newbie

Hi Claire,
Welcome to the site I haven't been using it long either.
If your plot is clear and laid out how you want it, then go for the list above, but be aware it is going to need some dedication. If the plot has weeds, or the layout isn't to your liking, it may be more beneficial to get this right now and grow more next year or over winter.
Horse poo should go down in the autumn, but I am unorganised and have just put a load on my plot, but it was well rotted with no straw and make sure you dig it in well.
Also really think about where you are going to place your fruit, I also have a half plot and come June I can not move, so it is essential you plan where you are putting your fruit as it is a permenent fixture once in. Make sure you consider how you are going to rotate your spuds etc every year.
Good Luck, make sure you report back on how you are getting on. A blog may be a good idea as it is something to look back on next year to what went well and what didn't?
Kind Regards
Hayley

Hi Hayley, thank you for your help,
i was thinking of starting a blog, and taking photos as i go along, going to visit the plot tomorrow (for the first time) so will have more of an idea then. apparently it hasnt been used in the last year, but has been dug over which is great news. as soon as pay day arrives i can pop off and buy some tools and get started next saturday. im sooo excited!!! you mention rotating potatoes.....???????? ive had some seed potatoes on the window sill for a few weeks but theyve gone soft so think i may have to start again :(

ive got a rough idea of where i think things should go and am going to put this on paper once ive seen the site, apparently its 60ft x 15ft so plenty of room i hope.

what have you got in your plot???

many thanks for your help

claire

Hi again Claire, I have a blog on DTA, with some photo's on there, so take a look. I have split mine into 6 different sized beds one with a herb garden at the front of the greenhouse and rhubarb behind. 2 fo the beds are designated to the fruit bushed and the strawberries. I also have one little section of one bed, which is home to the asparagus. The rest is empty for all the other crops. I spoke about rotation, because it is always reommended you have a three year rotation plan for your crops to avoid pests and disease such as potatoe blight, rust and tomatoe blight. I am no expert in all of this, but just make sure I don't put the same crops in the same place the folowing year. This is easy if you have a full plot, but a little more challenging when your space is limited. So don't just think about your layout for this year think about how you are going to be able to rotate things at least on a 3 year plan.
At the moment I have over wintering garlic, onions and shallots, i have recently sowed carrots, parsnips, corriander and lettuce in the ground and I also have summer sets of onions and shallots, in the grenhouse I have started off several loads of seeds and more to follow, but you will see on my blog where I am up to. I also have Anya and King Edwards chitting in the greenhouse and they do sometimes go soft and wrinkly, what you are looking for is little green shoots, if they have some stand them so the strongest of shoots are facing the sun. Once they have nice strong shoots on them they are ready. They are not like the spuds you eat so don't worry if they look past their best. You may need to harden them off a little before planting them if they are indoors at the moment.
It is soooo exciting when you here you are getting one. Mine is at the end of my garden, literally, but I couldn't get in the for over a week after saying we would take it, it was agony looking at it throught he bedroom window, I was tempted to jump the six foot fence so I could get over there. I am really happy for you, beleive it or not it can be life changing having a plot!!!
Hayley
P.S I love photo's so remember to take your camera when you go next week

Hello Hayley
First of all how's the little 'un ?
I think your comments to Claire are excellent but I would also like to add a few tips of my own
1 spray your spuds with maxicrop every few days while they are sprouting this keeps them in good condition
2 I wouldn't bother with cucumbers etc on a small plot
3 when buying raspberries take note of the varieties eg summer fruiting and autumn fruiting same applies to the strawberries earlies and lates just start with a few then take runners to increase stock.
All the onions shallots and garlic should be in by now as should the parsnips
carrots and beetroot can go in as the weather warms up Early cabbage brussel early summer caulis etc can all be set now and planted out in the next few weeks
Happy gardening
Lottyman

PS I haven't had time to have a go at the photos yet
Have you seen the spot for recipes on the forum?

Hey everyone,
Thanks Lottyman, he is more himself today and has been refered, so a little piece at mind at last.
I have not heard of maxicrop before what does it do?
And yes have seen the recipe spot, your rhubarb wine sounds nice, I may pass some rhubarb to my wine making freind with the recipe and get him to do the work, as I don't have any of the equipment. I have a new Rhubarb recipe I will put on, but want to try it myself first, so need to wait a couple of weeks until mine is ready to pick.
Hayley

Hello everybody
Maxicrop is a liquid full of nutrients obtained from seaweed and is a tonic for plants It can be used on any plant at any time and does nothing but good. You don't need to be exact with the dosage As I have said elsewhere if you spray it on your sprouting potatoes every few days they keep nice and plump and grow good strong shoots
It should be available from your allotment shop any garden centre or Wilko's
Happy gardening
Lottyman

PS Maxicrop is especially good on tomatoes

Thanks Lottyman, unfortunatley we hve no wilko's on the island, but I will see if I can get it elsewhere.
Like the photo!!
Hayley

Lottyman is right - maxicrop TRANSFORMS tomatoes. You can practically watch them grow after you've used it!

Hello all
I try to give you all the best information I can and all for free but would appreciate a lot more feed back.
I'm sure people have got plenty of ideas, hints and tips to make allotmenteering even more interesting and in some cases a lot easier so come on lets have a new topic going called hints and tips. There must be thousands
Happy gardening
Lottyman

P.S. Have you all seen my setting and planting calender on the articles page

Im new to the site but have had a plot for a number of years.
To the original poster, get planting as soon as you can because at least whilst your digging over and building beds youve got something growing behind you.
Also think about getting a wormery its excellent, the worm wee isnt called liquid gold for nothing !!!! lol

Hello survyman
Can I take this opportunity to welcome you back to the site after your long absence?
A wormery is something I know absolutely nothing about so would you be good enough to post some pictures and dialogue for the benefit of me and our army of readers?
I like your avitar. How did you come by that?
Happy gardening
Lottyman
PS Instructions for uploading pictures are on the forum under website feedback then scroll down to upload pictures