New To Allotments

[Mattchewone]

Hi All,

I have as of yesterday acquired an allotment plot. Its 2.5 rods so I am told.

Currently there are a few old crops on there, and some annual weeds. I am thinking of digging up the weeds to dispose of and then I was thinking of using some bottom less raised beds of sorts to segregate the beds.

Thinking of growing:

• Broccoli
• Brussel Sprouts
• Raspberries
• Strawberries
• Gooseberries
• Red Onion
• Garlic

Not really sure where to start with it, I will try to upload a picture of it in its current state.

Any advice for a complete allotment new comer? I have only really grown strawberries and raspberries in my garden.

[Martin H]

Hi, welcome to the vine! Hope you find lots to learn from and entertain you here.

2.5 rods is 60 square metres or so, a nice size without being too daunting. I would start by:
1) check carefully if there's anything growing there that you want to keep, like fruit trees or bushes;
2) clear all the vegetation off the top into a nice big pile to rot down, maybe borrow a strimmer or scythe or billhook or shears
3) start digging it over, getting any perennial weed roots out as you go
4) meanwhile cover any bits that you aren't going to get to within a few weeks to stop them re-growing.

As you dig, you can assess the quality of the soil and make plans on whether you need raised beds or just edged ones or even just mound up the soil into beds with no edging (that's what I do).

You've got until the autumn to get ready to plant the fruit, garlic and overwintering onions. For the brassicas you might find plug plants in the garden centre that will give you a crop in the winter/spring, e.g. purple sprouting broccolli that will be ready in April. They will need netting on them though to keep off the white butterflies and the pigeons.

Above all, enjoy the process and don't stress over it.

Let's see those pics! Also, where in the country are you? Once you get to 10 posts or so you'll be able to edit your profile and put it in there to stop us asking all the time.

[veggiechicken]

Martin - you're not concentrating
Mattchew's in West Sussex (alreday on his profile) and he's made 23 posts already

[Mattchewone]

Thank you VC, to be fair I updated my profile just after posting this thread.

Having never had to deal with weeds or anything this is completely new to me. The only ones I have are small and new due to living in a new build the garden was pretty weed free when I moved in.

This is the current state of it:


With regards to clearing them down, should i remove the weeds once strimmed and take to the tip or is it best to compost them? Didn't want to encourage them to grow back.
Once I've cleared it down, is it best to then dig it over and air-rate it a bit.

Should I cover bits I haven't dug up and weeded or cover the bits I have to prevent any future weeds coming in until I get the beds sorted.

Many Thanks

[Martin H]

You'll hear lots of different opinions here. My approach would be to keep the cut-off topgrowth and pile it in a nice heap to rot down. Those stems and leaves have got lots of nutrients in them that they've sucked out of your ground so it's a shame to waste them.

Then I would dig over the hole plot before deciding where the beds and paths are going to go, even if you're subsequently going to go the "no-dig" route.

I would cover the un-dug bits and let the sun and rain get to the dug bits. If stuff's going to come back you want to tackle the re-growth now before your crops are in.

But there are lots of ways of going about this, you just have to pick one that suits your outlook.

Sorry about not concentrating, it's the heat. It's not just me... http://www.thepoke.co.uk/wp-content/...015/07/BBC.jpg

[Mattchewone]

Haha it is hot, but luckily we have air conditioning in the office.

I have seen this - http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...ment_5573.html I like the idea of this.

The paths are covered in straw and lots of mulch for keeping down the weeds. Will go down tonight hopefully and see whats what.

I'll take my battery strimmer for now and see what I can tackle with that, probably not alot but its a start. Should I just pile up uncovered, or should I try to put in a compost container?

Strim, then move the contents to rot, then dig up the parts i've strimmed, then start working out plans for beds, keeping any un-worked areas covered up until I get to them. Does this sound ok to start with?

[veggiechicken]

A big pile of weeds will be OK - the bigger the better as it will get hotter to kill off the weed seeds. No need for a compost bin until you decide the best place for one. Meanwhile, keep your eye out for unwanted pallets to build one

[muddled]

I think it's been so very dry lately that you might be better off just giving big weeds a good tug....mine are coming out easily roots and all.

You could start off some dwarf french beans now and might well get a good crop in about ten weeks, bulb fennel might be worth a try and I'm about to sow some beetroot seeds and hispi cabbages. All of these can be started in module trays (currently reduced in wilkos ) and then the second you clear a bit you can bung them in and make look a 'proper' plot.
Garden centres are reducing all their 'grow your own' plants now too....some look a bit bedraggled and sad for for pennies they're worth a go.

I think your allotment looks like it's going to be a cracker once you get going. I do the supersprout thing too so I'm a bit biased but I do think it's a great system....especially in weather like this

[Mattchewone]

Thanks Muddled.

I'll be going down tonight to see whats what and just start pulling up some weeds and creating a weed patch. There is currently a compost bin there but its full of stuff, so I will dig up the taller weeds around it and create a pile next to it. Will move those carpets on to weedy areas if I don't get to them to.

Muddled, how did you do the supersprout thing, did you put black sheeting down on the paths then hay on top or just lots of hay down the paths and then lots of manure on the beds?

Thanks

[WendyC]

Are you plot 62?

[jackarmy]

Think youve found a neighbour Matt , looks a lovely spot.

[Mattchewone]

Are you plot 62?

I do believe so. Do you have an allotment there also?

Just been down there for an hour or so trying to make a start on it. Here is what we got done, doesn't feel like a lot but I guess its a start.

Pulled up as much of the weeds around one end and started a pile, then moved the existing carpets over the remaining large amounts of weeds for now.



I did find this under all the weeds and stuff, any idea what it is? It seems to be everywhere, any ideas on how to kill it?

[veggiechicken]

Probably chickweed but could be Scarlet Pimpernel! Any flowers?

[muddled]

cover it with straw

To make my supersprout beds I dug a long line, two spades wide....only about 8 inches deep....and dumped the soil to my left as I went along. I now had a long mound and a trough beside it. My allotments have a friendly tree surgeon who delivers woodchips. I put some in the trough...now it's a path.
Built the mound up a bit with compost and manure...now that's the bed.
Figured how wide was comfy to reach across the bed (a little under four foot...short stubby arms I guess) and started again with another path and bed.

I don't purposely cover my paths with straw....but they end up covered anyway! They're good to walk on and even bindweed and dock pull out easily.

Supersprout (who I knew from a different forum) is sadly no longer with us. She was an inspiring woman and would be absolutely thrilled that people were still doing it her way. xxx

[WendyC]

I do believe so. Do you have an allotment there also?

Yes! I can see one of my plots from the photos you've posted! I'm the Chair and I've plots 21 and 25. No doubt we'll meet soon. Good to see the plot being worked. It was rotavated in the Spring.