Plot 61

[Namder]

Hi All,

I have just acquired plot 61 at the recently saved Stapleton Allotments, Bristol. I am located on the new side of the allotment on virgin land, although it is currently very overgrown.

The plot is probably quite large for a beginner (roughly 40ft wide x 120ft length) however I do like a challenge. I am in the process of clearing the plot and will be spending the winter creating and building the basic layout.

My biggest aim for this project is to use as much free, reclaimed and recycled material as possible and when purchases are neccessary I plan to get this all second hand.

It is a massive challenge however it's something that i've been wanting to do for while.

Any hints, tips and tricks are greatly appreciated.

Pictures attached

[Bigmallly]

Hello Namder & welcome to the Jungle, try and clear an area & plant some Autumn Onion Sets & Garlic. The rest, I would strim down & cover with cardboard uncovering a little at a time. The main thing is that you enjoy it.

[Bonsai Si]

Little and often!

Don't kill yourself with eagerness, enjoy your time down your lottie. You'll be surprised how much you can get done by focussing on a bit at a time. Stops you getting bored and frustrated.

Grats and enjoy!

[jonny the plant pot]

Get a tractor

[Elfeda]

Strim it all at once and cover with any thing you find (black plastic/cardboard or old carpets etc).

using a rotovator is not very bad idea. what are you planning to grow btw

[Namder]

what are you planning to grow btw

For year 1 I am just looking at the real basics that the household eat. So unfortunately nothing too interesting however i am looking at planting a few Apple trees and fruit bushes.

Seeing as the plot is so big my aim is to create an area which myself, partner and dog can enjoy in the summer afternoon and evenings.

Will upload a layout plan soon.

[Ryleh]

I enjoy a bit of planning ahead so my first steps would be to draw up a plan of where you want everything (you seem to be already doing this anyway) - particularly so you know where stationary things such as paths, structures such as greenhouse or shed, and beds are going to go in the long term.

Also have a think about what perennial veg or fruit you might want to grow, especially things that take more than a year to get to the harvesting stage such as asparagus or planting rhubarb (Nov - March being an ideal time when the crowns are dormant) and fruit trees (which tend not to produce a lot of fruit in the first year whilst they are establishing)

[lottie dolly]

Welcome to the forum Namda,by the time you get your relax area/shed,plus any planed greenhouse,poly and a fruit cage,your plot will shrink ,also net any brassicas,scrounge the netting form scaffold places,if you passing any building sites,ask if the got any and plue or yellow water pipe,ideal to make hoops for the netting,planks are a good scrounge as well,loads of ideas around the forum achives,

[noviceveggrower]

Hi there and welcome to the Vine. My advice would be on a piece of paper draw out a rough plan and then keep tweaking it again and again until you are happy with it.
I am moving allotment sites this year and my new plot was really over grown and weedy. So my advice would be rake your ground over. Its alright hitting it with a strimmer but if there is any rubbish or anything sharp it could fly up and hit you. So rake it first and it will lift loads rubbish off.
Like BM suggests cover it and dig a little at a time. Don't do to much and end up aches and pains.

[veggiechicken]

Hello Namder and welcome. Good to have a blank canvas (despite the weeds). You can set it out however you like and not feel constrained by the last gardener's plan.
Set aside somewhere for your compost heap - maybe in the middle so you only have to walk halfway along the plot to add to it. You can always move the heap, when you have a better idea of layout. Scrounge some pallets to make the bins, if you can - of just make heaps!

[Namder]

Thank you all for the advice.

Below is a first draft plan of what I would like the plot to be like, although I know over time this will change hence the space that has been left. I would like to have quite a bit of wild meadow flowers throughout the plot and also put in a small pond to attract wildlife.

But for now, the weeding continues.

[veggiechicken]

Which way is North?

[Guest]

Hi and welcome to the vine.

For your first year I wouldn't worry to much about big structures or anything too permanent until you get a feel of everything. The first year is a massive learning curve and it is likely you will want to change things and do some things different the following year

[Namder]

Which way is North?

North is on the left hand side, although there are no structures which will cast a shadow

[Guest]

Just some pointers things to think about. Don't panic if any of it seems overwhelming or you have questions it is all personal preference and things you will work on over the years.

Fruit bush area - 8 plants indicated. There is a large world of soft fruit, in years to come are you likely to want it all grouped together. Usual culprits white, red and black currant, summer raspberry and autumn raspberry, blackberry, then green, yellow and red goosberries. Then there are your acid loving blueberries, cranberries and lingon berries. Then if you are a fruit-aholic you get jostaberries, lingonberries, tayberries, wineberries and the list goes on. Although not a bush don't forget ya strawbs

Fruit trees - are these ok? some sites don't allow trees or trees in pots only. Do you intend to let them do their own thing and grow full size or training? Which fruit/ suitable pollination partners/ rootstock/ variety etc.

Herb bed - annual or perennial. Herbs like thyme, rosemary, oregano will prefer different conditions to mint, dill, fennel etc.

Bean beds - do you intend to have these in crop rotation in future years to help keep disease and pest down?

Raised beds - do you have an idea how big and high? (It is usually recommended no wider than 1.2m). How wide for paths? min. tends to be 0.45m but for comfort and wheelbarrow use 0.60-0.70m is better. Then raising the beds them selves -what type of soil do you have? is there a need to raise or are they more edged beds. Edging can create beastie homes. Also how to you tend to treat paths? In my first year I spent just as much time weeding paths

Greenhouse - being that close to the site road is there a risk of vandalism?

Compost - are you happy to be greeted by it every time?

I hope some of this helps. Don't be afraid to ask anything, everyone is kind and helpful on here