Confidence to start on plot!!!

[Greensmen]

Hi all, I took on a plot at the end of the summer near Leatherhead, but as yet have not done anything with it, mainly due to work commitments, family commitments and planning a wedding! (Got married on 15th December) also I am a complete novice.

Now I have some time to make a start, I would appreciate any advice, my initial plan is to replace the shed (it is in pieces), I have already bought some replacement glass for the greenhouse so i want to fix that up, my biggest concern is clearing the plot and also what to do with it all, it seems a bit overwhelming. I know I won't have loads of time in the future but at the moment I have a bit of spare time to commit to it (up to 1 day a week). I have a 100m x 3m roll of black terram, so I was going to cover 3/4 of the plot with that and just clear and use a 1/4 of the plot until I have more confidence and time.

I really have a strong desire to grow my own vegetables and as my daughter grows up I want her to enjoy it as well, I just feel like the task ahead is possibly a bit to big!

Any thoughts or advice will be gratefully received

[Thelma Sanders]

That sounds like a good plan - you can always grow things like courgettes, squash and pumpkins through holes cut through the terram. Then you're actually cultivating more than a quarter of the plot when plot inspection time comes around. [lots of sites have rules about how much has to be under cultivation - check your agreement]

When the weather allows a start you can clear some, and plant it.....then uncover a bit more and plant it etc. Eventually you get there - Good Luck!

[Aberdeenplotter]

get as much dug as possible. if you won't be able to look after what you plant, plant crops that don't need much attention like spuds. If you are only to be using a quarter of the plot, that is really a waste.

[Feral007]

Yes, sounds like you've got the right idea with covering a lot of it, and starting with an amount you can manage. It's so much easier to start small and increase bit by bit. Otherwise it gets a bit overwhelming.

I'm struggling with the sheet volume I have atm. But that's my fault! I did know better but couldn't help myself

Have a look at people's blogs on here. There are a lot of allotment blogs, and threads and they are very interesting reading, and useful ideas to get you started, and even better what to avoid. You can save a lot of time and energy by letting other people make your mistakes! Best of luck. And congrats on the wedding.

[Hazel at the Hill]

Having a BIIIIIIIIIIIIIG space is completely daunting. I found this although I only have a half plot of about 25'by 60'.

My eureka moment was splitting the plot into beds. I marked out eight (raised) four foot by twenty foot beds, (plus extra smaller beds for soft fruit/asparagus etc). It means that I can spend - say - half an hour at the Hill and dig over a couple of beds and really feel that I've achieved something.

Of course, making up the eight beds was quite a task, but the principle is good for your plot too - use the weed cover in - say - 4' strips to cover the plot with a gap between each (as a path which you can cover with gravel/chippings/soaked newspaper etc) then you can uncover each 'bed' at your leisure to dig over this winter, then smother with manure/grass cuttings etc if you have them (re-cover with the weed suppressant if not) then you will be ready to rock and roll in spring to sow or plant out.

I'd be planting plenty of potatoes in your beds in the first year as they are knockout for breaking up the soil and smothering weeds so (within reason) you can plant and forget about them. Also, planting out great rambling squash/pumpkin - they are wildly productive, also smother any weeds and will get your plot moving the right way!

Don't let the plot daunt you - you're fortunate to have the space, so dive in!

[Feral007]

AP it's only a waste if you never use the other 3/4 of the plot. Seems like people get overwhelmed at the size when they go from 'no garden' to a 'huge plot.'

If they cover now, and pull weeds when they can, and start some seedlings at home, it wouldn't be long before they're complaining of not enough space. I think it must be very hard to go from nothing to that size. Especially if it's overgrown.

[alldigging]

Work out how to spend a bit of time on when you think you have no time.

You have to be there fairly regularly to keep an eye on things for
- pest control
- watering
- weeding
- replacing weed fabric when it's blown away
- keeping on top of things
- advancing the plot

[Newton]

Good luck whatever you decide.......it is very rewarding to grow your own. In many ways...get stuck in and get ome seedlings on the go at home. Chillis, leeks, onions stc........even some salad.

Once your seedlings are growing your gardening cultivating gene will take over and force you to prepare the ground in readiness.........

You will soon run out of space.......

[Aberdeenplotter]

AP it's only a waste if you never use the other 3/4 of the plot.

Sorry to disagree with you Feral. If someone has a plot and only intends to cultivate a quarter of it that is keeping someone else from being able to grow their own veg. I know there will be a huge amount of work involved in getting the plot ready for growing but that is what one signs up to when taking on an allotment.

[Two_Sheds]

I took on a plot at the end of the summer ... but as yet have not done anything with it

ah

my biggest concern is clearing the plot

That comes top of your list: ahead of sheds & greenhouses.

I have a bit of spare time to commit to it (up to 1 day a week).

Sorry to be the bearer of negative news, but that's really not enough time for an allotment, even an up-and-running-fully-planted one.

If you are only to be using a quarter of the plot, that is really a waste.

It might be more realistic for Greensmen to accept half or a quarter of a plot? Get that planted up and running, then get more space if time permits?

[WendyC]

Is your plot a full plot? Could you get someone to help even if it is just until you are up and running? New OH? I think the key to keeping on top of things is regular visits to your plot. So often I have seen newcomers spend lots of time and energy over a weekend or two, clearing and planting and then being surprised when they come back a month later to find that Mother Nature has not stood still and the weeds are knee high. This was true of the plot next to me last season. The couple rotavated, planted some plants and seeds. Then we had a warm spell (yes therewas one !) Weed seeds brought to the surface germinated rapidly and the surface baked. When one of the chaps came one evening he couldn't get his fork in the ground. As a last resort the plot was covered again and remains like that today. So I would encourage regular visits and cover what you can't manage at the moment. If after a time you really find you can't manage it all then perhaps you need to see if the next person on the waiting list would like half? Good luck with your new venture.

[binley100]

If you cover with cardboard then you can plant rambling things like squashes through it and leave them pretty much to get on woth things while you concentrate on clearing and planting other areas. Some of my plot is still covered with cardboard but its still productive cos it gets planted through ........

[Greensmen]

Thanks for your comments, I do plan to use the full plot eventually (yes Wendy it is a full plot) but this may take a few years, where my allotment is there are at least 15 empty plots so I know I wont be stopping anyone from having one, I am very fortunate that I work for a specialist greens company so can get many things for free to help with my plot (wood, fencing, wire, turf, gravel, slabs, plants, etc etc) , I am sure once I get started I will be ok.

I have a couple of mates from work who are going to come down and spend the day with me helping to clear it and putting up a couple of compost areas (I have the about 15 pallets to make 2 compost bins), plus I have a load of sleepers to use for raised beds, I think splitting it into beds is the best option for me.

I already feel more confident just from coming on here, I am excited about the prospect of growing things and the physical side of it is a must as I am about to cancel my gym membership. I always used to get very envious whenever I saw allotments so now I finally have one I am determined to make it work plus the cost of food is getting silly! I just hope I can manage my time well enough to keep things going and eventually as I grow things and learn more I can expand the plot.

I know I will be a regular on here, so thanks in advance, Im sure I will be back with more posts very soon!

[veggiechicken]

Hi Greensmen and welcome. Devote the time that you would have spent at the gym to your allotment!
Money saved on gym membership = money to spend on seeds and one heck of a lot more besides + money saved on growing your own veggies. You'll be very wealthy and fit by the end of the year!!

[Lazgaot]

Greensmen, how big is your plot? I've seen allotments covered in carpet for years and it's a real shame as its relatively easy to get on top of a plot it tackled right.
You'll need to commit more than 1 day per week to start with to get it in order but then if you do it right you can cut back on the hours quite a bit. Consider a technique called No-Digging, its a real time saver but you have to be really thorough at the start. Also have read of Supersprout's thread which should be Stickied at the top of the page.

Good luck!