First on a new plot

[princess_potter]

Hi everyone,

I have finally been successful in getting an allotment plot and am very excited because I am the first to go on it! The site has only been open for a year and my plot was originally given to the primary school but they haven't had a chance to use it. It is a small community group that have set these up so there are only 8 plots and they don't seem very big.
I am very keen to get going but realise that I am unlikely to get anything in the ground now. The plot, although never worked is quite tidy; it has shin length grass and a few docs invading the rear but otherwise weed free. My question is whether being the first to use it will make a difference to how I have to prepare the ground? I would like to make raised beds; will I have to work the ground first or can I just add cardboard and compost to the top for the winter? It was a fallow field before the community group bought it to build a playground, allotments and a community space.
Many thanks for your help in advance.

[Bigmallly]

Hello Princess & welcome to the vine, what a great time to be getting a new plot. You'll have all winter to prepare not only the ground but what & how you want to grow. You could make a small bed now & put in some Autumn Onion sets & Garlic. Try & get hold of some well rotted manure or compost & spread that on your beds, you will then have the startings of some nice soil come spring.

[Greenleaves]

Welcome to the vine PP....^^^ as the big man says, set yourself bite size chunks when you start to clear it or it will be like the Forth Bridge, no sooner you have finished the weeds will be emerging again. Most importantly though, enjoy it

[teakdesk]

Hi Princess Potter... I read your name as Princess Plotter which i thought was very apt! My daughter was always called Princess Picky or Princess Perfect as a child and I instantly remembered some lovely memories of her, so thank you!

As BM says, plan your plot carefully now. I like beds 4 feet wide especially if making raised beds. You don't need to put edges round the beds now but could do later.

Crops like runner beans can stay in the same place year on year but others benetfit from rotation - there are lots of threads on rotation - so if you can have 3, 6 or 9 identical beds you can easily do a three year rotation.

If you can lift the turves and stack them upside down they will produce a lovely seed compost.

There are things you can plant now but as said, digging and covering with manure or cardboard is good now if you can't plant up a bed.


Good luck, post some pictures!

[Patsy]

Whichever way you go about it ,working on a piece at a time or covering with cardboard and compost, just make sure to dig out any perennial weeds like dandelions and docks first as they have a habit of coming up through any thing. Good luck ad enjoy your plot.

[princess_potter]

Thank you everyone for your advice. I spent my first day on the plot yesterday and although there isn't a huge difference at first glance I did make big steps in planning and made the acquaintance of the farmer next door who says I can have plenty of manure when I need it! So...next newbie question...I know I can't use manure straight from the stable but how long do I need to leave it and should be enclosed in a bin or left out in the air?

I am going to attempt to add a before and after pic but am just as new to these forums as I am to gardening! I couldn't find anyone to lend me a petrol strimmer so the patchy grass was all sheared on hands and knees! I have managed to mark out 7 large beds (2.4x1.2m) and 3 small fruit beds.

[Bigmallly]

Good job PP, I notice you've already got a scarecrow in place...............

[chris]

I'd dig the docks out, then cover the bed area with cardboard, and dump a load of manure on top. Next spring the grass will be dead underneath (assuming it's not couch) and then you can either turn in and remove any weed roots or just plant up.