welovemarmite Posted January 11, 2012 Share Posted January 11, 2012 we got an allotment last year but what with a long illness from me, things didnt go too well. So I am ready to start again this year. So i am looking for some advice. Where do i start, what should i be doing first and when. I havent totally decided what i will be growing, but due to our diet we wont be growing potaotes or beans. (dont ask). I know i will need to go up there and weed and dig over. Is it too late to put my composted chicken manure in? sorry, newbie asking stupid questions..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted January 11, 2012 Share Posted January 11, 2012 It's a perfect time to sread chicken bedding! In fact - the more you mulch the easy it will be - mulch is your friend! Poo, compost, cardboard, leafmould - it's all good stuff! Write a list of what you want to grow and make a plan of where you are going to put it - bearing in mind the groups for rotation! Have fun! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craftyhunnypie Posted January 11, 2012 Share Posted January 11, 2012 yep put your manure in & cover the bed with black polythene to warm up the bed. Get as much goodness into the ground as you can! Emma.x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
welovemarmite Posted January 11, 2012 Author Share Posted January 11, 2012 hope it wont take me long to catch up with the weeding up there so i can get that manure down!! i have tonnes of the stuff! Just need to get hold of some polythene. Or I might even put a plea on freecycle for old carpet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craftyhunnypie Posted January 11, 2012 Share Posted January 11, 2012 old carpet will work perfectly! Good luck! Emma.x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sjp Posted January 11, 2012 Share Posted January 11, 2012 you need to decide were you are going to plant spuds the start digging that bed first muck as you go if you are going to muck as its a bit late to spread it on the top it's also making extra work as you will need to dig it in the end of next month or you could left mucking the spud bed until after the spuds are up about 6 inches and then use the muck as a mulch my method of choice don't over do it a little and often is better than trying to do it in one go that's the advice I give new plot holders on our site that and you can ask the same questrian to ten gardeners and get 12 answers back the just pick the ones that suit you but above all enjoy what your gardening if you don't feel like doing it one day then do the next its a hobby not a job p.s. I'm chairman of an alottment site Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
welovemarmite Posted January 11, 2012 Author Share Posted January 11, 2012 well one thing i do know is that i wont be planting spuds, we dont eat them!! I dug out all the beds last year and made a few attempts at planting before i got ill and then it went to pot. So we will see what happens this year! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted January 11, 2012 Share Posted January 11, 2012 I would recommend that you don't try and clear the whole site at once, it'll be too daunting. Mark out beds, and clear them one at a time - if you don't think you're going to manage the whole allotment this year, then spread muck on the area you will be planting next year. If it's marked into beds with paths in between, and if you have some black plastic pegged down, it will keep the weeds away and convince the allotment society that you are cultivating it! Carpet will keep the weeds down, but some allotment societies have turned against it now - it works as a weed suppressant but you're often left with the rubber backing which isn't biodegradable. Focus on things you like to eat, and that are expensive to buy - no point growing stuff that is relatively cheap in the shops, unless you have lots of space and time. If you're planning to keep the allotment for a few years, then it's worth investing in some soft fruit bushes, as they won't need as much maintenance as vegetable crops and can be very rewarding. Otherwise - get a seed catalogue, and get planning - you can start planting some seeds now for planting out when the soil warms up/you've got the beds cleared. Good luck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
welovemarmite Posted January 11, 2012 Author Share Posted January 11, 2012 i dont think they have a problem with carpet at our place. Its very relaxed there. Where is a good place to get black polythene on a budget? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Space Chick Posted January 11, 2012 Share Posted January 11, 2012 I would echo the "one bed at a time" concept.... We had an allotment last year, and only cultivated half.... This year we are starting the other half. We have some well rotted chicken bedding that OH is planning to take down this weekend for the new area. Good luck with it we've been scoffing parsnips from the allotment this week you can't beat home grown Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
welovemarmite Posted January 11, 2012 Author Share Posted January 11, 2012 spooky, someone was offering large carpet piece on freecycle. and i got it! going to pick it up tomorrow. Guess what i will be doing next week!!! I will be doing one bed at a time. We had three and half beds last year and did something with 2.5 If i can get manure and carpet on 2, i will work on the others for now. I was thinking of putting raspberries in one when it gets to autumn. without potatoes and beans we will have to modify crop rotation, but if that means using green manure in between times to put the nutrients back then i will, it will also keep it more manageable. oh and ordered the dt brown seed catalogue. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
