Those new to vegetables may need friendly advice
Vegetable growing skills don’t come overnight. Those of us who’ve been at it a long time, need to remember that some newcomers to allotments will bring plenty of enthusiasm but won’t have any experience. Books, magazines and television programmes are all useful, but the real test comes when you try and put what you’ve seen and read into practice.
New allotment sites are springing up all the time. For example, since Finding Scotland’s Allotments was published by the Scottish Allotments and Gardens Society (SAGS) in 2008, Fife’s council-owned sites have increased from 13 to 39. Faced with meeting their obligations under the new legislation, other councils are estimating the demand in their areas and looking around for suitable land to give over to allotments. Mandy Fooks, SAGS’S representative in Fife, tells me that those winning space on the new council sites can expect a weed-free plot with some basic amenities such as a shed, and a communal area and toilet.
In other places, those keen to begin allotmenting will have edged their way up a waiting list. And in all probability they will not inherit an ideal plot all ready for them to start work. More usually they will be offered a weedy, overgrown patch abandoned by their predecessor.
This is when old-timers should make themselves available with a bit of practical advice. My own bit of advice to newcomers battling with a neglected plot is to take it gradually, making sure that each bit of ground is cleared and then planted up straight
My advice to newcomers battling with a neglected plot is to take it gradually
away. Potatoes are a good first choice for a crop on neglected ground.
The old adage that nature abhors a vacuum rings true. What looks like a nice clean patch of ground one week will be showing a green shadow of emerging weeds by the following week. Keeping weeds down is a relentless task at first – a sharp hoe is my favourite tool for this.
I was lucky enough to be surrounded by some real experts when I started out. They were free with help when they sensed it was needed and I learned a lot from watching them. Willie grew beautiful cabbages and carrots. His wife Jean, who had been a Land Girl, knew how to dig with effortless style. On my other side, Jim was famous for his glorious asparagus. He recommended saving the very best compost to keep the asparagus bed in good heart. My asparagus has never been as good as his was. n