1st allotment help needed please

[wifey34]

hi ev1 iv'e just got my 1st allotment and have started to clear it,it is 6 poles in size and i'm hoping somebody can give me some advice on what to grow(i'm looking for things not to hard as i'm new to growing veg and fruit)and what to use to help it grow,or just anything you think i should know.i would be very grateful for any ideas and advice,thank you

[walshie]

I dont understand what "6 poles large" means but if it is an allotment it should be of a decent size. you should build at least 4 separate areas for crop rotation. this reduces pests and diseases specific to the same type of crop.check out this thread on the perfect crop rotation given by suee
http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...plan_4885.html
mine is just as simple, i have five raised beds - onions, garlic, leeks in one - carrots, beets, parsnips (roots) in another - all beans (pods/legumes) in an other, then brassicas (cabbage, caulis, brocollis) these four rotate yearly. my last raised bed is for potatoes only.

the added advantage of this is that beans have an amazing ability to convert nitrogen from the air and add it to your soil fertilizing the next veg to hit that plot.

[Paulottie]

In Eurozone A square 'rod ,pole or perch' would be around 25m2 thus 6 = 150 sq metres

Crop choice might initially depend on the state of the land... pumpkins and spuds - they are good pioneer crops through cardboard, plastic or mulch. Apart from root crops most things can be started in modules/nursery bed ...good idea rather than too much direct sowing 1st year.

In general you should grow:

1. • what you actually like to eat (and what amount you can reasonably use/have time to preserve) staggered sowings to spread season helps.
   • what is expensive/difficult/inferior to buy (ie: sweetcorn, asparagus)
   • what grows well in your soil/situation (ask/watch others)

[gojiberry]

Keep control and a little at a time. It does not matter if you don't get the whole allotment planted up in the first few years. Any land not planted needs to be kept weed free usually with black plastic. Start with the basics potatoes carrots cabbage onions and work up from that.

Ian

[Two_Sheds]

Grow what you want to eat .. no point otherwise.
And get a copy of Dr Hessayon's Vegetable Expert (about £3 on amazon: worth it's weight in gold for basic sensible advice on what, how, when, where and why to plant)

[geoff]

Yes, 'the veg expert' is an excellent , basic book; also go the library for veg growing/allotment books; they will all contain useful advice, a way of getting instant experience, and you will gradually get used to the jargon

Send for seed catalogues; they will also give you some ideas and inspiration

[Demeter]

Just don't let it all intimidate you! Cos it is supposed to be fun.

I got mine last July and I cleared some last year, I aim to have a bit more than half cleared by the end of this year and the rest cleared next year. (Mine is 125sqm so a bit smaller than yours but not much.) The areas I am not yet working are covered with old carpet / black plastic / cardboard as this will weaken existing weeds and stop new ones growing while I work on other areas.

Unless there are some permanent crops you absolutely must have immediately then I would suggest you start off with annual crops only. This is because you will learn a lot in your first year and make lots of mistakes! e.g. you may plant something this year and realise that - for whatever reason - that is a terrible place for it and/or that you want to change your whole layout. If it's all annual crops it's no big deal but a newly planted bed of asparagus would be a pain in the neck to move!

As others have said, potatoes and pumpkins (or any kind of squashes / cucurbits as long as they are suited to our climate) are good plants for newly cleared ground. And getting plants grown on ready before they go in the ground will make life easier all round when you have a lot of clearing to do (either bring them on at home from seed, or even easier if you buy in plug plants from the GC!) This works on pretty much any kind of veg plant other than carrots and parsnips.

My final suggestion is to get a catalogue or an allotment book (Veg expert is very good) and go through it picking out the veg you want to grow. Check the growing instructions to make sure they don't sound like something that would be too much of a faff for your first year.

Don't worry too much about crop rotation in your first year. It'll be a bit more important later on but to begin with you will have plenty to worry about without trying to plan everything to a T. Just go with the flow!

Finally - good luck

[wifey34]

thank you ev1 for your advice youve all been very helpful,after reading what you all said im gonna start with clearing a bit at a time and have a go at building some raised beds and try 2 grow some potatoes.thanks to all of u xx