Allotment

[Topsie]

I have recently taken over an allotment plot for the first time which I am waiting to be cleared as its currently full of brambles but I have been given some garden centre vouchers for christmas to buy something for my allotment and was just wondering what is best to buy first. I know its a but vague but was just really wondering if there are any useful things that I will really need or am I better waiting to spend them on seeds and plants nearer planting time. The vouchers are for �30.00 but I will put money towards it for whatever I need.

I hope that makes sense :)

Thanks for any help

[Jugglering1]

You might want to have a look at good quality gardening tools (like a decent fork for example) rather than seeds or plants just yet. How are you clearing the ground of brambles ? I've always found them to be the real devil of critters to get rid of... unless you can dig every little bit out !

[Topsie]

Luckily the council are going to do most of it, they are getting a JCB in to clear the top. We will then just have to dig through to get roots out :)

Yeah I was thinking tools too. I do have a good spade and good quality hand tools but I will need to buy a fork and other bits.

Thanks for your quick answer :)

[jake-the-peg]

Well done!

Potatoes are rather dull but they're brilliant as a first crop for breaking up the soil.

Most home grown vegtables are good but some taste spectacularly good when they're cooked strait from the ground - corn and carrots spring to mind - as do peas but you don't get much per square meter of those I find.

Ask around the allotment about second hand tools. People may be getting new toys for Christmas or may know people who need to get rid of stuff for other reasons.

You may find people on the allotment buying bulk seed if nothing else you'll get valuable information on what varieties grow best in the soil and conditions where you are.

Most importantly don't be put off if you have a few failures - some years are better than others for certain crops.

There are also a couple of magazines to look out for that are pretty good
http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/
http://www.kitchengarden.co.uk/

[Topsie]

Thanks very much for your answers I will certainly check out those sites :)

Thanks again

[Ice.Maiden]

A rotavator! Not only will it loosen all the debris and unwanted weeds/brambles, but it'll come in very handy for uprooting old produce at the end of each season, before you set some more. Once you've gone over the ground, you can then just rake up the unwanted plant forms - and save you the backache of extra digging.

[carrust]

I took-over an allotment last March. Some of the beds had been cultivated the year before, but they were full of perennial weeds. These beds took me at least 4 days each to dig-over, & get all the weeds out.
Luckily, about a third of the ground had been carpeted over to stifle all the weeds. This area took me only 4 hrs to cultivate!
I'd spend the money on the best spade you can afford. You've got to get-out all the weeds before you rotavate, otherwise you just chop them up, & spread them around the beds!!

[Ice.Maiden]

Carrust's right - I forgot to add that once the weeds and things are churned up and raked to the surface, you've got to put something down which stops the tough ones from coming back, but with regular maintenance, once the initial hard part's done, your ground should be alright.

[Silvercat]

A good way to help clear the ground is to plant spuds on your allotment for the first year. This is what my husband does if we create a bit more garden from our wilderness.

Its easier to keep the weeds down in the first year, then the following year you can put in all the other stuff.

[Topsie]

Thanks very much again for all your help, this is really valuable information and its very much appreciated!

[Jugglering]

Well, I am exceedingly fond of courgettes (lol - part payment for advice up front hehe)....

[Ivah]

You could also join the www.KitchenGarden.co.uk forum and those friendly folk will help you out a lot. If you use the search you can find what others have said about clearing brambles and getting started in general.