I have just recently taken over my frist allotment and have many questions on how I get started.
1. My allotment is covered in grass as it hasn't been used yet really, so my question is how deep do i dig down when taking the turf off and then once i have got it off what should i do with the turf?
2. After I have dug out the turf what do I need to do to the ground to prepare it for planting?
3. What should be the first things i start growing, the allotments have been open for two years so everyone else is already up and started?
4. Once i have dug up the plot and planted do i need to put anything over the patch to protect it?
5. Where are the best places to go to get seeds etc for planting?
That's a lot of questions which it's impossible to give a full answer to in one post.
1. Depends on the type of grass.
If the roots are long and thin like piano wire then you have couch grass, which you need to dig all the roots out - use a fork and not a spade, as a spade will just chop the roots into lots of little bits.
If it's fibrous roots then skim the turf off as thinly as possible with the spade, probably 2" or so, stack turves upside down and leave to compost.
2. Check its pH level - to see whether it's acid or alkaline. Brassicas like alkaline. Spuds are not keen.
Depending on the time of year and what you plan to grow, add compost / manure (do not add where you're going to grow parsnips or carrots the same season).
3. What do you want to grow? Depends when you've finished clearing the plot. Spuds ideally go in any time from mid March to end April. If you click Growing Help beneath the top banner, there's articles on what to do each month. There's also a sowing and harvesting chart too.
4. No.
5. Do you have a local lotty association? There are lots of seed threads on the GYO board so I suggest you have a browse of them.