[rarmstrong]

Hi there, I took over a plot in late December and apart from a little lack lustre digging I have done very little.
Obviously at this time of year I have a meadow instead of an allotment and I am unsure if I should try and tackle the plot now or leave it till winter.
It is overrun with nettles and loads of other weeds.
Any advice is most welcome.

[DD.]

Welcome to the forums.

Get stuck in!

What's to say that having left it since last winter, you won't do the same again! There's many on here would love to get their hands on a plot & would not be taking your approach to clearing one.

[Aunt Sally]

Exactly !  Our allotment committee would reallocate it to someone who did want to cultivate it !

But then I guess you're just trying a wind up with us anyway

[Trillium]

I agree with the others. Get started now! It'll take longer than you realize and when the wet cold weather sets in you're not likely to want to do it. By spring you should be ready to plant things. If you're not willing, then give the plot up. No one said it would be easy as you must have read from others who put in the work and are now reaping.

[Piccolo]

Are you finding the potential work involved daunting or is it a case that having an allotment "seemed like a good idea at the time"?  We were given our allotment at the later part of the year last year but I've been excited by it from the outset - couldn't wait to get started.  Are you not sure how to start?  There are a lot of helpful people on this site who will be all to willing to help with advice I'm sure.  For my part I would offer the advice of dividing your allotment into manageable sections, you will need to get all the weeds out and probably deep-dig it (we did) and for practical and morale-boosting purposes I would make a plan of where you are going to plant things (we've strayed from our original plan but it proved to be a useful base to start from). 

[peapod]

But then I guess you're just trying a wind up with us anyway

I think so too 

[rarmstrong]

Thanks for the advice (especially Piccolo), looks like some early starts at the weekends sandwiched inbetween marathon training.

Aunt Sally/Peapod...if I were winding you up why would I go through the bother of registering on an Allotment forum and make a post?
I was after advice which is what I thought this forum was for.

[peapod]

Thanks for the advice (especially Piccolo), looks like some early starts at the weekends sandwiched inbetween marathon training.

Aunt Sally/Peapod...if I were winding you up why would I go through the bother of registering on an Allotment forum and make a post?
I was after advice which is what I thought this forum was for.

Mentioning the words 'lacklustre digging' and wanting to leave until winter (and thus having it a year with no work done) implied that you werent that interested. A lot of people would give their eye teeth for a lotty.

Youd be surprised how many register on a forum just simply to take the mick.
Advice is always given, but common sense should be used too.

I do hope you enjoy your allotment, you'll be surprised once you do get started at how much you do enjoy it

[Mitsy]

I too would get stuck in and get a plan and head start for next year 

[barney rubble]

good luck with it - and once you get stuck in, you'll wonder why you put it off for sooooo long, especially when you start reaping the rewards and pickin your crops

[rarmstrong]

Thanks for the advice.

Peapod , I think you may have had some bad forum experiences/mistook me for a member of 4chan

Not sure how my initial post lacked common sense to be honest, but I'll leave it.
Got to find the wheelbarrow and fork that I know is down there somewhere.

[Aunt Sally]

If your not sure how your initial post lacked common sense I sugest you re-read it 

We give lots of helpful advice to allotment gardeners and your original post with a year of doing nothing sounds exactly like a wind up, no serious gardener would dream of doing that 

[BrianK]

Hi.  Err  can I have your plot if your not using it please