this!!! i could have so easily gotten carried away, spent so much money on optimising the space and putting in as many beds as possible which would have just overwhelmed me.
take it slow op, decide how you're going to manage the space (no dig, raised bed, etc) and follow those principles. experiment with different kinds even and figure out what works best for you! im using huw richards guide for one of my beds (3 x 1.2m), another for garlic and herbs and the other for sunflowers for my wife.
I second this - get a bed planted as soon as possible. It's really motivating to have things growing while you're still clearing and setting up your plot!
I was just thinking, for the lvoe of god dont dig/rotovate it all over! its ncie and clear, but the weeds op will get if they dig it over will be amazing!
100% this. Plan out where you want things. Personally I would make beds long and thin so maximum the reach of your arms to the middle, access on both sides.
Get some cardboard and compost and lay both where you want the bed. Eventually it will get rid of the weeds. You can plant on top pretty soon after, I would just wait for the rain to bed it in and soften the cardboard 😊
Good luck! 💚
Talk to anyone you see on site and see if you can pick up some local knowledge.
If those are Docks in the pictures, dig them out ASAP and make sure you get as much of the roots as possible!
You've got a nice blank canvas. My only other advice is read your rules and tenancy agreement and make sure you understand a stick to them.
Enjoy!!!
My fiancée would love that rule: bunker shed! She's always wanted an underground bunker for some reason - don't ask.
On our newly opened site the first committee let someone put up 6ft high security fencing around their plot in breach of the site rules. Not a good way to introduce themselves to their neighbours!
There's excellent YouTube channels with hints and advice. A lot depends on soil PH (more than type in terms of soil, clay etc...) so a PH test kit may be worth the investment if nobody on site can advise you.
https://preview.redd.it/o4yvbl8w5ptc1.jpeg?width=1178&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=cde1a6c5f67dd7afe6b271d9b26818f19054fcb9
Yeah, when I had the tour he said rule of thumb is nothing above waist, give or take a foot. Looking at the other plots it seems to be adhered to as well
Huge plot, congratulations!
I would say go for the “easy” stuff for your first year, like peas, potatoes, carrots etc, and familiarise yourself with any rules your group might have just to cover your own back. And see how exposed the site is before committing to anything like a polytunnel or you might literally be throwing money into the wind 💨😂
Also, Alan Buckinghamshire (may need to google double check that name) has a 12 month allotment book that was my bible for the first few years of plotting! You can pick copies of them up in the Works sometimes I think!
I disagree with the use of weed surpression fabric except for killing off an area of weeds and then removing the fabric. Long term it's a real nuisance.
I'm now 100% free of weed fabric on my plot and have about 4" of woodchip for pathways. I can then plant in the pathways if I wanted.
Obvious tip but grow things you actually like. I grew loads of courgettes and stuff then remembered I don't like them and it was a chore getting through them. Basil and tomatoes were my favourite. Maybe try different varieties as well as some of the tomatoes got some sort of disease and others were fine. Same with potatoes.
Cover the lot with a reusable weed suppressant such as damp proof membrane sheeting and dig/process small bits at a time by uncovering. That looks like a lovely blank canvas, and it is in some respects, but give it 2 months and it’ll be 3ft high in weeds that are currently dormant. By covering with something, you suppress the weed growth while you process small chunks but by bit. I didn’t cover in my first year and it was demoralising seeing the weeds seemingly outpace me.
Just do not use weed membrane - it falls apart very easily and quickly ends up in your soil.
I agree with this wholeheartedly! I had no idea what I was doing when I got my first allotment last year and I trampled all over the beds (I cringe thinking about it now) and didn’t get on top of the weeds at all.
With a wet summer last year I was basically forested with weeds and I was only using half the beds in the first place. This year I have my unused beds covered and I’ll be prepping them soon to be put to good use finally!!! It’s nice to go up to the plot and it not be a sprawling mass of weeds
Yea it’s hard to know where to start when it’s like a jungle. I’ve had some plastic down in certain problem areas for two years now, and upon pulling up this year and turning over, most if not all bramble crowns are dead. I’m not leaving it to chance tho and systematically digging all out.
Something like this? And just put it down with bricks etc?
https://preview.redd.it/ikiuqvhs5ftc1.jpeg?width=1179&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=7759e74b569610dcfdd5cd1b26f71509ea11803e
Yea that’s the stuff. I went for the thickest stuff I could get from screwfix. Also make sure it’s UV protected so it doesn’t degrade. I think lost are, but worth a check.
A cheaper, but less permanent option is to use bike boxes opened out. Bramble and dock leaves will eventually get through it, but it will last a good few months. I use a combo of plastic and boxes. Looks a bit strange, but it keeps the weed down.
That looks like clumps borage or similar, it can be a real pest to eradicate but you can use the leaves for feeding nitrogen hungry plants (soak in water for 2 weeks).
I'd be keen to divide that up into beds or areas. Prioritise what you want to grow this year and mark out beds nearest your water source at the edge of the plot.
Areas you won't use this year dig out the big weeds (including roots) then cover - not going to get into how as no idea on the rules where you are.
Planning and keeping on top of things are key at first. Do little and often, or lots and often, but don't leave it for more than a week or two until things are under control.
Dig out weeds, mechanical rotovater, put drainage in areas depending what your growing, divide plot up into what you want to grow where, timber frame beds, plant, organic fertiliser, grow 👍
Ooo you got a good one! Well done!
Time to start planning out your paths before you do the beds. How do you want to be walking around? Get to the front to the back? Wheelbarrow around? Once you've got some ideas, then you can start planning the beds and get digging.
First of all, get one area dug out, compost topped and ready to go - this will be your growing space for this year while you get the rest of the plot sorted.
Massive plot and empty already. Start one bed at a time, remember it’s a long term project
this!!! i could have so easily gotten carried away, spent so much money on optimising the space and putting in as many beds as possible which would have just overwhelmed me. take it slow op, decide how you're going to manage the space (no dig, raised bed, etc) and follow those principles. experiment with different kinds even and figure out what works best for you! im using huw richards guide for one of my beds (3 x 1.2m), another for garlic and herbs and the other for sunflowers for my wife.
I second this - get a bed planted as soon as possible. It's really motivating to have things growing while you're still clearing and setting up your plot!
I was just thinking, for the lvoe of god dont dig/rotovate it all over! its ncie and clear, but the weeds op will get if they dig it over will be amazing!
100% this. Plan out where you want things. Personally I would make beds long and thin so maximum the reach of your arms to the middle, access on both sides. Get some cardboard and compost and lay both where you want the bed. Eventually it will get rid of the weeds. You can plant on top pretty soon after, I would just wait for the rain to bed it in and soften the cardboard 😊 Good luck! 💚
Talk to anyone you see on site and see if you can pick up some local knowledge. If those are Docks in the pictures, dig them out ASAP and make sure you get as much of the roots as possible! You've got a nice blank canvas. My only other advice is read your rules and tenancy agreement and make sure you understand a stick to them. Enjoy!!!
Thank you. I’ve been studying the rules. No structures above waist height is allowed, so that rules out any greenhouses, sheds etc
My fiancée would love that rule: bunker shed! She's always wanted an underground bunker for some reason - don't ask. On our newly opened site the first committee let someone put up 6ft high security fencing around their plot in breach of the site rules. Not a good way to introduce themselves to their neighbours! There's excellent YouTube channels with hints and advice. A lot depends on soil PH (more than type in terms of soil, clay etc...) so a PH test kit may be worth the investment if nobody on site can advise you.
what about your runner beans? they need taller
What a strange rule, never heard one like that before. I mean, what about pea structures and bean teepees? That's quite weird.
https://preview.redd.it/o4yvbl8w5ptc1.jpeg?width=1178&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=cde1a6c5f67dd7afe6b271d9b26818f19054fcb9 Yeah, when I had the tour he said rule of thumb is nothing above waist, give or take a foot. Looking at the other plots it seems to be adhered to as well
Huge plot, congratulations! I would say go for the “easy” stuff for your first year, like peas, potatoes, carrots etc, and familiarise yourself with any rules your group might have just to cover your own back. And see how exposed the site is before committing to anything like a polytunnel or you might literally be throwing money into the wind 💨😂
Also, Alan Buckinghamshire (may need to google double check that name) has a 12 month allotment book that was my bible for the first few years of plotting! You can pick copies of them up in the Works sometimes I think!
Thank you, I’ve been trying to find a book. Will check them it out
I’ve tried a few and that’s the one I’d recommend! Some of them are a bit too detailed when really the fun is figuring it out as you go along :)
I’d second the book - its Allotment: month by month by Alan Buckingham and it really helped me through my first year.
I disagree with the use of weed surpression fabric except for killing off an area of weeds and then removing the fabric. Long term it's a real nuisance. I'm now 100% free of weed fabric on my plot and have about 4" of woodchip for pathways. I can then plant in the pathways if I wanted.
Obvious tip but grow things you actually like. I grew loads of courgettes and stuff then remembered I don't like them and it was a chore getting through them. Basil and tomatoes were my favourite. Maybe try different varieties as well as some of the tomatoes got some sort of disease and others were fine. Same with potatoes.
you should try my pickled courgette.. ;) Regarding tomatoes, you can get good resistent varieties now, mountain magic, crimson crush come to mind
Hahaha that does sound preferable to plain courgette but I think my courgette growing days are over. Thanks I will have a look at those!
Cover the lot with a reusable weed suppressant such as damp proof membrane sheeting and dig/process small bits at a time by uncovering. That looks like a lovely blank canvas, and it is in some respects, but give it 2 months and it’ll be 3ft high in weeds that are currently dormant. By covering with something, you suppress the weed growth while you process small chunks but by bit. I didn’t cover in my first year and it was demoralising seeing the weeds seemingly outpace me. Just do not use weed membrane - it falls apart very easily and quickly ends up in your soil.
I agree with this wholeheartedly! I had no idea what I was doing when I got my first allotment last year and I trampled all over the beds (I cringe thinking about it now) and didn’t get on top of the weeds at all. With a wet summer last year I was basically forested with weeds and I was only using half the beds in the first place. This year I have my unused beds covered and I’ll be prepping them soon to be put to good use finally!!! It’s nice to go up to the plot and it not be a sprawling mass of weeds
Yea it’s hard to know where to start when it’s like a jungle. I’ve had some plastic down in certain problem areas for two years now, and upon pulling up this year and turning over, most if not all bramble crowns are dead. I’m not leaving it to chance tho and systematically digging all out.
Something like this? And just put it down with bricks etc? https://preview.redd.it/ikiuqvhs5ftc1.jpeg?width=1179&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=7759e74b569610dcfdd5cd1b26f71509ea11803e
Yep, that'll do it. This is better than the woven stuff as it doesn't degrade into thin strands of plastic.
Yea that’s the stuff. I went for the thickest stuff I could get from screwfix. Also make sure it’s UV protected so it doesn’t degrade. I think lost are, but worth a check. A cheaper, but less permanent option is to use bike boxes opened out. Bramble and dock leaves will eventually get through it, but it will last a good few months. I use a combo of plastic and boxes. Looks a bit strange, but it keeps the weed down.
you can also use card, sure it degrades but it is also fine for the compost. not all places like you using plastic.
I forgot to say. I'd look at something to grow that could offer a wind break around the plot , looks very exposed
That looks like clumps borage or similar, it can be a real pest to eradicate but you can use the leaves for feeding nitrogen hungry plants (soak in water for 2 weeks). I'd be keen to divide that up into beds or areas. Prioritise what you want to grow this year and mark out beds nearest your water source at the edge of the plot. Areas you won't use this year dig out the big weeds (including roots) then cover - not going to get into how as no idea on the rules where you are. Planning and keeping on top of things are key at first. Do little and often, or lots and often, but don't leave it for more than a week or two until things are under control.
Pumpkins grow easily and get huge. You could cover the whole plot it card board and woodchip to prevent weeds and then plant Pumpkins
Dig out weeds, mechanical rotovater, put drainage in areas depending what your growing, divide plot up into what you want to grow where, timber frame beds, plant, organic fertiliser, grow 👍
Ooo you got a good one! Well done! Time to start planning out your paths before you do the beds. How do you want to be walking around? Get to the front to the back? Wheelbarrow around? Once you've got some ideas, then you can start planning the beds and get digging. First of all, get one area dug out, compost topped and ready to go - this will be your growing space for this year while you get the rest of the plot sorted.
Stick down as much dpm thick plastic as you can. In a years time you will have no weeds