need a bit of help to get started!

[jojo]

hi all

just taken on an allotment in west sussex. never had one before but am dying to get started. full of all that enthusiasm but without much clue what to actually do with it!!

i am quite lucky in that the plot has been used productively so its not completely over run with weeds but it does have that feeling that if i dont act quickly it will be out of control in a week!

am thinking along the idea of raised beds as the plot is 10 rods and feels a bit daunting as one huge plot...any thoughts?

also heard a bit about green manures- would these be a good idea for the beds over winter?

any advice to get me started would be a huge help

[SarzWix]

Hi JoJo, welcome to the 'Vine

You will find many opinions on raised-beds, but that's what I've chosen to do..
I think you're right to think about green manures etc over winter tho, or you're going to be weeding empty beds all winter...! I've never used them myself, so not sure which are best for autumn sowing; I only got my plot in Feb so could do with the advice myself... However it's not the only solution - you could also cover the ground with corrugated cardboard and compost/manure which would eventually rot down and improve the soil. There's also some veg you can be planting, which would fill the ground - over-wintering onions, garlic & shallots, and some of the seed companies are still selling packs of winter brassica plug plants (Marshalls, Suttons, Dobies?). Might as well fill the ground with edibles if you can

Good luck with the plot, sure you'll really enjoy yourself.

[terrier]

Hi JoJo, welcome to the 'vine'. Whilst your waiting for replies, try putting 'green manure' into the search box (on the green bar at the top), it brings up all sorts of help. Good luck with your new lottie.

[rustylady]

Welcome Jojo. Whatever you do, keep on top of the weeds. Section off bits of the lottie for planting (raised or level) and plant them asap. The rest of it either sow green manure and dig in as soon as it's ready, or cover with weed suppressant material or old carpets. Or hoe regularly. There's still quite a lot of things you can sow or plant at this time of the year, and the best encouragement is to actually see crops growing. Good luck!!

[jojo]

thanks for your replies
spent a good few hours getting my plans together. cleared a lot of weeds and feel like i'm starting to make a bit of headway! obviously i need to start a compost heap from scratch, can i put the weeds in it or should i avoid that and keep them in black sacks or something for a bit?

think i am going to go with the raised beds. managed to get some planks of wood for nothing so might as well get started with them.

[Siskin]

I always avoid putting weeds on my compost heap, just to be sure they don't set seed. I'm also a novice gardener and have a large garden rather than an allotment - would love an allotment though! :-) Keep us posted with pics and stories from your allotment if you can :-) I always enjoy reading those.

[wiccanlou]

I have used carpet on the areas I am not using this year, I have only had my plot for a month and there is no way i have the time to do all of it. Most carpet places are only too happy to let you have the carpet they have removed from a place for free.

[Sue]

Jojo
Welcome to the vine and yes, be wary of weeds in the compost, I ruined my first batch by adding couch grass... how ignorant can you get...
And carpet can be a problem if it is not natural and some allotment societies now ban it. Cardboard would be an easy alternative.
best wishes
Sue