Plot 1B - starting out top tips?

[1Bee]

We've finally (finally!) got an allotment. I've been growing in pots and tiny beds in the equally tiny front garden for years, but now we've come to the top of the waiting list and have signed up for a half plot.

So, with hindsight, what is the one thing you wished you'd done, or hadn't done, when you started out? I'd be really grateful for your wisdom!

About the plot:- It's roughly 8 or 9 metres square, and, according to parish council minutes and google maps (I've been sneaking!) hasn't been cultivated in years. It's recently been leveled by a digger and looks to be good quality soil. There's water on site, but nothing else - no compost heaps, storage, toilet, bark chippings, manure.
On the other hand, there's not much in the way of rules, either, so as long as we're willing, working and trying, I don't think anyone will be on our back.

It's a five minute drive away, so we're desperate for a shed, but we're being realistic and want to keep our expectations low for the first year - concentrate on putting down membrane for paths, tackling weeds, bringing some space into cultivation, having fun, and feeding the soil. And soul.

I'd like to get potatoes and leeks in this year, and maybe courgettes and squashes, which are my secret crush.

We have a pre-schooler who loves being outside (preferably wet and muddy) so we'd need to make sure there was space for him to enjoy, too. We're thinking of growing a bean teepee for him.... Also, because of him, our first priority will be picking over the site for broken glass, as there's a lot of it on the other half of the plot.

I am RIDICULOUSLY excited, but also pretty scared we've taken on too much. I don't want to fail at this!

[crannman]

hi dig over a small area plant spuds at least something will be growing . then take your time on the rest of the plot had mine 3yrs its a ever changing thing most of al enjoy don't try and do it all at once

[Kristen]

The best thing in your favour is that the time is right to be sowing & growing things. Many newbies start sowing seeds too early and then they get killed by late frost, or divorced because they can't see out of any windowsill in the house!!

I'd advise against rotavating as it will chop up roots of pernicious weeds, and all the bits will grow.

If the plot is a wilderness I, personally, would make a one-time application of Glyphosate based weedkiller (and a second one two weeks later on anything that was missed, or wasn't dying already) to get a flying start. Opinions vary on that of course, but I personally don't think it is any different/worse that the contamination on vegetables I buy in the supermarket (Organic excepted) or eat in a restaurant or round a friend's house.
The usual advice for newbies for Year One includes:

Grow only what you like to eat

Favour crops that are more expensive in the shops - more Feel Good Factor! Main Crop spuds are cheap to buy in winter, and your home-grown ones will probably be sprouting in the cupboard by XMas. New Potatoes are better value (and flavour)

Grow crops for flavour. Most (maybe all?) that you grow and harvest fresh and cook immediately will taste better. Things like Sweetcorn and New Potatoes will taste much better - the sugar starts turning to starch as soon as they are harvested, so a couple of days travelling to the shop, and another couple of days in your fridge is No Contest compared to picked and in the pan within 10 minutes

I would suggest trying to grow varieties with better flavour. Its very subjective, and will depend on your personal preference but also your soil and husbandry. The variety you buy in the supermarket will have been grown because it doesn't bruise easily, or lasts a long time, or is convenient to harvest all-at-once. Home Growers have so much choice for variety.

There are threads on here for "Best [Tomato] variety" and although you might not actually like some of them, growing the varieties that are universally popular is a good place to start your journey.

My one piece of advise is to keep a notebook (or spreadsheet if you prefer).

Crop Name / Variety
Date Sown / Planted
Date of First and Last harvest (to help with planning next year)
Notes on whether you liked/hated it and whether you need to grow more/less next year

[Kristen]

don't try and do it all at once

I think that depends a lot on the individual? We've had newbies posting on here who are clearly built like Hercules and cleared and dug the whole plot in a weekend or two ... others take longer ... some much longer

It is worth covering any areas of the plot not being cultivated initially. Tarpaulin will do, if you have one, another favourite is to cover with cardboard (blagged from a Bike shop, or White Goods Superstore) and then covered with compost / manure. The cardboard will stop the weeds growing for a season, and as it all rots down the compost/manure will be taken up by the soil.

It will also keep the Allotment Police happier as the unused parts of your plot won't look like wasteland!

(Don't use old carpet (often banned on allotments) Once it starts to rot the weeds grow through and it becomes a nightmare to remove the tangled mess.)

[Martin H]

I wish I'd put the effort in to clear the perennial weeds from the paths between beds as well as from the beds themselves. It would have saved me a lot of effort of pulling out the stuff that spreads sideways into the beds as well as giving the slugs fewer hiding places.

[Nicos]

Make sure your plot boundaries are very clearly marked..... that will avoid problems in the future.

Take lots of piccies as you go along!

Perennial leaves?....yup do a thorough job of removing them, and their roots.

Get the right tools to suit your height and strength...you can buy longer handled tools, or smaller spades
etc.

Get used to the idea now that your car boot will soon look like part of your allotment!

I'm really chuffed you have finally got a plot of your own! Enjoy!

[Guest]

Hi and welcome.

Lots of great advice so far. Mine is don't expect too much in your first year, be happy with little achievements and be willing to change/ compromise as you go.

If you have any questions (no matter how daft you think they are) just ask away

[WendyC]

Is your plot 9 metres by 9 metres or 9 metres squared? If it is the latter I wouldn't waste space putting a shed on there!

[Bigmallly]

Hello 1Bee & welcome to the jungle. If you run out of time to sow what you want, there are plenty of plug plants on sale at the moment. If I was to choose some plants now, they would have to be Strawberries. Don't kids just love Strawberries............if the adults don't get to them first.....good luck & enjoy.

[noviceveggrower]

Hi there. Afraid I can't really add anything else to the great advice already given. My only thing would be plan stuff out on a piece of paper and then tinker about with your ideas and jiggle stuff about until you are happy with it.

[1Bee]

Thanks so much everyone!

We got onto the allotment for the first time this morning, and it was a special kind of bliss. Intermittent hail showers flying down the valley, and a walk down the rest of the allotment revealed just how windy the day was, and just how sheltered our patch is. Picking it over for glass and cans and the like didn't take as long as we thought, so we've been able to mark out paths/beds and start forking over and pulling out weed roots. Just the most delicious soil... I'm slightly delirious.

Someone local drove round the corner of the allotments as we were working out plot and gave us a huge grin and a wave, which I think is a good sign.

Crannman, the first bed we're trying to get ready will take spuds. Desire, just because I like them and I grew them, once, about twelve years ago...

Kristen, thank you! I was getting antsty about not having anything in yet, but then we had a good frost on Monday morning, and I relaxed a bit. Great advice, thank you. I've spotted that carpets aren't allowed, and we've got carboard and weed membrane to use.... manure is going to be a bit of a conundrum, so I'll ask other plot holders how they get theirs.

Martin, thank you, that answers that question. I was wondering whether to dig or just cover... now we've decided to dig and clear the weeds on the paths, too.

Nicos, we've been there once, and already your car boot prediction is coming true. I've got a lease car, too.... *trying not to think about it*. We're very chuffed, too.

Thank you Norfolkgrey! I will definitely ask - everyone's been so welcoming and helpful. We're trying to keep our expectations simple and enjoy as we go.

Sorry, Wendy, - 9 metres by 9 metres ish. I knew I'd made that sound confused.... We're probably not going to bother with a shed initially anyway, just settle in and see if we really need one. Maybe some sort of tool store.

Thanks Bigmally. I love strawberries, but know nothing about growing them... and sadly our 4yo won't touch them. Or almost any other fruit. Or vegetable. But hopefully the allotment will help there, even if only a little.

Thank you noviceveggrower. Husband and I kept saying to each other, "we can always move it..." when we were planning things out today. Good advice.

[1Bee]

First day on 1B.

[Bigmallly]

Perfect time to join our http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...dar_83084.html then you can watch all your had work come to fruition.

[Monster]

I second advice about putting some time into removing as many perennial weeds as you can to start with. They can be right buggers!

Grow some stuff that grows really quickly. This is satisfying for you and for your little one. Courgettes, beans, peas and radishes all grow very quickly (radishes are ready in 3-4 weeks) and are pretty easy. Plus they all have big seeds that are fun to sow : D
Having things that aren't weeds growing around you while you work on the rest of the plot really is a massive boost! I had/have a wilderness plot and having things to harvest while I clear endless rubbish elsewhere always helps me push away those sneaky thoughts of jacking it in.

[JimmyRay]

Hello there. The thing I regret the most is - not mulching the soil when I had to. Grass clippings, pine needles, leaves, straw - all of those work wonders for recycling the soil and protecting the plants from soilborne diseases. Do your research and don't miss out on a chance!