what to do when you first get an allotment

We got our allotment in march 2012, it was over grown and hadn't been worked for about two years, a section of it just under a quarter had been turned over and left where the next door plot holder had tried to claim the plot (allotment wars LOL).

There's a water tank on our plot which had a few leak's, and that coupled with some torrential rain it flooded three times, a little disheartening but eventually after the leak's were fixed, I got stuck in there with the brush cutter and strimmer and cut it all back.  I acquired some pallets and built a compost compound.  I then  started turning a small section of it over and weeding it.  

Some other plot holders suggested to me that I should turn the whole lot over and mix it with manure, others advised me to spend a year weeding the whole lot! "Wow" it was starting to look a little daunting, like I'd taken on more than I expected.

If you're lucky enough to be on a good allotment there'll  be heaps of friendly advice thrown at you, some of it useful some of it overpowering some of it you'll smile to yourself, but as a rule, they tend to be a friendly bunch.

We planted some sweetcorn, potatoes, beetroot and onions.  The  sweetcorn was planted too close together we got a few potatoe flowers but I don't know what happened to the potatoes as we got flooded again, as for the beetroot and the onions, well your guess is as good as mine, I put it down to the foxs who knows anyway not a great start.

This year we've had a range of a few different potatoes, tomatoes, beetroot onions and we're still pulling courgettes, so a little better enough to put a smile on your face, very encouraging.  

The fact is there is no hard or fast rule of what to do when you get your plot. My advice would be go at your own pace, make your own plans and coupled with mother-nature and the weather, "find your own feet", yes in an ideal world you might want to turn the whole lot over and mix it in with manure, or spend a year weeding the whole lot and put up a potting shed, but in reality the weeds will always come back whether it be by wind blown or perennial or in the manure, but if you've the time patience and inclination then feel free, but for me it's about putting good strong healthy food on the table now that I can vouch for, the learning process along the way as well as  teaching my children too about real food etc..

Remember this though, if a garden isn't nurtured and cultivated weeds will grow in abundance, so good luck as the rewards are worth it.

Thanks for stopping by, if your thinking of putting a shed on your plot take a look at how I did mine known as Allotment Apprentice's Den, pop back and take a peek and see how I'm getting on you never know, we might be able swap a few ideas, 

"So until then, stay green and be lucky".