Finally, an allotment (I hope!)

[TheChemist]

Tonight an Allotment Agreement is being posted to me. After much hassling of my local council, putting us both on three separate plot waiting lists and then accepting I might not get one...I found one.

I rang (twice) and emailed (three times) a local parish. I'm unparished but they have two spare full plots and two half plots available. Went up today for a look and this is what they're offering me:



It's South sloping. The one next to it is also unoccupied but a little more lumpy and weedy. The one on the other side is well loved and has the nearest water outlet.

Whaddya think? I'm used to container growing on my flat South(ish) facing garden. Will the slope be a problem?

It's a very awkward time of year (both gardening wise and in our work/academic calendars) to get a lottie. Bit worried...

[bario1]

Looks ideal!

[veggiechicken]

If you think its too much for you at the moment ask about one of the half plots.

[sparrow100]

Firstly congrats! Persistence pays off...

I wouldn't worry about the timing. I got mine in March 3 years ago, March 20th in fact. Mine's also sloping to the north east, though not as much as your picture. I don't have any problems growing any amount of stuff. And if you are facing north on the picture the trees won't be a problem either - I have a blackthorn hedge along the south side of mine.

The picture looks like the plot has been terraced after a fashion, so you have the bones of a structure to work with. Personally I'd work within that for the first year to get used to how the land is, how it drains, whether there are any problematic areas etc. And then do permanent changes if you want to. I'd also ditch things like spuds & onions on the plot in the first year in favour of getting ground ready for crops which follow later in the year and that I like better like sweetcorn etc. It'd take some of the pressure you sound like you are feeling away - after all this is supposed to be fun, not a chore!

How much of it do you need to have cultivated in your first year? For us it's 50% in the first year and 75% in subsequent years.

Good luck, and don't forget to tell us how you are getting on....

[Mark Lottie]

That looks like a great plot.

A slope is good for drainage and water catchment. Maybe at the bottom you will get a slight frost pocket but I see no major problems.

If you think you can plant most of it within a few years then take it

[Andiwiddow]

congrats Chemist

just like everyone on here will tell you and more than likely agree with me just enjoy every minute of it and dont rush into anything just plod on and do everything the way you dreamed it to be because in the end its your plot and you can do as you please

[TheChemist]

I'm waiting for the agreement but in the rulebook they don't mention a percentage and timeframe. I was hoping 50% would be fine for the first year!! There's two of us and OH is very fit and strong so hopefully the digging will be managed.

I've already got tiny sweetcorn seedlings (was hoping to try a three sisters bed as an experiment), cucs I will keep here unless I move the blow away up there, herbs I'll keep here for now, would like to aim for some peas (already have lots of little plants in blowaway), beans, some easy leafy things, maybe some root veg. I'm trying not to be too ambitious but I am just so excited!

Also have rhubarb, a baby raspberry and strawberry plants all potted and ready to move.

No one up there has a shed, all their tools are outside in homemade stands and stores. It's a relatively sleepy safe area which is great, but I need to think about tool storage. 6X4 sheds are allowed but I don't want to start by just dumping a load of money into the project - graft first!

My main worry is a plan. I was considering a shed/store (eventually) and maybe a blowaway/cold frame at the top, along with a water butt and compost (hoping BF will make me one as I recently bought him a really fancy drill...).

Then lower down perhaps fruit trees, and below that 4/6/8 beds. Eventually Id love terraced raised beds but until then, perhaps some twine and pegs, flip the turf and just try to get things growing. This year is only my third growing year so I may be back frequently with silly questions.

[TheChemist]

Sparrow - the hedge is bang on North (used my compass)!

Veggiechicken - we optimistically think that we can manage it, but as there are two more available I hope I'm not too selfish in thinking I should grab it, then request to split it (which they say they are happy to do) if it does seem to be too much.

I'm bouncing off the walls - OH is trying to work and I keep bursting in with another suggestion about layout or how to tackle it! Going to make him lemon sponge pudding to apologise for my bounciness!

[Bren In Pots]

Congrats on getting your plot

It sounds like your heads full of ideas so I hope you manage to get some sleep tonight

[Greenleaves]

With a full plot you may want to consider a polytunnel if rules allow

[TheChemist]

With a full plot you may want to consider a polytunnel if rules allow

I'd adore a polytunnel! I'll see what they say.

Bren in Pots - Not sure I will manage too! I'm so so excited! Don't think I've been this excited since I was awaiting the birth of my daughter!

My windowsill seedling nursery must be expanded. Immediately.

[Spunky]

Congratulations! Just out of interest what we're you're plans to tackle the grass?

[TheChemist]

Congratulations! Just out of interest what we're you're plans to tackle the grass?

I'm definitely open to any ideas, as we have little idea what we're doing, but we were thinking of choosing one half to put aside for now and cutting and flipping the turf (I couldn't see any weeds, but we will check!) and covering it in weed prevention fabric to let it rot down whilst we get on with the rest. We have chickens at home, so maybe transport some fresh poo to spread and let rot for a few months?

In the "this year" half, I'd like to mark out beds and clear by hand. I'm still trying to gather info and formulate an action plan, though (and still expecting the plot to be whipped out from under me somehow!)

ETA: Really interested in Superprouts no dig allotment. Mr. Chemist's mate owns an arable farm and is very kind so we have a free supply of straw. So many exciting possibilities!

[Bigmallly]

If it's agreeable with the committee, make a caged area that you can move around & take the chooks along when you go, you know how quick they can turn over the ground.

[TheChemist]

If it's agreeable with the committee, make a caged area that you can move around & take the chooks along when you go, you know how quick they can turn over the ground.

I had never even considered taking them on their holibobs! They certainly turn over turf fast between the five of them (currently only awake because they were 10 mins ago on my third attempt to shut them in - naughty girls!)

Is there a thread for quick and silly questions? Or shall I post them here?

Someone above mentioned a possible frost pocket at the bottom of the slope. What sort of plants would you plan to put here? Would salads do ok, perhaps with some sort of plant grown nearby to shade them? And then potentially in the winter I could put something hardy and leafy in it's place.

I have a picture of the "final product"...it's just where to start!

Bed 1: Potatoes and tomatoes

Bed 2 : Legumes - I'd like to build a Munty frame and grow salad beneath

Bed 3: Brassicas

Bed 4: Roots and alliums

Bed 5: Fruits - so far I have a baby raspberry, a baby rhubarb (I'm going to buy another 2 plants I think), and some strawbs. I'm still fuzzy about how this arrangement will work

Bed 6: Two sisters (corn and squashes - permanent?)

Beds 7/8: Asparagus/artichoke/jerusalem artichoke. Considering the jerusalems will grow so tall, I'll need to think about this carefully. I probably won't bother with them this year but I need to decide where I'll plant them to use their sheltering to the fullest, without impeding on sun loving crops.

My biggest source of confusion is how to decide how big to make the beds! Corn should to be square for pollination, or perhaps I can have two plots, one above the other, that are half the width of the allotment.

I need to measure up properly and visit with bountiful amounts of string!

Other things on my wishlist are:

• A tool store/small shed

• A wooden, three section compost bin (this is probably BFs domain. I'm thinking a pallet jobbie). I'd like a bit of comfrey in front to cover the bin and provide fertiliser.
• A coldframe/greenhouse. A blowaway will do for now but I like fiddling about with things, and sourcing them, so ideally I'd like to make a cold frame using old windows

• Flowers - I've never really grown flowers seriously before. I'd like to try some in the future so I can have an attractive, as well as functional, allotment but again I'm putting that on the back burner.

• Asparagus, artichokes and jerusalem artichokes, but I'm not sure how that fits into my plan and I'm definitely going to forget about them for the time being! As the jerusalems will shelter crops I'll have to have a think about sunlight I suppose!