New allotment - few questions

[Griffsters]

Hi all

After many years waiting and pretty much given up on it, I got an offer through the post for a half plot on an allotment nearby

I'm completely new to gardening, my gardening skills are quite literally limited to mowing the lawn a few times a year so this is likely to be a steep learning curve for me! I do have the urge to grow some fresh fruit & veg tho. Over the coming weeks i'm hoping to get enough dry weekend days to dig over and prepare my plot ready to planting in spring or earlier. Initial thoughts are raspberries, strawberries, some herbs, carrots, celery, tomatoes but will be trying read up and assess what is do-able for a novice to get going.

A picture of my plot:



I'm basically planning on removing everything and digging over the soil. Except there are a couple that I might want to salvage if possible. First one is a Rhubarb plant. It is looking quite sorry for itself, here is a picture - is it salvageable and if so what is best to do with it?



Second one - what is this? There looks like a little patch of them surrounded by dead brambles and weeds. Depending on what it is I may try and keep it for next season.



Lastly, I have a metal frame on the plot. What is best to do with it! I think for growing raspberries or similar? Not something for me to worry about now I guess but i want to know how best to make use of it when planning what to grow.



Thanks for any help, suggestions etc

[veggiechicken]

Hello and welcome to the Forum. Looks a nice open plot with some decent paths. You can always move the slabs later if you don't like the layout,
Rhubarb looks like that at this time of year. You don't need to do anything with it, just let it die back - unless you want to move it. A dollop of well rotted manure might help.
The green leaves look like some sort of spinach - maybe spinach beet/chard.
The frame is part of a greenhouse. Would make a good basis for a runner bean frame.

You'll be given different suggestions to mine. Its like that here. Ask one question, get 6 different answers

[Griffsters]

Thanks, I guess that is part of the charm of an allotment. Everyone can do their own thing and that's ok Different ideas are good, food for thought!

Glad to hear that about the rhubarb, think i'll weed around it and put some compost over when I do the rest. See what happens.

[Martin H]

I was going to make the same comments as VeggieChicken. Except I will remove all the topgrowth except for the rhubarb, stack the slabs somewhere and dig over the entire plot as weather permits this winter, aiming to be done by March.

Once you've decided where to put them, you should get some raspberry canes in the ground. You should find some decent bargains on bare-root plants and you want to get them in while they are dormant. Autumn-fruiting ones will give you a good crop next year, summer-fruiting ones the year after. I got mine from Ken Muir but plenty of other suppliers are available.

Oh, and welcome to the vine.

[Nicos]

And a huge welcome to the Vine from me too!

[Griffsters]

Thanks Martin. I'd not thought about digging the whole plot at this point but it does make sense to do that, then put the slabs back down to the plan I end up with I'm hoping to catch an allotment holder on site this weekend to see if there is a communal shed I can store a few tools etc, other wise i'll need to factor in getting a small storage box on there i think. Could do with getting a few do's / don't there as well from some old hands. Knowing me i'll merrily be doing something that's irritating the hell out of someone else

I'm going to measure up properly as well tomorrow to try and get some sort of plan together.

[Bigmallly]

Hi Griffters & welcome to the Jungle, are you allowed to put up a greenhouse as would be ideal for toms, peppers, cucumbers etc. The slabs could be used for paths if you have large beds, they'll help divide them. You might be able to pick up some Raspberry canes & Strawberry runners from other plot holders...........They're usually a friendly bunch.

[Guest]

Hi and welcome to the vine

[Griffsters]

Thanks all. BigmAlly - think I may struggle for a greenhouse with size of plot? Also there are other greenhouses on the site but all are around the edge so me putting one in the middle might not go down too well! Depending on how hooked I get there may be room in our back garden for a one... the seed has been sown (pardon the pun) with the other half

[WendyC]

Welcome to the Vine and congratulations on your new plot. An excellent time of year to get started. I'd agree with Martin about clearing the top growth and digging over. There you will begin to get to know what the soil is like, any wet patches, stony parts etc. look out for perennial weed roots, they'll be about the only ones deep in the soil at this time of year. Cover as you dig, with cardboard, manure or landscape fabric. It's been mild and weeds are still growing, well here any way.
My layout is very simple. I sectioned off one end of about a fifth at the sunniest end for fruit. Then made a cross through the centre of the rest for a path. That gives you four beds to rotate your crops in.
Before putting up greenhouses or sheds, do check your tenancy agreement for what is allowed and where they can be sited. Best to find out before investing time and money. Good luck!

[Lisasbolt]

Helcome to the vine,
How exciting on your allotment, lovely time of year to get one when everything is dying back and easier for you to clear. You now have time to think and plan what you want to do for the first year.
I would highly recommend tomatoes, you have never tasted a real tomato till you have a home grown one. With not having a green house i would start some seeds of in January on your kitchen windowsill re potting as they get big and plant them into your plot weather depending in May (late) i would make some tomato cages. then search the threads so much info on toms.
If you like them courgettes are very easy and plentiful. If you get a nice summer it is always lovely to grow some winter squash like butternut or spaghetti squash, they can take up some room.
Whatever you do i wish you the best of luck and there is a lot of helpful grapes on here

[Griffsters]

Thank you Wendy & Lisa, such good info and ideas coming from everyone. I think some dead certs for my plot are some berry bushes (Rasperries, Strawberries likely) and some Toms - will do some seeding in Jan thx for the tips. Off down there in the rain shortly to measure up and see if anyone is there to get to know site etiquette. Doubt it somehow, its wee'ing down

[hamamelis]

Problem with asking people at the site for etiquette rules is that they may have somewhat different ideas about what's allowed and what isn't!

Did you get a tenancy agreement?

Ps, for the best advice here, put your location in your profile. The best things to grow are a bit different in Cornwall from the Scottish Highlands!

[Griffsters]

Problem with asking people at the site for etiquette rules is that they may have somewhat different ideas about what's allowed and what isn't!

Did you get a tenancy agreement?

Ps, for the best advice here, put your location in your profile. The best things to grow are a bit different in Cornwall from the Scottish Highlands!

Very true indeed that. For some reason i cant edit my profile, tried to earlier but says I don't have permission to do so Thought it must be a new member thing I'm on the outskirts of Rochdale btw

I did get an agreement and covers most things regarding structures, noise, nuisance care of plot etc. As i'm about to clear the plot I could do with confirming where I can put the dead plants and bushes etc. There is what looks to be an area outside the boundary of the allotment where this stuff is piled but don't really want to start piling stuff on there without confirming its ok. Sounds daft i know but hey, i'm new to this

There looks to be a shed that isn't on a plot and is next to a communal lawned area, i'm wondering if it *might* be a shared storage shed...don't know. If so, this would help initially rather than taking tools with me each time I go until i'm sorted. Need a barrow etc arrgh

Think i'll drop the Council allotments folk an email and see if there is a committee I can contact directly.

thanks all

[Martin H]

I would pile all the vegetatative stuff up in a corner as compact as I can and leave it to rot down. Lots of free goodness locked up in there!

You'll be able to edit your profile after 10 posts or so, so try again next week.

Good idea to ask about on-site help / committee arrangements. Like on our site, there's always people from the committee in the hut from 11-12 on Saturdays and Sundays from March to November, mostly nattering and drinking tea.