New to this allotment thing!

Hi everyone - we're new to this allotment thing having just been given one in our local area.  Looking at other posts I think we are quite lucky in that our bit of the allotment has just been recovered from the farmer (who had took it over a few years ago due to lack of interest - now interest has increased he has released it back to the council!).  Prior to giving the land back he generously ploughed it so it is not covered by weeds etc!  Definate bonus.  The only down side is that the earth is probably full of pesticides and fertilisers and what ever else he has used on his crops in the past.  If the rain holds up off up there tomorrow to start digging it over and planning where to put things!
 
The choice of what to grow was not very scientific - we had a vote in the family about what we should grow and have tried to pick things that look easy but we will eat!  

My daughter asked for melons - particularly water melon but would settle for any type - is it possible to grow melons in this country - even here in semi tropical suffolk, and if so do they take up a lot of space - I can remember agreeing to plant some pumpkin seeds for her from out of her halloween pumpkin several years ago and them taking over the garden - are melons similar?  Any advice gratefully received.

Many thanks and looking forward to a year of fantastic home grown veg!!

Jane

welcome nieghhhhhhhbour .yes ya can grow  melons in suffolk  if ya got a green house or a tunnel ,ya dont need a biggun ( do ya shaun   ) just have ""someone "" knock up a frame from roofing lathes and cover it with builders plastic  and you can lay that over the ground you want to grow them on it will need anchoring well im up in lowestoft or there abouts and a chap grows one or 2 a year that ways  

""?"" political correctness as i dont know if you have the skills to make one or not being a lady      ..

oh and as its farm land it will be limited to how much chemical is in it ,, dump loads manure in it for now,, ask tha farmer if he has any  

my boss has had 20 tonnes of turkey muck dumped  on the field behind our house ... loverly fella    my gardens gonna love it