Getting started

You may be lucky as you take on a new plot and inherit weed-free, well-cultivated ground. Or you may have a rough patch with plenty of grass, other green matter that you can’t name and the odd bit and piece of debris strewn over the area.

Clearing

Clear your patch bit by bit and methodically. Get the debris out first and organise a trip (or trips) to the tip. Bricks or slabs may come in useful later, but rusty wire will not. Stack wood ready to burn if it is no good. Don’t throw away anything which looks as if it might be used elsewhere.

Now the plot is clear of debris, put your plan (previously devised on various bits of paper, no doubt) into action. Be prepared, however, to change things as the preparation work develops. If you can find out what grew on your plot before (even negative feedback is helpful here) this will help you to finalise plans. Consider the aspect also: are there trees giving shade? Do you have plans for a shed? Were you thinking of planting fruit trees? Answers to these questions will have an impact on how you divide up your plot. The biggest impact will come from the shed / greenhouse / water collecting IBCs / compost bin so site them with due thought. Think about hard standing areas which you might need. Even if you know you won’t start constructing anything (like cold frames, troughs or planters) at least plan to allow space for these later.

Looking ahead

With this planning pencilled in, divide up the growing area. By dividing it into sections you give yourself attainable targets. The adage of ‘little and often’ is a very useful one when it comes to allotments. You certainly can’t dig all the plot at once so careful progression is the order of the day.

Find out how deep the soil is: our site typically has a layer of top soil about two feet deep (deeper in some places) on top of ironstone. This ironstone is not worth trying to dislodge, so really deep cultivation is not going to happen here. However, this will not stop you producing fabulous flowers, fruit and vegetables …

Get stuck in

Use a fork to dig first of all. This allows you to know soil of the top cover of green matter. Discover what is a perennial weed and what is an annual and separate the former from the latter. Compost grass and annual weeds, but destroy bindweed, for example, by burning. Work backwards and on a limited area. No need to mark this out because you will see progress as you move … but, again, set yourself an attainable target.

With the weeds and green matter gone, you can think about incorporating organic matter. We organise deliveries of manure in the autumn, but if you weren’t there to order, you can substitute other bought products to fertilise your new plot. Depending on the time of year, leave the newly turned soil as it is or begin the preparation for seed sowing etc., but more of this later …