Complete Newby

Downhill and with the wind in the right direction I will be granted an allotment on 6th October 2009.

I am a complete novice at this, albeit eager to learn and would appreciate any guidance with regard to timings, what should I grow and when, how should I have the soil to give me a good start etc.

I appreciate that for the first few months it will all be dig and prepare, dig and prepare but I have no idea about which crops to plant and when to enable me to get the very best out of all year (or at least most of the year) growing.  So many conflicting gems of info.

A basic 'beginners guide' would be very much appreciated.

Regards


Chris

The best thing to start with is a list of all the things you like eating (there is no point growing things you dont like).

Once you have done that consider if there are any veg that are hard to get in the shops or unusual varieties you would like to try. I have found some interesting veg at www.realseeds.co.uk.

You will also need to consider what type of soil you have. Whilst it isnt impossible to grow veg suited for particular conditions in unfavourable soil its worth thinking about how you will go about it. eg root veg like carrots and parsnips on very stony ground can cause split roots. A solution might be growing in rauised beds or containers. Veg that like free draining soil wont appreciate waterlooged conditions. Those veg may again need to be grown in raised bed or on mounded up soil.

Work out where your compost bins sheds and permanent planting eg fruitbushes, comfrey etc will be. Try not to place anything so that it will shade your or your neighbours' plot.

Get some books out of the library or buy Johns book to give you an idea of when to plant and harvest.

Try and plant something as soon as you get your plot eg overwintering onion, garlic, and winter salad leaves. It will make you feel you have accomplished something and help keep you enthusiasm going whilst you dig the weeds out of the rest of the plot.

Kitti

One piece of advice that worked for me - don't 'over-think' it - prepare beds, buy seeds for things you like, follow the instructions on the packs and read a couple of good books (and devour this site) and simply see what happens.

Make notes of what you do, what you sow and when, when you plant out, when you harvest and what the results were. Anything that goes wrong or you don't understand, come on here and ask, any pests or things that go worng, ditto.

Year on year you'll learn what works, what doesn't, the best things for your soil, the best timings etc etc - I'm just using a back garden but in three years of basically trial and error I've gone from a few herbs and a small potato crop to a greenhouse, raised beds and a herb garden and this year I harvested (or am harvesting, or will harvest) spuds, garlic, herbs, tomatoes, parsnips, leeks, sprouts, peas, courgettes, runner beans, broad beans and carrots.

Being reasonably cheap, if you're going to go wrong, a packet of seeds going to waste here and there isn't the end of the world.

Above all, enjoy it - you'll find Mother Nature is very forgiving - and when she's not, the people on here are! 

Hi.

I was a complete novice when I started in Feb 08 with half a plot.

Best advice is to read John's books all the time and follow the instruction without people interfering....trust me...they will. So that you begin to 'soak' up the info.

I now have a full size plot that's going all right and feel confident to give people advice when sought.

Also. Make sure you grow spuds and take photos. It's the law here.   

Thank you all for your invaluable information.  I have indeed taken your advice and bought 'John's Book' which I eagerly await delivery of.  The Allotment growers Bible by the sounds of things.  I will apologise now as I just know there will be millions of questions aimed at you all, I only hope you don't all get fed up with them.

Thanks Again



Chris