What can I do in a new allotment in October?

[NoPeasForTheWicked]

Hello
I have just taken possession of my first allotment and can't wait to get started. It's in fairly good order, with raised beds and a few things growing already, although the soil looks like it needs improving. My question is this: is there anything I can do now to get things ready for next year or should I just wait until early Spring? I've been offered as much free well rotted manure as I can take, and I wondered if I should dig this in now and leave it for the Winter or whether it would be better to wait until say, late February. Do the nutrients leach away if nothing is grown?
Also, one of the beds contains some established currant and raspberry bushes and I'd like to keep these. Should I just top-dress with the manure?
Thank you in advance. I'm looking forward to being part of the community. Laura

[Snadger]

Hi Laura and welcome to the vine. Not only can you topdress your soft fruit bushes with manure but if you can get enough you could mulch the whole plot.
If I were you I'd be itching to get stuff planted and have just today sowed some broad beans and garlic myself. Still not too late to plant japanese overwintering onion sets either.
Just remember..........you just can't add too much organic matter at any time of year.

[pauco]

Hi Laua, welcome to the Vine from me too.

paul.

[FionaH]

Onions and garlic are good for now. I am planting my garlic this weekend

[Newton]

Welcome..love the name....

Sounds like you have taken over a well cared for allotment....lucky you.

I have just sown the free sweet peas with this months mag.......they have just germinated in root trainers and I hope to get a lovely display of flowers next summer. I will overwinter them in the greenhouse.

Garlic, onions and broadies can go in now.

[Jelliebabe]

Hiya! I am going to plant up garlic next weekend... I would work out where you want things and manure accordingly - ie your root veg wont want manuring but your potatoes will.... I'm not an expert so I would have a read up! Make sure that you leave a sitting area! And somewhere for flowers...

[NoPeasForTheWicked]

Thank you all for your replies. It looks like I'll be making a start this weekend then!

[justgimmeethefaxmaam]

Hi Laura
I have grown in containers,window boxes & pots on the garage roof this season and have now taken a section of an allotment. I'm in South Devon too
I'm busy planning and marking out some beds for the square foot gardening method. There's a lot of very sound advice on here regarding allotments etc and I have decided the no digging route is for me.
I lightly raked in some chicken manure pellets and some blood,fish & bone fertiliser topped with newpaper and cardboard on the planting areas and will plant broad beans & garlic within the next couple of weeks.I've also sowed winter lettuce,kale,rapa,spinach,chard,mizuna & Japanese Miike in paper pots ready for planting out.
Everything will be planted through the paper,carboard mulch and will be topped by a fleece cloche

Isn't it exciting to get started ??

[NoPeasForTheWicked]

Wow, you're organised! I will look into sowing winter lettuce etc. as I'd love to harvest something relatively quickly. At the moment I've got the Carol Klein book but I think I might need something a bit more detailed as the square foot gardening method is news to me!

[northepaul]

You can definately still put some broad beans and overwintering peas in.
Welcome to the vine and congrats on the allotment!!

[Cranford Steve]

Hello Laura.