About to get my first ever plot - advise?

[FlowerpotGirl]

Hi all, after a few years of umming and ahhing about whether I have what it takes to have my own allotment, I've finally gone for it and in the process of getting one from my local council.

Although I'm a keen gardener I want to grow veg and this completely new ground for me, so I thought I'd ask for help now before I even start. This is also because I may get a choice of plot (the email said they have plots (plural) available in all their sites). IF so, what things should I consider when choosing one? If there was an overgrown one, or a well kept-ish one which would be better?

I have loads of questions......
As we're about to start to main growing season is there anything I can start off now?
Is there some kind of etiquette to observe on Allotments?
I'd like to plant a mixture of veg and flowers to attract wildlife and I have Calendula seeds but they spread like wildfire. Should I avoid things that seed so easily just in case they spread to other plots?
Do most sites have access to water?

Do you have any advise for someone like me who hasn't even got the plot yet? Anything you wish you'd done differently etc?

Thank you all and sorry for the questions

[bario1]

That's a lot of questions, Flowerpotgirl!

Re choosing a plot, perhaps the main things to consider are:

How much sun does it get? Is it going to be shaded by trees/buildings at any point during the day? The more sun the better, it's perhaps the most important factor in your growing success.
How well will the soil drain? If it's at the bottom of a hill or in a dip, it may become very waterlogged in wet weather.
Where is the nearest access to water? There are probably communal taps around the site, but some plots can be a fair trek from the nearest one... which can make watering in summer an arduous task with a watering can!

These are just some things i would consider (all three were a problem for me on my plot, but I wasn't offered a choice).

Welcome to the forum.

[FlowerpotGirl]

Thanks Bario1, good suggestions there.

I often walk the dog past the allotments and already know its a real mixed bag in there. Also a quick look at Google earth confirmed that the plots are all generally the same size but there is a definite slope.

It’s a fairly open area with Farm land on one side and a school on the other side, so I think it will be a bit of a sun trap. One side has small mature trees which cast about a 5ft shadow, but I thought that might be nice if I grew any partial shade plants?

Thanks for the welcome and the reply

[1Bee]

I have to say, a little bit of shade in a non-productive area can be nice. .. I can't get on my plot in this heat!

Good luck.

[FlowerpotGirl]

Thank you Its hard to imagine its hot outside as I'm stuck in an air-conditioned office. Still I am still here dreaming of my little rows of future veg and fruit and the endless task of slug control haha.

I would like a little shade for my own sake. I burn far too quickly and think a nice little chair in the shade would be ideal I've been on google earth and found my ideal plot complete with a little shed......I have no idea if its vacant or not but I've put my wish out there to the universe haha.

[Cadalot]

Take photographs before you start and record your progress, then when you hit the wall so to speak you have something to look back on and can see how much progress you have made. My Diary / Blog records my first plot from 2012 and it records what I was planning to do and what I ultimately did. It also records my new plot which I got at the end of last year.

Don't be in a rush, enjoy it

[FlowerpotGirl]

I'm very excited now. I've just been on the phone and have been offered a half plot (I was going for a full plot but chickened out). Its on the slightly shaded side but the trees are mature and they only shade a couple of feet of the plots (according to the lovely Allotment lady). It will still give me plenty of growing space and some shelter from the elements.

Argh I'm so excited and can't wait for my paperwork to come through so I can go and see it. Also after declaring my happy news on facebook a friend of mine revealed she has had an allotment for 10 years! She has never mentioned it before.

Let the adventures of 10b begin

[Baldy]

Sun , water, distance from gate to plot. If there are already sheds etc.
You can still plant a lot out - lots of stuff available in modules from the garden centres at the moment. Youcan sow some stuff too - lettuce, spring onions, - sorry mind's gone blank but there's plenty more...
If the plot needs work don't try to do it all in one go. Clear out a bed or two and get stuff in to grow. You can cover other areas with weed suppresant or cardboard and take it a bit at a time.
Good luck... and welcome to the 'Vine.

[FlowerpotGirl]

Thank you Cadalot, that is good advice.

I do tend to rush into things in excitement but I've learnt with the gardening that if you rush nature it has a way of making you wait even longer

Before and After photos are a great idea, thank you

[FlowerpotGirl]

Sun , water, distance from gate to plot. If there are already sheds etc.
You can still plant a lot out - lots of stuff available in modules from the garden centres at the moment. Youcan sow some stuff too - lettuce, spring onions, - sorry mind's gone blank but there's plenty more...
If the plot needs work don't try to do it all in one go. Clear out a bed or two and get stuff in to grow. You can cover other areas with weed suppresant or cardboard and take it a bit at a time.
Good luck... and welcome to the 'Vine.

Thank you I think it is likely to be pretty overgrown. Actually I'm kind of hoping it is (is that mad?). I'm looking forward to making a difference and seeing my progress I love the area its in as well. The top half of the field next to the allotments is set aside for Corn Bunting and in the summer evenings the Swifts and Swallows soar overhead eating the bugs. Its going to be great stress relief.

I will take it bit by bit. If it is overgrown, I'm looking forward to discovering what was there before and rediscovering any paths etc

[Jay-ell]

Try and and put together a weighted wishlist to tick off on each plot.

For example tick next to full sun gets 10 point, some shade 5 points, fruit bushes 2 points, no work needed 5 points, good soil 10 points etc

Work out which ones you want most and give them higher points. On my plot the soil had way higher pointpoints than work needed (if you see the photos of when I got my plot you can see how good the soil must be). There wasn't any fruit bushes but that wasn't a big deal and would only have scored 1 point anyway.

Raised beds are nice - provided you want to grow in raised beds, they're the right size for you, they're not rotten and they aren't full of dolphins and makeup (ie junk)

[Kirk]

I suspect that the first spell will be digging and clearing out the weeds, especially the ones like couch grass and any bindweed. After that comes the "planning".

For sort of "late" veg I suggest the root crops, things like turnip, swede, carrot seem happy to grow at most times. Also many can be pulled as baby veg.

Not sure about things like PSB (Purple Sprouting Broccoli) and brussels. They crop late but not sure that implies they can be sown late.

Really it is dig, clear, then check the time and so the availability of suitable things to sow. If you think you will have some of it cleared ready in say a month then you could start off some seeds now, or raid a market and stock up on a few trays of whatever is on offer. Visited a market yesterday and there were trays of Cauli, Kale, Leeks and a couple of others at £2 a tray. A tray being something like 8-12 compartments. I was looking for Rocket and not a one.

I would suggest the market/tray of veg approach as time is pressing on. Just be sure to keep them alive while preparing the plot.

Just a suggestion, add your location to your signature, it helps when someone asks what can I grow. Locations can be Aberdeen, Manchester, Norwich, Cardiff, Truro and answers are, or can be, location dependant.

As to etiquette, suspect it is really a case of keep it tidy, think about what you are doing.

[jonny the plant pot]

Dont forget to make a plan of what you are growing were for crop rotation next year .

[FlowerpotGirl]

Crop rotation - yikes, hadn't thought of that either. Thank you I will get plotting the plot haha. I was thinking of having fruits bushes at the furthest end as that will get the most sun and working in with veg keeping things like spinach in the partial shade. I guess it will be years of trail and error though

Thank you Kirk too for your reply. Lots to consider. I'm in Hertfordshire, but don't have enough privileges here yet to update my profile or signature, but thanks for the advise, I will add that when I can.

I'm going to raid the Garden Centres this weekend for veg trays as I've heard they are selling them off as its getting late in the season now. I can keep them safe in my garden till the plot is ready and then plant them out. I might get a late yield but I think the weather this year is slightly delayed anyway I've been verbally offered the plot and the lease is in the post ready for me to sign. I'll make the payment immediately and hand deliver the lease so I'm hoping to be on the plot by next weekend at the latest.

If the plot I've been offered is massively over grown I'm going to clear a section at a time and plant as I go. I would prefer to get something grown this year in a half dug plot rather than have a picture perfect plot and nothing in it. I'm a quick worker though and love nothing more than a weekend of hard labour - burns off all the stress of the working week. That's some of the draw to the allotment really. My garden is now so well manicured that there is often hardly anything to do and you can only sit for so long before getting bored.

[FlowerpotGirl]

Currently bidding on a Wooden slated water butt...ridiculously excited about it!