[shelley.s]

Hi all,

I get the lease on my first ever allotment on monday and ive got loads of questions before i sign.

When i put my name down for a plot i had quite alot of free time and my partner wasnt workng so he was going to be managing it but i put our name down at the beginning of the year then kind of forgot id done it. I got a call today saying theres a plot free and its ours as of monday and im totally overwhelmed. Ive forgotten all the research that i did at the beginning of the year and my partner is now working full time so it'll be down to me. Im concerned i might not have enough time to tend to it  I work 3 days a week and i have a toddler too so i'll mainly be doing it at the weekends although my friend will be helping with it in the week. I dont want to pass on the oppertunity so i want to have a go and if it doesnt work then at least i tried.

Ive absolutly no idea about growing fruit and veg, ive grown green beans before and strawberries but thats all. What seeds should i be sowing in October?

Thanks 

[LilacSandy]

Hi Shelley and welcome.  What state is your plot in? have you taken over a well worked plot or is it full of weeds? also can you update your profile so the guys know where you are to advise you what to plant and when.

[sunshineband]

Hi there Shelley, and welcome to the forum.

I am sure that with careful planning you will manage your plot just fine. Think of those fantastic oportunities to get your toddler involved in growing food, too 

When you have seen your plot, and know what state it is in, come back to see what you could maybe do first 

[daisy1990]

Hi Shelley

you will probably spend most of the winter digging, weeding and getting the plot ready for spring.  Preparation really does pay off, but the work you put in to start is disproportionate to the reward!  It is at this time that lots of newbies give up, but persevere and you will be glad that you did!  There is very little that you can plant so late in the season, so if I were you I would concentrate on getting ready for next year by preparing the soil and reading lots of seed catalogues!

good luck

[shelley.s]

Hi & thanks for the welcome  

Im in Horsham, West Sussex (England)

Ive not seen the plot yet (thats the bit im scared about!)

I dont have any details until monday but i'll update you as soon as i can. It was a really unexpected phone call and i feel so unprepared.

Im kind of glad nothing needs sewing yet because i might need time to prepare the ground!

Ive got tools and things i can use (my dad and uncle have rotivators and things) but ive no idea how to make stuff look all nice with the trelisses and stuff. Im really excited, i just hope im not biting off more than i can chew.

My little boy will love it but im concerned he might get in the way, he's only 18months old but he's very good with the trowl in grandads garden so i'm sure that'll keep him entertained for a while! I really want him to grow up around nature and we dont have a garden so an allotment is perfect really, i dont want him thinking that burgers grow out the ground  

[Yorkie]

Welcome to the site and congrats on your new lotty 

There are some monthly guides here:
http://www.allotment-garden.org/garden_month.php

[gavinjconway]

Hi Shelley - just take it a week at a time - you cant do it all at once!!  Over time you will get it to what you need. Clear, prepare and grow. Start small and grow your knowledge and plot together. I've been growing on my roof top garden and 2 small garden shares. I've also just got my first allotment. I move on to it on 1 Oct.. cant wait.

[shelley.s]

Well i went to see my plot today....

Its amazing 

Ive got a shed and a green house  at the plot is about 15ft by 10 ft! The majority of it is bedded and there is already loads growing

We have goosberries, asparagus, a whole green house full of the tastiest tomateos, raspberries, blackcurrants, im soooo chuffed. There's alot of plants growing whic im not suree of what they are, is it possible to get plant ID's on here?

[mumofstig]

Lucky you, that's really lucky 

Post pics of your plants and we can probably id them

[JayG]

There's alot of plants growing whic im not suree of what they are, is it possible to get plant ID's on here?

Here's the deal; you post the pics, we'll all positively ID have a stab at ID! 


(Sounds like you're already off to a head start with your plot - congratulations!)

[Windsong]

Very lucky indeed. Can't wait to see the pics.

[gavinjconway]

Lucky  Lucky to get everything thrown in ... enjoy it...

[shelley.s]

Thanks all 

I went down again tonight to have another look with my friend, couldnt resist lol but it was too dark for pics so i'll get some more in the morning! We have 2 huge Rhubarb plants and what looks like strawberry plants, these also 2 apple tree's. Theres garlic and onions growing in the root bed and there's potateos too but the are green?

[daisy1990]

the potatoes wont have been earthed up, the light makes them green.  dont be tempted to eat them green spuds can be poisonous

[shelley.s]

Ah ok! We started clearing the grass today around the apple trees, we plan to get rid of all the grass to make more space for growing. We want to keep whats there but add to it. We're going to plant onions & shallots in the bed thats already prepared, it looks as though thats what the previous owner had started doing as theres a few oinion and garlics plants sprouting already