Starting an Allotment from scratch!

[the hills]

Oh my god, what have I let myself in for. I have acquired an allotment from a friend who no longer uses hers - where do I start.

The grass and weeds are about knee high, and all the kids want to do is plant seeds.

Obviously I don't want them to lose interest so has anyone got any suggestion about what to do and how to keep them interested.

[NOG]

Start by strimming everything off. Then burn off the strimmings..once they are alight take them over the plot and it will burn off to the soil...if you have an old pallet put that down first and then put the strimmings on first.

Then start in one corner digging it over and removing the roots adding manure or compost then the kids can plant to their hearts content.

Dont forget to get your compost bins built and started now.

[Alison]

Whilst the advice Nog has given will get you off to a really good start in clearing the whole plot, if you want to get some of it working for you as soon as possible then I suggest that you dig at least one bed and maybe plant some peas or beans up as these will grow quickly so that the kids will see some quick developments. Also, they could sow some courgette seeds at home in pots and look after those while you clear some more space. It's also a good time of year to sow brassicas for next winter cropping. They can be grown in modules and pots for now and it would keep the kids interested and give them something to sow.

[NOG]

I agree to the pots...I plant nothing at the allotment It all gets grown in the greenhouse and moved once it is established.

[Digger-07]

My suggestion is only do as much as you are comfortable with. Even if it takes a year to get the plot into shape don't do too much in one go.
Clear a small area and let the kids sow radish, they will see someting in a week and get hooked. It worked for me.

Oh and welcome to the vine.

[bluemoon]

Once you've cut it down - and I agree this is the most important part to prevent the weeds flowering and reseeding - cover as much as you can with old cardboard, old tarpaulins, old carpet or whatever you can lay your hands on and only work on small areas at a time.

[Lazgaot]

Starting from scratch can be daunting. Its hard work, so take it one bit/bed at a time and don't expect to get it all done this year. Instead plan this years beds for next years crops/sowings. Have a look at my plot in my sig to see what can be achieved in a year.

For the kids you could always start things off in grow bags or large pots then move them onto the lottie when your beds are ready.

Good luck!

[NOG]

I always go up the allotment with a plan. I do what I have planned they come away. Otherwise you will work your self in to a husk to get it done.

[Reks]

I agree to the above suggestion, I too was given an allotment around april this year. We started by marking one bed, remving the turf and digging adding manure and planting. It's slow progress but I will be pleased even if we can get 1/2 the plot ready this year. So far we have dug a little more than 1/4 of the plot.

[snake the squadie]

best advice i can give is not to try and do to much because it will beat you in the end. trust me i have first hand experiance. just dig a small patch then every year just expand it as and when you have time. as for the kids buy them a few things from the local carboot sale. you can get toms, peppers beans etc for about 50p each

[Nicos]

Have to say- I don't like the idea of flaming an area...what about all the insect life in the top layer of soil- and n the 'weeds'


Glad to hear you've managed to get a plot- as the others say- little and often- and one bed at a time.

Are the children old enough to help you plan what and where-?

[Dynamo]

I don't like the idea of flaming off either. Much better to hack off any surface weeds with a spade and then cover the area that your not going to work on with a cover to stop the light getting through.

[NOG]

With a lot of plants of you burn them it will kill the roots. I was told the burning does something to the sap in the top part of the plant and the roots draw it down and it kills the rest of the plant.

[BFG]

You could try no dig and cover it all in a later of cardboard/newspaper with a few inches of mulch on top.

It'll turn into lovely weed free friable soil in a few months.

[Alison]

Not necessarily true, it depends on what weeds you have, many will quite happily grow through the card. Also if you have compacted soil then you need to dig it to loosen it up otherwise you'll never get a decent crop of many veg unless you make it a few deep raised bed.