Allotment for beginners

No practical advice, just bumping this up for you.

Congratulations on getting an allotment! We are on several waiting lists but nothing so far.
I think, from what I've read, the first job is to prepare the soil. It should be dug over to get rid of weeds, with manure added. Then follow planting advice on Youtube or other gardening sites, depending on what you want to grow. All veg, or a mixture of veg and flowers? If there is a greenhouse on the plot you could start off your seeds in there. Otherwise, check the seed packets to see when is the best planting time. Good luck!

If you don't have the energy to dig it all over, buy some weed suppressant plastic and cover the beds. Its permeable so the rain will go through. You can cut holes in it for planting. We have been doing this for several years now and it saves our backs, DH is nearly 83 and I think we would have given up without doing this. If you have a Wilko near you, they are excellent for reasonably priced garden tools etc. I will be starting my seeds off in a couple of days time.

You might like to look at Charles Dowding no dig method. You will probably find your allotment neighbours helpful and most will share some plants with newbies.

Join this site
www.allotment-garden.org/ It’s very helpful, you can ask questions and get emails every few weeks, it has a section on what to do monthly, loads and loads, it’s my go to site. I had an allotment for 10 years, then we went abroad, so gave it up, I got a half plot last autumn, so started out again. My main advice is start with one small area at a time, grow what you like to eat, if you have one, join your local society/group and never be afraid to ask people for help or advice. We all started knowing nothing, I still learn loads all the time and enjoy!

We had an allotment for at least 25 years but health issues forced us to give it up.

If I had my time over again, I would definitely go for raised beds or at least the sort of beds you see Monty doing in his veg garden.

I would never walk on them and shove compost. On every autumn, let the worms do their work and start off the year again.

Congratulations I too had to give mine up due to ill health. Enjoy the learning curve and when in doubt get advise from the other Allotmenteers on the site, fountain of knowledge and expertise.

Charles Dowding method is the way to go, plenty of YouTube videos of his to watch, we followed his method last year.

I got my first (half) allotment a year last November when a friend asked if I d like half hers I did dig it all over as it was very overgrown I planted lots of stuff, but the things I had most success with (so maybe easiest to grow ) were potatoes, onions, shallots, courgettes and chard I also inherited a lot of raspberry bushes 2 gooseberry bushes a big strawberry patch rhubarb and an artichoke plant and was given some tomato plants by a neighbouring allotmenter At the bottom end we share apple pear and damson trees
I didn’t have any success with spinach, broccoli, or kale and although the sweet corn I planted grew huge and produced corns they never filled out I think that might have been a watering issue
I d stick to easy things the first year and add as you go along and remember to rotate where you grow them and yes a great bit advise is talk to other allotment holders

Once your plot is ready to plant, onion sets are a good thing to start with. I've grown them from seed before but sets are much easier. Peas are easy to grow and freeze really well - DH and DGS's love to pick and eat them straight from the pod. If you're going to grow potatoes plant second early and main crop this year. Second earlies are planted around mid April and main crops early May. It will be too late for first earlies this year by the time you are ready to plant. Buy your seed potatoes now (hopefully there are still some available in places like Wilko) so they can begin to chit to give them a good start when planted. Don't be too ambitious the first year, grow a few things you like and add more each year as you get more confident. Other allotment holders will be more than happy to share their expertise. I never had that as our veg garden is on our field and I missed having someone to ask for advice. Good luck.

I have a council allotment of 265 square yards.

I was worried that I would do everything wrong, but I found everyone very helpful that first year. I also joined the same online allotment forum as Jaxjacky, and for the first two years posted questions everyday during the growing season.

You must grow what you like! I also grow what is expensive in the shops, for example my first early new potatoes are chitting upstairs, and they will go in when Monty Don puts his in. From the allotment at the moment I am harvesting purple sprouting broccoli which is delicious and far removed from anything in the supermarket. Both of the above are quite expensive in the supermarket but very inexpensive to grow.

It is hard work, but even so, when you can pick your own veg and fruit all summer, and make jams pickles and chutneys, it's all worth it.

Just go steady and do abit at a time, start with half an hour there, and then build up from that. That way your muscles will get used to it without complaining too much.

What to grow this year? If it were me I would put a few rows of potatoes, some onion sets, and maybe some courgettes. They are all so easy to grow, and won't need netting from the birds, etc.

Good luck, and enjoy those moments when you are digging and the robin is pecking round your fork, and the blackbirds are singing!

Congratulations - you will have fun.

Best advice - keep on top of weeds - don't let them go to seed

Do some version of "no dig" - much easier in the long run.

Think of what you enjoy eating, and if space is limited - what is expensive - ie sprouting broccoli over onions.

Look at what grows well in the allotments around you - and ask for advice - most will be happy to help.

Don't overdo it - find your "happy time" - be it 1 hour or 2 hours and leave it there.

Even experienced gardeners have failures - so don't despair.

Some things take time to establish - eg apple tree (my Bramley now supplies several families happily) and asparagus - but worth it if you love them

Autumn raspberries - so easy

Mixed salad leaves, spinach - always have family wanting these

Most seeds can be planted from now - I do most direct to soil - often do short rows and "transplant" many - eg salad leaves say thin - but choose a day when the soil is damp and they will happily replant - even took some 20 miles to a friend and they supplied them all summer.

Wilkos seeds are often cheap - and just as successful and Lidl do a limited range - can recommend their mange tout (although if you plant peas and mangetout - have a system to know which is which - I plant at right angles)

Peas are amazing fresh, as are beans

Enjoy

My advice is grow the things you like to eat. I have had great success with courgettes sweet corn runner, broad and french beans beetroot and tomatoes . However beware of blight if you plant the toms outdoors