Blank canvas help

[Leighann]

Hi all,
I'm brand new to growing and I have just taken on an allotment local to me. It has been left dug over just a few surface weeds. Although it's a half plot it's still big. Can you give advice on design software or spreadsheet design etc.
thanks for the advise in advance.
Leighann

[bramble]

Hi Leighann and welcome.
I cant give you advice about laying out an allotment as I never had one but make a list of what you want to grow for a start.
Youre lucky that the plot has been dug over for you.
You could put in onion sets or garlic now.
You could also cover the whole plot over with thick cardboard until spring.
Enjoy it whatever you do.

[Bigmallly]

Hello Leighann & welcome to the Jungle, there are many ways you can plan a plot. This is what I did with mine a few years ago.:

http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...++40+days.html

[vixylix]

Hi Leighann and welcome!

I grow in my garden, not in an allotment, but I find good old pen and paper works best for me - I make a list of what I want to grow, what I want in pots, what I want in the raised bed etc then 'allocate' spaces accordingly on my paper plan. It means I can scribble out and amend and copy out etc as many times as I want - although it rarely ends up being translated properly out in to the garden!

For you I'd start by thinking what kind of structures you want in place - do you want raised beds, do you want paths - if so how big? Will you want a compost heap - where is it best placed? Do you want to grow any crops which will be fixed in place or will they all be in rotation

There are lots of threads on here, many of which are quite recent, which have many many different ideas for layouts and structures.

have a read, make notes and then start scribbling up some plans!

[Lisasbolt]

Helcome to the vine,

Have a quick search of square foot gardening can be really useful. Don't for a little area where you can sit and have a cuppa with a blanket or unfold a chair.

Enjoy

[jonny the plant pot]

Hello and welcome I'd say grow everything it will give you more idea next year when you start to establish the plot as your own .

[craftymarie]

Hi Leighann, welcome to the vine. Enjoy your new allotment

[Gillykat]

The main thing to remember is to not try to do everything in your first year You just end up overwhelmed otherwise. I got my plot in February this year and it's been THE best thing I ever did Had so much fun...and frustration at the weeds...aching muscles...excitement...realisation that home grown really DOES taste better than the watery mush in supermarkets and found it to be the most relaxing place ever!

I tend to just use pencil & paper as Vixylix has already said and did a basic outline of the plot and marked on where the permanent structures (greenhouse, shed, polytunnel) where and then sketched in various bed ideas. Must admit I wasn't perfect this first year but I've learnt a lot and am now looking forward to next season Already got a LOT of ideas to put in place so next year should be even better than this first one....in theory

[Aberdeenplotter]

As a long in the tooth plotter when I moved plots 3 seasons ago, I was looking at a 30 ft wide plot x 140 ft long. There was no fence across the top and that with an integral gate was my first priority. I left parking space outside and as there were no buildings on the plot I virtually had a blank canvas to work on. I say virtually because across the bottom, the previous tenant had about a dozen plastic barrels full of soil. Wouldn't normally have been a problem but they were sunk half way into the ground.

Anyway, I had to place my shed, my greenhouse, my polytunnel and compost bins. A sheet of graph paper a ruler and a pencil were my best friends.

By the way, I laid 2ft wide slabs from top to bottom right down the middle of the plot so that I had manageable beds on either side of the path.

[janzbro]

Hi, there are quite a few planners about but most are free trials like this for 30days http://www.growveg.com/freetrial.aspx
The only totally free one I could find was Vegetable Planner but this more for planning what goes in a veg bed upto 12x4 rather than a whole plot but cant see why you cant do this / print and then put these beds on a plot plan of the allotment