Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat

Welcome => Welcome to the Forums => Topic started by: theplotbegins on June 13, 2018, 07:08

Title: Greeting from another allotment newbie
Post by: theplotbegins on June 13, 2018, 07:08

We've just heard that our allotment application has been approved.  :)
It's a half plot on clay soil filled with the usual perennial and annual weeds.
Lots of hard work ahead so no plans to grow very much just lots of preparation for next year.
In the interim drooling over other people's veggies and browsing seed catalogues.

Title: Re: Greeting from another allotment newbie
Post by: snowdrops on June 13, 2018, 08:23

Exciting days, you could start a diary on here to record your progress, you can add pictures as you go along, good when the going gets tough & you can see your progress 😊

Title: Re: Greeting from another allotment newbie
Post by: sunshineband on June 13, 2018, 08:47

Welcome to the forum and congratulations on getting your first plot too. Depending on how your prep goes, you might be able to plant Autumn Onions and garlic to overwinter, or maybe even some Spring Cabbages as these wouldn't be planted until September.

Don't despair is that clay soil is baked solid... it'll soften up when it rains and clay soils are easily improve with lots of added organic matter like home made compost, and of course they are very fertile

PS Yo can start a compost bin straight away and use any soft green weeds plus kitchen veggie waste and shredded paper/newspaper/torn up egg boxes to get that going!

Title: Re: Greeting from another allotment newbie
Post by: New shoot on June 13, 2018, 11:24

Hi and welcome to the forum  :)

My plot is clay soil as well.  It does have its challenges - baked hard or sticky gloop stages being a couple of them, but it has its benefits.  Water retention in drought is good, nutrient retention is good and you can grow some great crops on it  :)

Title: Re: Greeting from another allotment newbie
Post by: theplotbegins on June 14, 2018, 06:10

Thank you everyone for your warm welcome and words of encouragement.
 :D

Title: Re: Greeting from another allotment newbie
Post by: Plot 1 Problems on June 14, 2018, 08:13

Good luck and learn to love the clay! As said above, get composting, you'll want as much organic matter in your soil as possible to make it more workable in the longterm.

Title: Re: Greeting from another allotment newbie
Post by: Fairy Plotmother on June 14, 2018, 09:36

👋🏻👋🏻 Hello and welcome. I just love making compost just as sunshineband says. I chop up everything including cardboard and newspaper.

Title: Re: Greeting from another allotment newbie
Post by: Yorkie on July 01, 2018, 21:19

Welcome and congratulations.

I think the soil is generally too hard to make weeding meaningful - you just leave the roots in the soil at the moment.  So get planning and composting, and wait for slightly cooler weather!

Title: Re: Greeting from another allotment newbie
Post by: theplotbegins on July 02, 2018, 07:07

Thank you.
Just cleared the manky carpet and other rubbish to the tip. Waiting for moisture and cooler temperatures....

Title: Re: Greeting from another allotment newbie
Post by: sunshineband on July 02, 2018, 08:58

Quote from: theplotbegins on July 02, 2018, 07:07

Thank you.
Just cleared the manky carpet and other rubbish to the tip. Waiting for moisture and cooler temperatures....

{{{Deep sigh}}}} as so many of us are  ::)