Inherited an allotment and not sure what to do!

Hi all,

Looking for some allotment advice. I've just inherited a small allotment as part of a new house purchase. It consists of about 4 raised beds, a bramley apple tree, and a blueberry bush.

Not sure where to start. There's a few garlic bulbs which look like they need picking. An odd few potato plants which have probably grown from a prior years crop. A bed of raspberries which don't look great. And a patch of rhubard which is massive. Also loads of weeds.

I was planning to weed it and then improve the soil somehow. It is really really dry, any recommendations on what to use to improve the soil?

Also, can anyone recommend a book/guide thats good advising on what to plant and when? I only want to grow food I am actually going to eat (i hate cabbage, caulis etc so won't bother with those).

What id like to grow are:
Onions
Garlic
Potatoes
Leeks
Raspberries
Green beans
Rhubarb
Shallots

I just don't know when to seed/plant?! I have also got a huge greenhouse which i could start seeds off in.

(Also got a huge garden which i will probably end up asking for identification and advice on shortly! It's all a bit overwhelming!!! Argh!)

Any advice much appreciated!

 

I struggled to know what to do with my garden when i moved in. Its about 100 foot long and I don't think the people who lived there did anything in the last 15 years except maybe water the massive leylandii trees which seemed taller than Jacks bean stalk! But its better now One thing i would say is that if the garden is too big for you to figure out in one year perhaps be kind to yourself (and your garden) and consider a few packets of green manure seed. Thats my new experiment this year and the bees seem to really love it If nothing else it will help you avoid so much weed growth over the coming months Just a thought from a fellow noobie

 

Thanks JWK and Andy! Good advice! JWK-i actually bought a couple of bags of ericaceous compost today so will add a bit to the blueberry plant-it's actually just sat in a pot but seems to have quite a few fruit growing on it. I'll add some garden pics but the people who had it previously were retired and keen gardeners so had the time.

Going to spend the morning weeding the allotment and adding some compost. I've got some big bags of b&q multipurpose-do u think that would be ok? Will have to try get some mushroom compost from somewhere.

Also got lots of roses etc in the front garden but they all look like they've got black spots on the leaves. I've no idea what to do with roses!



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It's alot more built up than this last picture-loads more shrubs etc. Will take some more pics and post them. Haven't got internet installed at home so can't upload a lot.


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Yes-i'll have to try and find somewhere local to find that type of compost. Spent a good mornig down the allotment and cleared 3 small beds and 2 bigger beds. It's not huge so almost done!


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Regarding compost have a look online and see if there are any community composting sites around you. We have one in Thornbury near Bristol run by the council which is only a few miles away. You can get great quality compost there for a fraction of the price you would pay in the stores Think they are asking about £2 a bag at the moment or £1 a bag for wood chips

 

@Andy567 that's a great idea!


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I've found a load of ants in one of the beds-will they affect anything I plant??


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Im not really an expert but if you have an ants nest there (?) then that indicates the soil is overly dry. You can get them to move on by watering the bed a lot. Im not entirely sure what plants like dry soil and which don't but the one issue that does jump to mind for me is to avoid broad beans in that bed as ants love to farm black fly on beans.

 

Thanks @Andy567 the ground has been really dry and rock hard. The old owners hadn't done anything with it for a good while. My husbands dug it over with a big pick axe thingy for me-just waiting for it to rain as it's impossible to do anything at the minute. I'll def not do beans in it. Was gooing to put some little round carrots in, a few spring onions-wont be able to do much this year as it's too late


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Sounds good Be sure to water it well to bring some moisture into it