Youth Group Allotment!

[kelly]

hey everyone,

I work with young people that have got themselves in a bit of trouble and we've just got ourselves an allotment. We've been extremely lucky in the way that not only is our allotment really really cheap to rent but the guy in charged has kept weeds off of it and its been recently rotavated (WOO HOO!)

But I'm just wondering what kind of things that I can put in there now. I've read other posts about planting winter onions and garlic, as I have a lot of hands to help, I would like to put out quite a lot.

Also, are there any books on the basic guidelines for allotments (like a planting calender or something??) because otherwise I'm gonna be really stuck haha

Many Thanks

[Lesley Jay]

Hi Kelly and welcome to this mad house otherwise known as the grapevine! Now that you are a member here you will NEVER be stuck!!!

[williams4]

Hi Kelly, Welcome to the vine, a good book to get started with is The Vegetable and Herb Expert by Dr D.G.Hessayon. It Gives loads of useful advice and tells you the best time to sow and plant out your veggies. It also tells you what to do in the case of pests and diseases. Best of luck with your lottie. Mark

[OverWyreGrower]

You could plant out Christmas new potatoes in tubs... have a look on the veg thread... there are loads of thread about them!

I'm just waiting for my Rocket to be ready, have a wicked recipe for Rocket Pesto I'm dying to try out...

I think you can still plant oriental-type salad leaves/radishes also....

[Bibliobeck]

Hi, Over-Wyre, I like the sound of your rocket pesto! I've got rocket coming on even as we speak...any chance of putting the recipe on here?

[nick the grief]

Hi Kelly,

Depends how much you want to spend. The Expert books are good you might want to get the fruit expert as well as the veg one. Others I find good are

The Allotment Handbook by Caroline Bradley
Grow your own vegetables by Joy Larkom

Why not try writing/e-mailing the HDRA as they have a program for schools so they may be able to help you with some leaflets etc same for the NSALG.

You could plants some bulbs for cut flowers in the spring - a bit different.

As to other info, have a look on our lottie's website at the beginers page there is a planting plan on ther that may be of use plus other stuff & Adam has some leaflets as well (seedsforsuccess).

But don't for get the greatest resource of all .... us there is always someone here that will help you out.

http://www.nsalg.org.uk/
http://www.gardenorganic.org.uk/