My first plot. Pics, plans and feedback please.

[Jackbb]

Thought I would quickly say hi to all on here and announce that I have recently acquired my very first allotment!

Been lurking on this (wonderful) forum for a good few weeks now slowly picking up some very useful tips. I now feel sufficiently armed with the requisite knowledge to get cracking on my ‘patch’ as soon as possible.

Have tinkled with GYO for a few years (successfully in the main) having installed raised beds in my garden at my old property before moving to Lamberhurst in Kent just a few months ago – luckily the allotment is literally a minutes’ walk from my front door!

Proudly took my wife and son to the plot last night to take some photos and to stand and try and formulate my 1st year strategy. My plot measures 25x35 foot, as you can see from the pictures some of it is partially covered the rest is overtaken by couch grass, nettles and brambles. The whole plot gently slopes (faces south!) and I am the very top right-hand corner plot. Perfect.

One piece of overriding advice picked up on the forum was not to take on too much in the first year so with that in mind I will only look to cultivate the areas that have been sufficiently covered with sheeting and some carpet and look to turn that over, mulch and get some veggies in as soon as possible. The areas covered with thick couch grass I will cut back and cover (sheet/carpet) until early next year.

I have attached a rough plan that I sketched at home last night on the possible lay-out of my plot; I have split these into 4x4ft areas to ensure that I have easy access to plant, tend and weed. Would love some feedback from you all to see if this looks like a feasible and achievable target for my 1st year and if the lay out of my plot looks to be the right approach? Any ideas as to what I should plant in these beds would be great; thinking of onions, garlic, peas, corn, carrots, and beetroot to get me started.

One quick question; as you can see from one of the photos there is rhubarb plant happily growing up amongst some nettles and weeds. Would love to see if I can rescue and cultivate it this year if you think there’s no reason not to?

Look forward to your feedback.

[rustylady]

One quick question; as you can see from one of the photos there is rhubarb plant happily growing up amongst some nettles and weeds. Would love to see if I can rescue and cultivate it this year if you think there’s no reason not to?

What do you mean by rescue? All you need to do for now is remove the weeds from around it and it will grow and produce lovely rhubarb. Next winter, if you wish, you could move it. By the way, a very warm welcome to the Vine.

[WendyC]

Congratulations on your new plot. I would agree with Rustylady, no reason why you shouldn't get a good crop off your rhubarb this year. Weed a bit around it to give it some space to grow. I don't use raise beds but I'd hold fire before putting in permanent beds this year until you have worked out how you are going to use the plot. It would be time consuming and expensive to put in beds only to find they don't quite work for you. One plot holder on my site put in beds last year and never planted a thing! It's the kind of job you can do over the winter when not much else is going on. You'll have had a season on your plot and will have more of an idea of how big the beds will need to be. 4' wide does seem to be a standard width but I think you might want longer than 4' or a lot will be wasted as paths. Good luck.

[green fingered]

Hello JackBB have you thought of growing some pumpkins for Halloween to carve out with your son and to get him interested in GYO and the allotment. My kids love helping also any excuse for wellies and and getting muddy

[Jackbb]

Hello JackBB have you thought of growing some pumpkins for Halloween to carve out with your son and to get him interested in GYO and the allotment. My kids love helping also any excuse for wellies and and getting muddy

Absolutely! One of the key reasons for the plot was to get my son involved. Hes not even two yet but keeps telling everyone about daddys allotment! I could cover the couch grass area with cardboard and cut and plant there i suppose? When do the go in?

[Jackbb]

Wendy - you got me thinking about my path - in hindsight maybe i should just run one patch up along the centre?! I want to build one raised bed for carrots as i beleive the soil is clay depsite years of apparent mulching etc it still might not be the best soil for them to thrive?

[green fingered]

Sow indoors and then transplant when all risk of frosts have pasted because they are rather tender to the cold. Mulch on top of the cardboard to help rot down and also it will slowly feed the pumpkins they are very hungry crops but they will love the sun on your south plot.

[WendyC]

I think one central path might be a good start. Having said I don't have raised beds I do have one! I use it for carrots and parsnips. I fill it with old compost from last year's pots. It's a link-a-bord one which I move each year depending on where the roots are going.

[arpoet]

Bung a few dozen tatties in and let them break up the soil for you.

[SarzWix]

I agree that covering up the worst bits for a year is a good idea, however it doesn't mean you can't also grow in it at the same time If you cover it with a thick enough layer of mulch, you can plant some crops through it. What I did with my bad patches was chop all the weeds down, cover with well rotted manure/compost, then cardboard, then straw, then weed control fabric. Left it to settle for a few weeks, then cut holes through the fabric and push through into the soil. I planted squash, pumpkins, courgettes, sweetcorn, beans and potatoes that way and had a pretty decent crop from them. The weeds were a lot easier to dig out afterwards as well If you can't find manure or straw, you can also use shredded paper, layered with grass clippings on top of the cardboard instead of under it.
Your nicely dug over beds can then be used for root crops and onions etc.

[binley100]

Wot she ^^^said......plus bin the carpet , nasty 'orrible stuff . And welcome to the vine.

[phil the shed]

take your time and welcome to the vine............

[veggiechicken]

Hi Jack and welcome

[Martin H]

I'm jealous, I'd love to be starting another allotment. My first (actually my only) allotment was covered in couch grass when I acquired it. My advice is...

The first year, concentrate on weed control and fertility. Keep after the couch grass, even when you think you've got it all out you've actually missed loads and it will soon be back.

Plant stuff to find out what grows well but steer away from things that don't compete well (onions, carrots) - too many failures is disheartening. Get some potatoes chitting somewhere cool and light, so that you can bung them in as and when you've cleared a section any time up to late May. You may find yourself harvesting tatties that have been speared by couch grass roots though!

I remember runner beans, sweetcorn and sprouts doing well that first year to, all started in pots so that they are a decent size when planted out.

I don't like rhubarb so never grow it, but that clump looks well healthy and will be just fine.

Good luck and keep posting pics!

[Two_Sheds]

I could cover the couch grass area with cardboard and cut and plant there i suppose?

No, don't try and plant anything with active couch grass. It does NOT work. Cover it until the grass is severely weakened, then dig out each and every scrap of root

I want to build one raised bed for carrots as i beleive the soil is clay

It's stony soil that's bad for carrots, not clay per se



... And, what do you mean by leaving a quarter "fallow"? Do you mean that's the couchy bit which will be covered up?
You're not intending just to leave it as bare soil for a year?