MY NEW ALLOTMENT PLOT – THE FIRST MONTH

Initially of September I obtained my arms on a second allotment plot at my website. It’s a large house, completely overgrown and proper subsequent to my unique plot. The principle motive I needed to tackle further house was as a result of during the last 12 months I really feel I’ve simply run out of house to do all of the issues I wish to on my plot. But in addition, I used to be beginning to get aggravated with the jungle subsequent door consistently encroaching onto my plot!

Taking over a brand new allotment plot is all the time a problem. Often, however not all the time, they’re fairly overgrown and require quite a lot of work to get right into a useable house. My new plot was no exception. The principle downside I confronted was the strip of full jungle separating the 2 plots. I discovered about 100 logs and enormous tree trunks beneath the overgrowth which needed to be eliminated by hand earlier than I may even start digging out the grasses, brambles and small bushes.

The is closely shaded due to the bushes, most of that are in personal gardens overlooking the allotment website. This is able to pose a big downside if I didn’t have already got the house subsequent door already, as shade does restrict the quantity of crops you may develop. All will not be misplaced although. The closely shaded space can be nice for buildings resembling storage, sheds and possibly even a seating space, all of that are desperately wanted now I’ve two plots. There are definitely a good few crops that can excel in a shaded space, all of which I truly actually wish to develop, resembling brassicas.

WHERE DO YOU START WITH A NEW ALLOTMENT PLOT?

The primary place to start out is all the time to clear what’s already there. Whether or not you’re going no dig or not, clearing the plot provides you with an excellent overview of the house and allow you to make plans. You could have to dig out quite a lot of the extra invasive weeds resembling blackberry bushes or bind weed which is usually a nightmare to do away with when you’ve began rising crops.

As soon as the apace is obvious, it’s time to make a plan. I like to make use of squared paper to design the format of my plot. In fact, the plan normally modifications, greater than as soon as as I work on the house. I get new concepts, or areas appear a lot greater or smaller than I had initially thought.

I’m on the stage the place I’m starting to construct the construction of the plot. I don’t essentially use raised beds, however I do wish to mark out the borders of my beds with wooden, so in a manner I suppose they’re raised beds!

Pathways are being made by laying out thick weed membrane and can finally be lined with woodchip to forestall weeds from rising and to offer floor for utilizing even within the wet months. Woodchip is nice for absorbing water, stops mud patches from forming and appears pure.

I’ve been layering up cardboard within the beds after which topping with do-it-yourself compost to get them prepared for planting into within the springtime. A few of my beds are actually huge, which is thrilling truly! I felt that quite a lot of my beds on my unique plot have been too small, making it arduous to develop a couple of crop in them. This time, I’ve made positive there may be plenty of room to develop a number of crops collectively and I’m so excited to attempt some correct companion planting subsequent 12 months.

HOW TO CHOSE WHAT TO GROW AND WHERE TO GROW IT

I’m fortunate that I’ve been in a position to observe the allotment plot subsequent to mine for a number of years earlier than taking it on, so I do know precisely the place the solar hits and when. For that motive, selecting the place to place crops is proving fairly simple for me!

The solar hits the again of the plot virtually all day lengthy, so solar loving crops will go there. The pumpkins, sweetcorn and flowers will likely be positioned on the again and on the entrance, within the shade, I’ll put in brassicas and onions and garlic, crops that tolerate shade.

Selecting what to develop is a private selection. If I needed to offer you somme recommendation, I’d say, develop what you wish to eat. Selected simple crops first, crops that can develop away and require little upkeep. You possibly can whack these in as quickly as beds are prepared and nonetheless clear the plot as you go! Carrots, onions, garlic, potatoes and radish are all simple low upkeep crops to whack in.

I’m excited to develop a number of new kinds of dahlias. Although not strictly a ‘crop’ they’re a little bit of an allotment important, attracting wildlife and making nice choose once more flowers. I’ve devoted an enormous mattress to them and may’t wait to have all of them rising.

Potatoes are an excellent shout for beds the place the soil isn’t nice. They’ve a tremendous means to interrupt up the earth and make the soil construction so significantly better. Additionally, you will get a fairly good crop out of them too!

WHAT’S NEXT?

I’ve had a good few wobbly moments since taking over my new plot. I’ve puzzled how on Earth I’m going to deal with two plots and whether or not I’ve simply taken on an excessive amount of work. I discovered a tonne of sticks and garbage buried below a blackberry bush in the back of my plot and it virtually tipped me over the sting!

I feel for now I’ll be slowly working away, step-by-step, doing what I can, once I can. I’m attempting to benefit from the means of bringing a brand new allotment plot to a spot the place it’s producing an abundance of crops and flowers. It’s all the time thrilling making little discoveries and discovering new corners to discover.

I’ve so many concepts and I simply have to keep in mind that I’ve quite a lot of time to work on the plot earlier than the spring! I’m nonetheless altering my unique plot, making new beds and rearranging crops, so I do know that nothing I do is everlasting and I can change my thoughts each time I need!

So there it’s, my new allotment plot. I sit up for updating you with my progress once more quickly!