[Ras Skipper]

Hi, i'm new:)
Just got my plot and have not had time to read through everything on here just yet (I will do though).
So where to start eh? Do I just start digging around to open up the soil, then remove weeds etc.
I will probably find out fairly soon anyway, but thanks for any advice in advance

Cheers

[Yorkie]

Welcome to the site 

I've moved this over to Grow Your Own as it's a specific question about growing your own; feel free to pop back into Welcome to introduce yourself and tell us about your plot if you want to

http://www.allotment-garden.org/articles/Clearing_a_New_Allotment.php is a useful article on the Info pages on the site, have a look there to start with and there's been quite a few posts about this over the last few weeks so feel free to have a browse too.

here's a few random pointers too, though.

Now is the best time to get the plot ready over winter for next season. 

Do a bit at a time, don't overdo it and get to the point where your back hurts and you wish you'd never started!

If you want to grow garlic for harvesting next summer, then it goes into the ground in the next month or so.

Take before and after photos, always take a flask of tea down to the site, and take your time to get a feel for what you'd like to do next year and where.

Don't manure where you plan to grow parsnips and carrots.

And enjoy 

[whippersnapper]

I'd say preparation. I started about this time last year and spent a good few months doing just that.

Like you say, get digging and clearing and it'll make the Spring so much easier. Plus if you leave the ground fairly clumpy, the frost will do much of the hard work for you. Get composting, if you haven't already and get a decent book like Dr D.G. Hessayon's expert guide.

Have fun!

[Yorkie]

Or even the books by our own esteemed site owner, John Harrison, which are fab 

[Ras Skipper]

Thanks for the speedy replys guys!
Im going to read through "Clearing a New Allotment" and get on with the task:P Quite excited to tell you the truth ahah. I'll photograph the whole process. Just want to get my chillis and hot peppers growing (Naga's!!) oh, and my hops.

Thanks again

Guy

[Yorkie]

re. hops, there have been some older posts on this - try a forum search to locate them when you're ready for them