First Allotment: is this a plan?

[MrAdLee]

Hello! First post, first allotment and pretty new to gardening at all, so your opinions would be appreciated....

I've just got myself a rather large and overgrown plot (pic attached - from June 1st officially but should be able to clear it beforehand if the gates are open...), and after reading around I've devised a basic plan for getting it cleared and at least being able to plant a few things in the next few weeks:

- build a compost bin out of pallets (fill gaps to insulate)
- strim the grass, dig the whole lot up
- compost covered so it definitely dies
- dig out the dandelions and nettles, drown them in a bin of water

- get some seeds planted indoors at home so I can plant once the plot is ready
- add some compost suitable for what I'm growing to the soil
- cover the section I can't manage just yet to stop weeds (or be prepared to do a lot of weeding)

I know it's going to be a lot of work, but am I realistically going to be planting into nice soil in a few weeks time??

thanks for reading,

[Cadalot]

Looks like you have some work on your hands definitely strim and dig or cover to kill the weeds it depends on how much time you can give it, It took two and a half years to completely dig and weed mine and install an infrastructure, all recorded in my Diary and now I'm on my second plot.

Have fun, little and often and keep records so you can see how far you have come when you hit the wall and feel like your not making progress fast enough. Most of all enjoy it.

Welcome to the vine and we are here to help, support and most of all look at your progress if you load up the photos or start a blog like I did.

[1Bee]

Looks like you've got the right ideas, congrats on your plot!

When we started we kept out expectations small... I always said I'd be happy if I just got ssome potatoes and runners the first year. We only cultivated half our "half plot" the first year, but had a bumper harvest of all sorts.

Your plot looks really fertile! But you might want to make your goals really small and achievable to start with, and then be delighted when you exceed them. Maybe aim to get a quarter of your patch into production? You can always dig planting holes through your covering on the rest for courgettes/squashes.

Good luck and happy growing!

[damian1225]

Welcome!!

Sounds like a solid plan! just remember to do little and often or it will become soul breaking, break it down into small manageable sections and keep at it, take plenty of before and during it will help you through when you can see the progress you are making.. keep us posted

[MrAdLee]

Maybe aim to get a quarter of your patch into production?

I thought that would be a good aim for this summer!

Trying not to get overexcited but looking forward to cracking on - I do tend to bite off more than I can chew...

[MrAdLee]

Welcome!!

Sounds like a solid plan! just remember to do little and often or it will become soul breaking, break it down into small manageable sections and keep at it, take plenty of before and during it will help you through when you can see the progress you are making.. keep us posted

Thanks for the advice - either soul-breaking or back-breaking I expect!

[damian1225]

Thanks for the advice - either soul-breaking or back-breaking I expect!

haha or both.. I recently took on a half plot in poor shape and got it empty and rotavated in just over a week, but was there every day and it was 10 hours a day both weekends.. i dont listen to my own advice and im too impatient.. now i pop in there on the way home and water things and jab off a stray weed or two with the hoe, its easy when your in front but is serious graft to get to that stage... even my blisters had blisters lol

[Chestnut]

Welcome to the vine!

Sounds like a good plan - only thing I would add is have a good look around your plot before you strim, both to make sure you don't have any plants you might want to keep (e.g. rhubarb hiding in a corner?), and also to remove any objects that might injure you if you hit them with a strimmer

We took on our plot last August, and have 'adjusted' our plans from aiming to get the whole plot into production by spring, to getting half into production this year!

We strimmed, then covered areas with cardboard/thick black plastic to exclude the light. Then, bit by bit, uncovered and dug over, and planted stuff in each section as soon as the ground is ready. First photo and one from couple of weeks ago attached - another 4m2 dug and a few sunflowers and beans planted out since.

Take it a bit at a time - particularly the digging - and enjoy!

[happyhumph]

Hi and welcome. I'd go with what chestnut says - clear debris, then strim and cover everything. Then peel back sections as you can manage them.

Sowing seeds at home is a good idea - as others have suggested get some courgettes and winter squash sowed as you can plant through holes in the weed cover. They're hungry though so see if you can source some well rotted manure / compost to put in.

Good luck with it - little and often is kinder on your back than mammoth sessions less regularly!

[MrAdLee]

only thing I would add is have a good look around your plot before you strim, both to make sure you don't have any plants you might want to keep (e.g. rhubarb hiding in a corner?), and also to remove any objects that might injure you if you hit them with a strimmer

I would love to find some Rhubarb but it doesn't look likely...

I did almost impale myself on a steel spike just walking across the plot so that is a very good call, thanks! I've done a fair bit of strimming in my time looking after sports/school pitches, where I developed a hatred of people who don't pick up after their dog...