What should a novice gardener grow in their first year on allotment?

[Does the Cooking]

According to the Christmas pressies from my children I', growing coriander, parsley, onions, spring onions and cauliflower! However, I don't wish to run before I can walk. What would people advise me to grow in my first year. My experience is limited to growing herbs in small pots and growing beans and tomatoes years ago.

Does it make any real difference whcih seed supplier I go to. I quite fancy 'Seeds of Italy' because I want to grow basil! Is it too early to be thinking about growing 'heritage crops'? (i.e veggies etc that you can't buy in the shops)

[bubblewrap]

Things that are easy to grow
Potatoes
Runner Beans
Spinach
Carrots
Swede
Beetroot
There's nothing worse than trying to grow something fancy first off & failing.
Anybody should be able to grow runner beans & potatoes.

[greenishfing]

If it's your first year on the allotment a lot might depend what state yor allotment is in and what your soil is like. If you've plenty of space get some potatoes in. I think the most important thing is to grow things that you like to eat. A few years ago I fancied the idea of Jerusalem artichokes, then found I didn't like them and spent 2 years getting rid of them.

[Hazel at the Hill]

I agree with BW's list (except for carrots - I can't grow a damn carrot) but make sure that you chose things that you actually like to eat too! No good growing loads of (e.g.) beetroot if you can't stand the stuff!

I'd add lettuce to the list too. I make sure I grow a variety that I recognise - like little gem, say - because when I have grown 'mixed leaves' before, I have the sneaking suspicion that I have been eating a greater variety of 'mixed leaves' than are included in the seed packet, as I don't always know what weeds look like!

[WendyC]

If you follow another current thread, cauliflowers are not the easiest to start on! I would suggest early potatoes, runner beans, French beans (climbing or dwarf) radish, beetroot, lettuce or salad leaves. Onions can be easier from sets as seeds can take a long time. Worth a try if you already have the seed though. Slugs and snails will be your biggest enemies especially with lettuce and beans. Just a few ideas off the top of my head, depends a bit what you like to eat.
Have grown coriander and don't remember being too tricky. As from where you buy from, again there is a recent thread on this subject, the concensus seemed to be cheaper seeds are a good as big brands but might be worth paying more for something a bit different.
Good luck on your new plot.

[veggiechicken]

As to which seed supplier to go to - in lots of ways you may as well buy the more common varieties while you are experimenting - as they are cheap and cheerful! Once you know what you like to grow and eat, try some of the more interesting and heritage seeds.
There are many sorts of basil too - you'll probably want to grow that in a pot rather than on the allotment as it can be a bit tender.

[binley100]

The first thing we got growing on our lottie was broad beans ........we sowed some in pots to plant out and put some seeds in the ground as well. The excitement of seeing the first seedling pop up at the lottie was extreme
Must say that sometimes what one person finds dificult another finds easy so just go with whatever you fancy.......oh and courgettes are usually easy and very productive (weather and snails permitting )

[Feral007]

Rainbow chard - can't kill the stuff here! I do like to eat it, but must admit we are getting a little sick of it now Ditto courgettes - even if you don't like to eat them, they are so prolific you feel like a real gardener!
I'm growing potatoes and corn this year as well and they are going great guns even considering the weather.
I'm not good with carrots either, altho last year we had tiny globe carrots and they were great!

[vikkib]

The first thing I stuck in on the plot was some rhubarb, closely followed by some strawberry plants and then some spuds.

Part of it was to do with what we liked to eat and part of it was down to what gifted plants (and random surplus seed potatoes) my kind friends and family gave me!

If I were you I'd post a list of things you like to eat and cook with and let the wise Grapes* offer advise on those things!

* (I don't count myself among their number! )

[zazen999]

I'd say choose 10 things you like to eat and go from there.

The main thing is to make sure that you cover any ground not being used, with cardboard, whilst you get the plot whipped into shape.

[Feral007]

Just a small thought after reading about the rhubarb - don't grow anything your dog likes to dig up. Kelpie's like to dig up rhubarb, a lot!

[Two_Sheds]

I quite fancy 'Seeds of Italy' because I want to grow basil!

Basil isn't easy ~ I can't grow it.

... but you don't need to use SoI, everyone sells basil seeds.

[binley100]

I can grow basil, it's radish I can't grow .......or spring onions

[WendyC]

I managed spring onions last year for the first time, they were much slower growing than I imagined they would be.

[~kirsty~]

I'd start with spuds and beans and then in the summer I'm aiming for courgettes (I found these easy if started in pots as it stops slugs eating the seedlings). I've just taken on a new plot but mine has never been dug ever, so I don't anticipate much this year, and aiming for a reasonable year next year, and bumper year in about 5-6 years.