[vivienne]

Hi, have just this minute returned from visiting my allotment for the first time! (North London) am very excited  but completely in the dark about what to do next.  It's a completely brand new site reclaimed after planning permission refused for flats, so the whole area is just weedy wasteland at the moment with a few allotments allocated so far, some keen people have got ahead with raised beds and some nice crops going along.  My plot has been half dug over and then abandoned.  I've only ever grown things in pots on my patio so far so have no idea how to proceed.  Is it too late to plant anything now?  my dad says he thinks there is a variety of potato I can plant now that will give me new pots for Christmas, anyone got any advice, would be very happy to receive any tips!!!!  Can't do anything today, it is pouring with rain and I had to get out of bed (flu) to go and see the allotment lady. 

[Yorkie]

Welcome to the site Vivenne, congrats on your new lotty and hope you feel better soon! 

I'm going to move your post over to the Grow Your Own forum for people to see your questions better.

First thing I'd suggest you do is to click your username and edit your forum profile to show your general location, so we can tailor future comments to your location 

There's quite a few source of information on here.

If you click the Growing Help link just underneath the main banner, you'll find some allotment articles including clearing and planning your plot.  There are also articles on what to do month by month.

http://www.allotment-garden.org/vegetable/general/sowing-harvest-vegetable-chart.php is a chart which shows what can be sowed and harvested when.

TheGYO forum has quite a few threads about what can be done now too.

If you do a forum search for Christmas potatoes, you'll find a mixture of stories - but generally the outcome is not great.  You will need an early variety, which you plant next month.  Seed tubers are expensive and they run the risk of being killed by frost.  Your best realistic chance of such spuds is to grow them in pots which you can bring under cover when frost is forecast.

There's also the history of the site, in that freshly cleared grassland often has wireworms in it, which lurve potatoes!

I'd take it slowly, take lots of photos, get something in so you can see it growing, and plan for next year.  If you clear a bit, try to put weed suppressant or cardboard (not carpet) down to stop the weeds coming back before you're ready for them.

And enjoy!

[Chrysalis]

Hi and welcome to the site.

Hope you feel better soon.    
The advice is good:  don't do too much at first.. I've got charlottes (early pots) in big crates/bags for a Christmas crop.  One well-known seed merchant is advertising a Christmas selection this week, so worth looking at the link from the Allotment Shop above.  Happy growing!

[New shoot]

Hi Vivienne and great news that you have got a plot 

Take Yorkie's advice and cover up the soil.  Concentrate on clearing one bit and you've got time to get a fair bit in yet.  As you clear more, you can put in soft fruit which is ideal for planting over winter and you can look forward to pouring over seed catalogues over winter and planning for next year 

We all love plot piccies as well so get some before shots and keep us updated 

[DD.]

Welcome to the forums Vivienne.

At the end of the day, the decision is yours, but as I've posted on another newcomer's thread, I would reiterate the caution about attempting Christmas potatoes.

Without going into a lot of detail, there are a lot of problems inherent with growing them, far more than with spring planted seed and we'd hate you to get discouraged by some of your first steps into growing.

Not only that - unless you've made prior preparation to save a few of your own seed from an early crop - they cost an arm an  leg!

[sunshineband]

Hi Vivienne and welcome.

Lots of good advice given already so I'll just add that it will all be worth it