4m x 3m Omlet pen, cube, new auto door still boxed and coop light

[Snowy]

Hurray! I've just found out that we will be getting access to our allotment on January 1st! Because it is a new site and as there were so many people wanting plots, we have only been allocated a half plot - 10m x 5m But it's a start! The council kindly ploughed it all for us So I've no doubt we will have lots of weeds to contend with come spring.

Any hints or tips for an allotmenteer in January? (oh, it's an organic plot as well! )

So excited!

[Jules.]

[surferdog]

Congratulations - and no old mess to clear! We are still waiting........

[stoice]

I don't have an allotment but you could spread a load of your girls ahem, er, well, poop about the place and dig it in well ready for spring The frosts and beasties will help break it down and make the soil lovely. Or you could set 'green manure'.

Ok, I googled the next bit...

'Green manure' is cheap and easy to grow and can increase soil fertility. They improve soil structure and help prevent soil erosion. Bare soil encourages weed growth, so green manure bare ground to keep weeds in check. By taking up nutrients from the soil, green manure crops prevent them from being washed away when it rains. Some green manure plants are nitrogen fixers. And you can sow them from a little packet, unlike digging in a dozen barrows of manure!

All you need to do is sow and leave, either until you need the land or until just before seeding, whichever happens first. At that point you hack or strim them down, dig them into the soil and leave them to decompose, releasing plant nutrients back into the soil which are then used by the next crop you grow in that area.

[chelsea]

Well done Snowy I think half a plot is a very good starting point. We had a huge plot but had to give ours up because it was too big!

[Tiggy]

oh its so exciting you can start a bean trench & gradually fill it with any kitchen waste thats not eaten by the girls, shredded newspaper & chicken poo & bedding, and the contents of your vac bag

 

you can plant broad beans now & cover with fleece/cloches

[chickencam]

 

There's not a lot that can be planted in January, maybe shallots, but by Feb there is quite a bit.

 

You could think about a shed or locked plastic storage box to keep a few tools in, and then spend the rest of the month buying seeds and planning where everything is to go.

[Lesley]

Great news Snowy! - how exciting!

 

Phone up for all the seed catalogues - esp. the Organic Gardening one - and spend the holidays planning!

[Couperwife]

you could put some garlic in

 

oh, congratulations oh the plot by the way

 

we love ours

 

(it keeps kev out of loads of trouble )

 

cathy

x

[Karen & co.]

Fantastic Have fun choosing your crops.

 

Karen x

[Snowy]

Oooh a bean trench sounds like a good start!

Got plenty of chicken manure that I have been saving in anticipation!

[moochoo]

Congratulations!

If there are parts that you're not going to use until March/ April time cover them in something that won't let light through. Old carpet, sheet plastic, etc. It stops the weeds from germinating and helps the soil to retain warmth.

[Redwing]

Green manure is a good tip as explained above.

 

As someone also mentioned - covering the soil is a good idea to stop weeds while the ground isnt being used but it will also have the added benefit of warming up the soil, take it off shortly before planting anything and you will give it a good start and it will be a couple of weeks ahead of anything grown in soil that was not covered beforehand

[Egluntyne]

Fantastic news Snowy.

[Janty]

Congratulations on the allotment.

 

Can't offer advice I'm afraid. Hubby does all the growing stuff. I just supply the chickens to destroy it.

 

[Guest]

ooooh you could start by ordering your spuds!!!!

 

I suggest make a plan, keep in mind that you need to set up a rotation plan for your crops. Decide where you want your beds and start keeping an eye out for things you could use for paths etc Hunt out some pallets or wood for compost bins.

 

Just enjoy it! - I know I do!

 

You will now have somehwere to put all that lovely poo!!!!

 

Louise