Stepping foot on your very own allotment for the first time is equal parts exciting and daunting. There are a lot of things that you need to learn to make it a success, and it is completely normal to want to make it feel like a place that reflects your preferences too. This is an opportunity to learn some essential tips for newbies to this world and create the perfect kingdom for your fruit and vegetables.
Research What You Want to Grow
While most vegetables are easy enough to grow on a standard allotment, there are some that require a more specialist approach, for instance, heated climates and intricate watering agendas. So, if you have a certain food in mind, read up as much as you can to get the best advice and understand what you’re getting yourself in for. Most people start off with a potato crop or an onion plot as these are straightforward and a good way to come to terms with the growth process.
Know Which Tools You Need
There are some tools that you should keep on-site that will be used on a more permanent basis, but there are also some that may not make sense from a financial perspective to purchase and keep. For instance, when it comes to preparing the soil for planting, you may need to consider rotavator hire as opposed to buying one, because this tool will make life easier and get you to planting faster too.
Decide the Layout Early On
When you’ve learnt which are the tool must haves and the ones that don’t serve much purpose, it is time to decide on a layout. This is the design of your allotment and will determine what you plant, and where.
Learn About Weeds
Weeding is an expected part of allotment ownership. If you take the time to get to know common weeds, you will be able to spot them and get rid of them more easily too. Some are not all that bad for your plots, and others need eliminating as soon as possible.
Try to Respect the Environment
Aside from weeds, there will always be other pests that you need to deal with, like bugs and so on. However, it is important to remember sustainability and operate with an eco-friendly approach above all else. Not only will your grown produce be more organic because of it, but you will also not be pouring unnecessary chemicals into the world.
Make a Plan for Post-Growth
One thing most newbies forget about is what to do with things after they have grown. If you have a successful plot, congratulations! Just make sure you have a way to collect and store the produce so that it doesn’t all go to waste. This could be giving it to friends and family, chopping and freezing it, or simply eating it straight away! It all depends on how much you grow and the quality as well.
Starting an allotment project is a fun thing to do, and it can yield really positive things for your life as well. There is something irreplaceable about eating food you have grown and looked after from start to finish.