Just started my new allotment today!!!!!

[jono]

Hi Folks,
I have just started my first allotment today in sunny Portsmouth and have just found this site which seems very useful. If ok i'd like to pick your allotment brains! I have grown veg at home for the past two years and have 3 lovely chickens but need allotment knowlege!!!
1) I am in the process of digging over my new allotment, I was lucky that the one I picked had a lot of heavy rubber matting on the majority of it, and the soil is very loose. I would like to get some winter crops planted as soon as i've dug it over, any suggestions?? I also want to put a rhubarb plant in any words of advice there??
2) Anyone got any knowlege on bee keeping as I would like to try my hand at that too.
3) What are your biggest words of wisdom/knowlege and experience which I can use?

many thanks in advance for your time,
Jono

[jono]

[dtw]

Welcome to A4A.  :D

You could try overwintering onions, dunno if it's too late though, an expert will be along in a minute.

[saddad]

Welcome to A4A Jono...
I'd try some over-winter onions, shallots etc.. being so far south. Garlic if you like it. Late "Winter" Broadbeans.. Rhubarb is fine to go in now but remember it will stay put for years so choose the site carefully, so that it doesn't get in the way later as it gets bigger..   :)

[BarriedaleNick]

Hi jono - Im an ex Pompey boy - where is your plot?

Maybe a bit late for over wintering crops but it is a good time to plant rhubarb.  Dig in as much manure/compost as poss before planting out crowns.  Can't help much with varieties but Victoria and Stockbridge Arrow seem to crop up a lot.
You may be able to get some mini plants on ebay  Things like broad bean, meteor pea and garlic plug plants - all pretty cheap too.

There is a sticky thread on bee keeping here http://www.allotments4all.co.uk/smf/index.php/topic,56394.0.html

Not know for my wisdom but I'd say - little and often and take a flash of tea - and pee on your compost heap!

[1066]

Not know for my wisdom but I'd say - little and often and take a flash of tea - and pee on your compost heap!

;D  ;D  ;D  - Just don't get the 2 mixed up!!

You can still get some garlic in and broad beans like Aquadulce

And welcome to A4A  :)

[Unwashed]

Hi Jono, welcome to A4A.  I think you're too late for onions now, and if you're on clay it's probably best to keep off the ground till the spring, though if the soil's light it's not a bad idea to get it turned over rough.

My advise?  Build a shed.

[Duke Ellington]

;D  ;D  ;D  - Just don't get the 2 mixed up!!
[/quote]
That made me giggle 1066 ;D

Duke

[kt.]

Welcome.  I would spend the coming few months just preparing the ground and organising your plot whilst things are fairly dormant. It will become a busy time by March.  Look through some seed catalogues and seed websites to plan what you want to grow.

[artichoke]

If it was me, I'd order and plant a row of raspberries and any other fruit you are interested in growing.

Broad beans and garlic and shallots if you like them. Some say plant shallots on the shortest day, which has not arrived yet.

[jono]

Hi thanks for all the advice, there are two woodern structures, one I will fix up to be my compost bin and the other I will build to and turn into a shed.
To BarriedaleNick my plot is in Moneyfields, the side when you go up and over the Copnor Bridge although there is a small gate by Burfields Retail Park. Two and a half years of waiting!!
I will look to get rhubarb and some fruit trees in now and probably follow the advice of a different post in covering the rest with cardboard, straw and manure!! Luckily there is a stables running along side the allotments and she is more then happy for you to take the muck. I have chickens at home to and there waste when I clean then out goes into our 3 compost bins at home so may throw that all down too before the manure.
Thanks again for your help!!

[BarriedaleNick]

Wow jono - just looked on google maps - loads of plots there mate.  Have they always been there - never noticed them on my travels in my youth but then again I was a southsea boy.
2.5 years is a long time to wait.  Hope you enjoy yours as much as I do mine.

[SamLouise]

Hi Jono,

Good job on the allotment front :)  I've just posted a sticky thread at the top of basics for the A4A Wiki for 'newbies' provided by BAK, with lots of helpful information.