree Two_Sheds. And I actually get more helpful help from my nine-year-old daughter - she can be left on her own to weed and plant things now

The OH is good for strimming though - I can never get the flamin' thing started!

[kentish girl]

My Hubby hates gardening, he will mow the grass & dig if I plead for help otherwise the plot is mine

[Snadger]

Oh same here.
He will always wear a 'best' tee shirt and sandals to the plot on the rare occasions I get him to do anything: so that he can moan all week about nettle stings and compost stains

I like having the plot to myself though, it's my little escape, my bolt-hole

Ditto...........

[Alison]

The OH is good for strimming though - I can never get the flamin' thing started!

Ditto - if he's not able to strim then I end up pulling it / cutting by hand

Actually sometimes an "in theory" helpful person can be more of a pain as you feel you need to consult them all the time (read any post about my ex lottie partner) whereas if it's all yours then you can make all the decisions and have it how you want to and not compromise.

[Jameslovell]

Good luck with it. Once you get started and have a few things growing you will feel great. Give it a few years and you will be saying you don't have enough space!

If you want some asparagus seeds, let me know and I can send some to you. You can sow them in pots this year and plant out next year once you have a bed prepared for them

[haza1981]

I know your frustration. I took my last plot on in October last year and had lots of work just getting a fence up Ect. So I had to wait all through winter before the gardening started. Luckily for me when that time came around I got a much better plot. For me being new also the best advice I can give is wait till you get there as too much thinking now is soo frustrating as you just want to get sorted. Once your down you will have a good idea of what you want to do. As for time i'm sure you'll be fine. I work full time and still get down the plot loads. Obviously it wont be as easy with a new born but I'm sure you'll be fine. After the initial hard work of getting everything to a point when you can start its a case of little and often. I often just go down to have a quick look and a water now(end up doing a bit of weeding also). It's great once you get stuck in and if your anthing like me you'll be taking every opportunity to get down and see how things are getting along.