General advice for starting a plot

© Lee Senior(Allotments Officer, Keighley)

If your new plot needs some work doing to it –don’t be put off. With a little time and effort all plots can be transformed into a productive allotment.

As I visit allotments I am always available to give advice and helpful tips on how to get started where required. Also your new gardening neighbours will undoubtedly have spare seedlings and cuttings to help you on your way.

Why not check out your local library for any good books on growing your own vegetables. Much can be learned in a short space of time.

Please do not try and clear the plot in one go. A “little and often” approach works better than trying to do too much all at once. Allotment gardening is a marathon, not a sprint. It is essential to pace yourself.

Make a rough plan of your plot on a sheet of paper. Outline where you want to site any fruit bushes, lawn area, vegetable beds, flower beds and compost area. Flowers are very welcome on allotments as they look great and attract beneficial pollinating insects such as bees.

All thriving allotments have a dedicated compost area. The well rotted compost will replenish nutrients taken from the soil and help recycle waste ( non weedy) vegetation.

If you have taken over a weed infested plot consider using a biodegradable weedkiller containing the active ingredient glysophate. This kills couch grass, nettles and weeds including the roots, and breaks down on contact with the soil. Even would-be organic gardeners can be forgiven for spraying the plot once, before work begins to make life a little easier.

If you don’t want to consider chemicals but you have a weed problem consider covering parts of the soil with cardboard or black polythene as a temporary measure. This will prevent weed growth and allow you vital time to concentrate on clearing one small patch at a time.

Please do not leave expensive tools or machinery such as strimmers, rotavators, mowers etc on site as security cannot be guaranteed. If you do not wish to buy machinery they can often be hired from hire shops for nominal cost.

Remember nothing beats the flavour and freshness of food grown straight from the allotment, whether it’s sun ripened tomatoes eaten warm straight from the vine, or cobs of succulent sweet corn picked and eaten within the hour giving a sweetness that shops can’t compete with. This is just the start of the fun.

Allotment gardening is a healthy hobby, providing good exercise with food for the dinner table at the end of it. It is also a great way of making new friends as well as saving a few pounds off the shopping bill too.

Go on have a go and make sure you don’t miss out!