New to allotments - viewing plot this afternoon - help!

[GrumpyYoungMan]

Hi all,

I'm Dave, new to the site, new to allotments. Soon to be 30 years old. Put my name down on the waiting list just a little over 4 years ago now. I had a call at Xmas from the council to check that I was still interested in a plot as they had a couple of plots who were going to be served notice for theirs so there was a chance there could be one coming up. I'd pretty much given up hope to be honest, but had a call yesterday to say they now had a vacant plot. I am very excited, but my head is also buzzing with questions and research and trying to digest everything I need to. Ideally I would have liked to get the plot earlier in the year to give me time to plan, so I'm slightly panicking at the mo.

Anyway, with regard to the plot viewing later, does anybody have any top tips on what sort of things to look out for? I know if people have been evicted from site then the chances are the plot will be overgrown. I've got some notes to ask about - the soil, rules on sheds/livestock.

I guess I'll need to make a list of tools I need too. Although I'm not going to start buying/borrowing until I've officially signed up. The idea of this project is to see how much I could scrounge/make/re-use, as it's all about sustainability. Would a trip to somewhere like Wilkinsons be best for getting kitted out with reasonable tools to begin with?

Soooo many questions......

[alldigging]

If you've waited 4 years then I assume you'll take it whatever state its in?

They should give you a set of rules when you sign up.


I could do most things with just a fork if I have to.
Carboot sales can be a useful place to find things - or ask on freecycle.
You might fall lucky with a shed full of stuff though!

[veggiechicken]

Hi Dave and welcome to the Forum! How exciting - and sudden - to be offered a plot.
I'm sure someone who has an allotment will be along soon with some advice on what to look for. Its almost easier to advise when you have to make a choice between plots as you can look for light/shade or nearby trees. Access to water is important, maybe toilets and car parking.
Keep an eye on Freecycle/Freegle for garden tools/sheds/greenhouses. Its amazing what you can acquire for nothing.
Also, could you put your location onto your profile page please, (mine says South Wales) just to give us an idea of your local conditions for when you start asking serious questions about growing

[kathycam]

Hi, I've taken on 2 plots in the last couple of years. One was 5 poles and the other 15. Ask the person who shows you round what established plants and trees are on the plot and also which perrenial weeds. (it might be obvious if it say brambles or couch grass) If there is perrenial veg, it would be nice.

When I had a choice of plots, I picked one with fruit trees, as they take a few years to produce stuff, hopefully will prove a time saver.

Don't be put off if its in a bad state- invite some friends over, do a bonfire and have some beers and hopefully some weeding/ digging will be done at the same time. You could lay cardboard down to stop the weeds growing. One particularly weedy area I cut the top off and stacked it in upside down tufts to rot down. Then I dug the ground over with a fork and got any remaining roots out and covered up with well rotted woodchip. I'm putting a polytunnel on the area soon.

Secondhand tools are great. Look on freecycle/gumtree. Also poundshop sells some cheap handtools. They dont usually last that long though!

Maybe ask what facilities the allotment has shop/cafe/ toilet/ parking. Does it get bulk compost, manure or wood chip. Do they provide a skip or a communal bonfire.

If you had a choice of plots look for a nice sunny one. Also think about drainage- it was a real problem in the last year! Are the plots next to yours well kept or full of weeds that will spread to yours.

Good luck!

[GrumpyYoungMan]

Thanks for the replies guys. I'll post some pictures up later on today when I've been to have a look around

[Bren In Pots]

Dave I don't have an allotment only my back garden but wanted to say hello and welcome to the vine.

[Veggielot]

Don't worry about the time you still have plenty of time to get something in this year. Probably will be overgrown, mine was when I got it but that does mean you have got a blank sheet to work with and it does give you more of a sense of achievement sorting it out. As for a master plan, I am still working on mine 3 years down the line and it is an evolving process, you can always change it anyway.

[Samurailord]

Hi Dave and welcome to the vine.

The most important thing to have on a plot is sunshine - everything else you can work to get or avoid, but you can't move the sun!

Presumably if it has been used as an allotment before the soil won't be harboring any nasty contaminants (other than old carpets) and dont be put off by a sea of weeds - if weeds can grow big and strong, so will your veg!

Andy

Andy

[Dotty Sarah]

Welcome and congratulations on getting your plot. Don't panic too much about being behind for the year, we're all running late because of the weather! You might strike it lucky and inherit tools etc left on your plot, I gained a rake and two dalek composters

[GrumpyYoungMan]

Ok so I've been up to see it.

Considering I had an image in my head of an overgrown jungle with maybe the remnants of a shed if I was lucky, imagine my suprise when the plot looked like this:



No shed or bits and bobs, but no jungle either.

Also look at the location of the tap


The secretary told me the fella who had it before me was an old farmer so the soil has had plenty of manure etc and was really nice soil. Said the guy let it get overgrown by the end of last year, but dug it all over before he was served his notice, and then suddenly ended his tenancy there out of the blue a couple of weeks ago.

There's a couple of bits of weed and grass in there, but it's not looking anywhere near the mammoth task I had imagined. Very happy

[WendyC]

Wow, you've fallen on your feet there. If you can cover it, weed membrane/ cardboard, it will keep it weed free until you are ready for planting. Good luck.

[Tripmeup]

Ready made plot almost...Nice action!! Now just decide what u like to EAT vegetable wise and start researching/thinking about sowing some of that for starters (when it suits temp wise, of course)

Also, around now (usually) people would be putting in onion sets and planting potatoes, so you could get started on that if you are eager to get going!!

best of luck!

[GrumpyYoungMan]

Well I've been and bought a couple of essential tools, seed potatoes and onion sets ready to get stuck in at weekend. Am very excited. I think I need to measure it up and get a plan together before I just start planting things willy nilly though!

ETA - not sure how the pictures ended up that small but can't figure out how to get them any bigger! lol

[rustylady]

Welcome to the Vine GrumpyYoungMan, from a GrumpyOldWoman.

Seriously though, your allotment looks super. Don't spend too long making a plan, unless you want to plant permanent things like fruit bushes or asparagus. Even if you have a plan, it might work better on paper than on the plot if you see what I mean.

For this year I would just plant and harvest and take time to get to know your plot and what you want to grow.

[veggiechicken]

You're a very lucky Grumpy Young Man to be offered such a clean plot. Go forth and grow, Dave. Any questions, just ask!