New allotment renter - advice needed :-)

[Frith]

Hello.

I've just started renting a local allotment and would be glad of any advice. At the moment it has a shed and a pool! There is a paved area outside of the shed and the last person on it had 30-40 rabbits in the shed and in runs so it is quite smelly with rabbit wee and lots of sawdust about.

So far we've just dug most of it over. There was nothing in it except about 10 ancient cabbage plants and some bean sticks.

Hopefully I have attached a photo!

I am really stuck on how to divide it into beds. All I know is I want a soft fruit area (blackcurrants, gooseberries and plenty of raspberries) and to grow pumpkins and butternut squash. Carrots, parnips and peas also good but we hardly ever eat potatoes and everyone else seems to have rows of them!

Is there a "right" way to plan?

Thanks.

[rustylady]

The right way to plan is just what you've done so far.

Decide what you want to grow (which you've done) and then find out what conditions those things like / need.

[Hazel at the Hill]

Welcome to the Vine, and well done on your new plot.

• Only grow what you want to eat.
• only make your beds 2 x the length of your arm (that's about 4' wide unless you are an orang utan)
• put aside an area for permanent plants (asparagus, soft fruit, rhubarb
• put aside an area for compost bins
• make sure you have a water butt to catch water from the shed roof (although it's hard to believe you will need it at the mo!)
• sort veg into a 'families' and group these together, next year move each family group round to the next bed to have a stab at rotation (I have four beds - potatoes, legumes/brassicas, 'miscellaneous', roots. Next year everything move up a notch)
• although don't get hung up on rotation - at the minimum make sure you don't follow like with like
• leave a 'messy patch' by the pond to encourage wildlife.

[Frith]

Thanks, both.

The pool has some goldfish in and is leaking so I am thinking of re-siting it and making it a bit deeper.

At the moment I am thinking soft fruit and raspberry canes on the left of the path (on the photo), flowers and herbs by the front fence/gate and runner beans down the right hand side.

Courgettes, pumpkins and butternut squash around the "patio" area then 3 beds in the middle.

(My brother grew 5 butternut squash plants that spread over his patio and is still eating them now!)

Middle beds would be carrots, parnsips, celeriac, turnips, peas, garlic and onions.

[rustylady]

Summer fruiting raspberries grow quite tall, so would be good against a fence.

[mrgrower]

What time of day was the picture taken as it is in full sun? If you get full sun all day and your soil is good you have many options.

Welcome to the vine and more pics and even a vlog maybe?

Mr G

[rustylady]

Whereabouts are you Frith? If you add your location (nearest town) to your profile it will show on your posts.

Can help a lot when giving advice as growing conditions even with the UK vary so much.

[Frith]

Thanks, everyone.

My allotment is in Kidderminster (Worcs) and it was about 2.30pm when that photo was taken, last weekend. It doesn't seem to be overshadowed by anything and no solid fences casting a shadow either.

The soil seems good (to me!), quite sandy.

I've been reading about soft fruit today and that is what I am going to tackle first. One book suggests getting the plot ready then covering it with membrane and planting the fruit through that and putting mulch over the top? Has anyone done that?

Going to plant peppers, tomatoes and basil later to go on the kitchen windowsill for now.

Haven't been up since last weekend due to the weather (I have to cross the river Severn to get into Kidderminster so that is an expedition at the moment) so I hope the shed hasn't blown away.

[Hazel at the Hill]

Oh - I forgot one - only sow in short rows.

The traditional growers at the Hill sow 20' rows of everything at a time, so they have - for example - 20 iceberg lettuces all ready at the same time. The spring onions sown in this fashion are particularly impressive , as you get about 100 bunches of spring onions out of a 20' row.

[Guykp57]

Everything Hazel said is spot on, most important to only grow what you like otherwise you will waste so much time and money. Enjoy what you reap. P.s Welcome to the Vine.


Sent from my iPad using Grow Your Own Forum mobile app

[Sheneval]

Oh - I forgot one - only sow in short rows.

The traditional growers at the Hill sow 20' rows of everything at a time, so they have - for example - 20 iceberg lettuces all ready at the same time. The spring onions sown in this fashion are particularly impressive , as you get about 100 bunches of spring onions out of a 20' row.

I am currently working on a welcome leaflet for new plot holders and I have decided, with your permission, to include your notes - and there is no point in you objecting as I will not be looking at this thread again.

[Bill HH]

Your answer is in this thread, take advantage of the wealth of advice from knowlegable gardeners that is here for the asking. But also check out you tube, literaly thousands of how to do it vidios, "Allotment diary" "Seans allotment" are two I watch regularly.
The smelly shed just needs cleaning well and then paint it with preservative, that will rid you of the wee smell but replace it with the preservative smell lol. Oh and get a comfy chair.

[Veggielot]

There isn't a right or wrong way to plan an a plot, you will probably get nearly as many suggestions as post. You have already done the first part deciding what you want to grow.

Get all the suggestions you can and then choose those that suits you.

[Frith]

Well, I dug a patch about 3m x 8m today (in the sunshine!) and that is going to be the soft fruit patch. I can always extend it a bit (lengthways) if necessary.

I've ordered some weed control membrane to cover the area and have bought one each of the following: gooseberry (Leveller AGM), blackcurrant (Ben Sareck), redcurrant (Red Lake), blackberry (Merton thornless) and a josta berry. I've got 2 year old plants and will put them at the back then cuttings can be put at the front.

Also discovered quite a few raspberry canes at the back of the dug area (by the fence) so will see how they go and perhaps add a few in a row there.

I've got the seed trays ready so when I've got a minute later on tonight I am going to plant peppers, tomatoes and dahlias!

[alldigging]

Compost all that sawdust! Don't waste it!