New to allotments - viewing plot this afternoon - help!

[GrumpyYoungMan]

Thanks guys. I've got myself a rake and a dutch hoe ready for going over the plot at weekend. Am planning to do a lot of reading up while I try and source a small shed, greenhouse, water butts (fed by the shed roof) and something to start composting in. I would like to get a permanent bed up by the shed for fruit plants, probably strawberries first off, asparagus and rhubarb. The rest I am going to divide up into 4ft x 4ft bays I think and come up with a crop rotation plan. I'll set the potatoes chitting this weekend too once I have read up a bit more about them. picked up 2 bags of maris piper seed potatoes (main crop) at home bargains for 99p each while I was in there checking out tools etc. I must remember to take my tape measure up tomorrow too and see how much room I have to play with as the secretary couldn't remember off the top of his head and said the plot division wasn't an exact science at that site. Just that there was only 1 full sized plot there. Am quite happy with half a plot though as I live alone, and apart from gifting bits of produce to my immediate family and close friends, it will be sustaining me. So I need to have a think about what I will eat and also what I can harvest for jams/preserves etc. I already have these skills as I have done a bit of foraging in the past so I know nothing will go to waste. I am a massive fan of chillis, so I would love to be self sufficient in these, hence the greenhouse. I know chillis wont go to waste as I can use them fresh, freeze them, dry them, make sauces etc etc

[Veggielot]

Don't go for to small a shed, you will be amazed how quickly you fill it up. Pallets are good for making compost bins and you should be able to get them for free.

[GrumpyYoungMan]

Ok so my plan for tomorrow is to try and scrounge as much cardboard/black plastic as I can, get to the site to measure up ready for some sort of plan, rake over the soil and dig out by hand what is left of any weeds/grass, then hopefully cover the place over for now to supress any weed growth and mark out some sort of paths to avoid treading the soil down.

I also need to obtain a couple of egg boxes to set the tattys off chitting so I can get them in asap. I've read about 6 weeks is right for this?

[rustylady]

[QUOTE=GrumpyYoungMan;1114421
I also need to obtain a couple of egg boxes to set the tattys off chitting so I can get them in asap. I've read about 6 weeks is right for this?[/QUOTE]

You don't HAVE to chit potatoes. Just put them somewhere light and cool till you are ready to plant them. You'll certainly be wanting to plant them before the middle of May, which is what it will be if you leave them chitting for six weeks.

[Two_Sheds]

Ideally I would have liked to get the plot earlier in the year to give me time to plan..

You've had four years to plan

[GrumpyYoungMan]

You don't HAVE to chit potatoes. Just put them somewhere light and cool till you are ready to plant them. You'll certainly be wanting to plant them before the middle of May, which is what it will be if you leave them chitting for six weeks.

So when is the ideal time for maincrop poatoes? In the next couple of weeks? Would it be worth chitting them for a couple of weeks while I get everything together up at the plot, or is it a case of doing it for 6 weeks or not at all?

I did catch sight of the remains of a shed which had been taken down in the corner of one of the unused plots the secretary was showing me round yesterday, I might ask him if they are being used/binned or could they be free to a good home? That would be a good project for next weekend.

Thanks for all the help and advice by the way. It is much appreciated, and hopefully as my experience grows I'll be able to give some back too one day!

[rustylady]

Re chitting. There is no set length of time for chitting potatoes (no idea where the six weeks came from). I just put mine on the kitchen windowsill as soon as I've bought them - if you keep them dark and warm you get brittle white shoots, not the sturdy green ones you need.

I was hoping to plant mine on Good Friday, but it was far too cold. The soil is only just starting to warm up.

The difference between early potatoes and main crop is the length of time they spend in the ground, not when you plant them.

The important thing is to protect emerging leaves from frost. You can do this by earthing up, or covering with fleece.

[GrumpyYoungMan]

Some good tips there, thanks.

[out in the cold]

Welcome to the site.

The plot looks fantastic. I am never that lucky when it comes to stuff like that.

Care to share next week's lottery numbers?

[Creemteez]

I chitted my spuds the first year I grew them, but didn't bother last year. Absolutely no difference in yield. Go on, get em in the ground, boy! You know you want to!

[Likac66]

Congratulations on your plot. It looks great. I'm in my first season with an allotment and because of the bad weather I haven't been able to get much done yet. You won't be too far behind, I'm sure.

I'm a bit wary of having a greenhouse down there as I can't tend to it regularly. I have one at home and go out to it at least once a day, moving on to twice a day now and in the summer i'll be in it 3-4 times a day checking ventilation, water etc. I'm getting a polytunnel for the allotment instead because I think it will be more forgiving.

I have grown potatoes without chitting them before. I have chitted them this year, but only because it has been too cold to plant them. If you have them, chit them while you are preparing the ground but you probably want to get them in the ground in the next few weeks.

Have lots of fun with your planning. This is a great site for advice.

[jumpinjackjones]

how do, dave?!

I got my first allotment a couple of weeks ago and it was a state! if you click on my name and look at previous posts you'll see some pics...

the weaqther has been AWFUL recently and with work commitments, i haven't been able to do much but i have noticed that my fellow allotmenteers, somehow, have loads in the ground!

so i bought some potatoes from b and q yesterday and they already had four inch sprouts in so i just chucked them straight in the ground- have read lots of people saying that chitting doesnt make a huge difference- plus i was excited. sunshine does this to me after so long in the gloom!
Also put a few little onoins in, and a row of beetroot seeds and two rows of carrot seeds and covered all the seeds over with loads of fleece that i got off ebay for about six quid. loads of it.

Like yourself- live alone so this is just me, my nearest and dearest...

still got lots to do but i also have plenty of room- i just wanted to get something in the ground.....

good luck, and keep us posted!

Chris