New allotment - advice gratefully received

[clarelouise4]

Hi
I became an allotment tenant on Friday and have spent the whole weekend (with the help of my husband and my very kind parents) trying to see if there is still soil under the couch grass/bindweed/bramble briars.
Its been empty for going on 2 years but the soil is lovely where we have managed to clear and there are some lovely soft fruit bushes and rhubarb.
I've divided the main growing areas into 3 plots for my rotational growing and now its a case of digging as often as possible to try and get the ground cleared.
My question is - are there any seeds I can plant now that will cope with the ongoing work around them or am i best to wait til I've got it cleared and plant in the spring?
Many thanks
Clare

[User Removed]

Well done on getting you first allotment, now you can plant things such as second cropping potatoes for Christmas, Broad beans, Lettuce, Cabbages, Carrots and Japanise onions.
If you could clear a small bit of you allotment and dig it you could just start with a few things and then get ready for spring

[clarelouise4]

Thank you for that - its nice to know I can make a start and its not all going to be just digging - although if the rain carries on like it is at the moment there won't be much of that either.

[nick the grief]

If you've got Rhubarb you've got to look up th e Rhubarb Schnapps Recipe

Welcome to the Vine Clare. Little & often is the best way just like I didn't yesterday Loads of things you can be getting on with. Soo be time to get the seed catalogues & start getting the list together for next year !

[Snadger]

Congatulations on getting your allotment!

You seem to have planned well for the crop rotation

I would plant spring cabbage plants (in the garden centres now) Autumn sown onion sets(not in our garden centre yet cos i just asked today, but arriving soon)

Broad beans can go in November like wise Garlic

I would try and get a soil analysis done so you know what you've got and get a shed to store your tools and as a bolt hole for any bad weather!

[clarelouise4]

Hi
Thanks for your warm welcomes and for the hint about the rhubarb schnapps - I shall definitely be looking at that one.
I'm very lucky because all of the allotments on my site have a brick built shed so thats all been cleared out by my lovely mum at the weekend.
My dad ad I have been down for about four hours this morning replacing the temporary measuring stakes with more permanent ones and making some paths round the new plots so it is starting to look like more than just a piece of waste ground.
Thank you for the soil analysis tip - I was contemplating whether or not it was worth it but I shall now get that done.
The best bit is I now have yet another excuse to get down to the garden centre and flex that credit card.
Thanks again
Clare

[Silverfox]

Hi Clare and welcome to the Vine.
I like you got my lotty about 2 weeks ago. I haven't been down there much because of the rain but I have been down there to measure up etc. I have nothing going on in my lotty but I plan to start some winter Onions, Garlic, and start with everything next year.
I decided to make a very detailed plan of where everything would go on square paper, making sure I left paths to walk down for watering / picking etc. Everywhere is now accounted for but I have left about a 6 foot x 20 foot space free for those just incase bits that might need to go in (i.e to much has been sown and I never like tro throw them away).

Anyway I hope this helps you and I would also like to see the replys of what we can get going now, as It's such a waist of space with nothing growing in there.

[denise]

Hi there Clare
Feel like i have had allottment for years now - but only got it on june 1st this year. managed to get sweet corn, corgette pants in, with a runner bean drop into eat sweet corn planting hole for good measure. (3 sisters growing method from USA indians) Have eaten some corgettes - ummmm - awaiting the sweetcorn and all the beans have grown too, so cant wait for those.

Have measured up and trying to work outwhere best to put things like compost heap, comprey patch - all exciting.

Planning to cover majority of plot with cardboard to keep weeds down until we can get it dug and then again after until planting time, maybe.
Have sent to suttons for thier collection of greens and so have to prepare ground to put these in and putting a netting cage thing over to keep butterflies and pigeons off!

Good luck with your plot - dont get tooooooo busy and forget to relax and enjoy.

[clarelouise4]

I had a bit of a shopping spree on the internet for seeds from chilterns so I shall spend today planning my plots out on paper (my lovely dad gave me a book especially for the purpose) - typically the two books I've been using give slightly conflicting advice on what should be grown together but I think I shall use Dr Hessayon as he's been recommended by so many people to me.
I've gone along the route of weed suppressor too otherwise I think I'd no sooner get to one end and I'd have to go back and start again!!
Clare

[dinky_doo]

planning to cover majority of plot with cardboard to keep weeds down until we can get it dug and then again after until planting time, maybe.

is this a good idea ? im new to this game and have strimmed my plot but itsd growing back fast and thick
just lay the card board down and leave ?
what about when it rains and gos all mushy ?
can you dig it in afterwards ?

[Dilly]

Hi I am also clearing my plot to put in 2 cu mtre of horse manure and some topsoil. It is in my garden but is my allotment (we moved in this year). Does anyone know if I can move the rhubarb that is there and perhaps split and divide it. It is a small plant of 3 leaves and I have not picked any. This is my first year on the veg garden. Thanks for help.

[dexterdoglancashire]

hi Clare - welcome to the Vine. Even though I havent much experience, it sounds to me like you have done the right thing - you are lucky to have the help of your family (as I did earlier this year). Good luck - do let us know how you get on. dexterdog

[dexterdoglancashire]

Ps

Does anyone know where I can get hold of some japanese onions? just read the article in Septs GYO mag - it sounds something I should definately try - especially as my main onions were, to put it bluntly, a disaster! any advice gratefully received! dexterdog

[bramble]

Yes, you will get them in the garden centre or any of the suppliers on line.

[Earthbabe]

Hi Clare, congrats and welcome to the vine. You still have time to get winter spinach and radish in. Don't forget also that come October you can look at getting overwintering peas and broad beans in for an early crop in 2007. then there is always garlic, can't remember which one is best at the mo. You could always try some hardy lettuce under some fleece and if you have time sort out a strawberry bed. If you can get some plants in soon they will have time to settle before winter sets in, although the long range forecast as least for the south is wet, wet, wet. Much prefer proper seasons