[SCARECROW]

Hi, I have just signed up for my first allotment and was trawling through the internet for ideas and found your site and forums, I have found them very informative, however i have plenty of questions....

First of all i'd like to say i'm not a total novice when it comes to gardening, at home i grow strawberries, raspberries, blackcurrants, braeburn and baking apples, cherries and rhubarb,

To start with here is my first question (i have many more)

The allotment i have taken on only this week is 250m2 and has not been cultivated for a couple of years now and is three foot high with grass and weeds, would it be best if i was to strim it and start off my composting with this waste, then double dig all the rooted grass thats left into the ground taking out all the perennial weeds as i go?

i realise through reading this site that October would have been the best time to start, but is it too late to realistically hope to get much in the way of crops out of it this year?

I don't want to go for the no dig method!

[John]

When I took on my first plot it was December and I became ill so couldn't get on to it for a few months.

Take a look at the article I diid on clearing an allotment (which I am expanding) but don't worry.  

For now I would strim then just skim the top weedy turves off. Pile them face down and they'll be loam in 6 months. Dig over and pull any docks etc as you go.

Plant up behind you - that way you will get some crops. It all depends on how much time and energy you have how much you'll get done. Even if you only get half done this year, you'll at least be able to get some reward for your efforts.

I reckon you'll get more than you may expect right now. It always looks daunting when you start a plot..

Good luck and do let us know how you go.