[Stepharoo78]

Hi there.  I've just my first allotment and have soooo many questions...but, to start...the first thing I noticed about it was that it slopes from north to south (the lowest bit is at the north end).  

So, should I take this into account when I design which veggies I'm going to put where?  I'd like to try butternut squash, carrots and potatoes this year.

[compostqueen]

if it slopes it should be free draining - you might even be able to grow vines

[Stripey_cat]

So long as it doesn't slope too steeply, you should be OK.  If it is a steep north-facing slope, you may find that it doesn't get enough sun, as well as the erosion problem.  If so, make sure you don't plant something tall at the southern end!  Also, you'll want your beds/rows running north-south so they don't shade each other, but if it is steep enough to erode, that'll make it worse.  You'll have to experiment!

[compostqueen]

you could make a raised bed at the bottom, sort of terraced across the slope

[Stepharoo78]

Thanks for the advice - maybe I don't need to worry about it too much then.  If it keeps on raining the whole thing will be a paddyfield anyway!