Go on a course: allotments for beginners

Having recently acquired an allotment as a present, I was keen to find out how I was going to transform my overgrown patch from bramble hell to organic vegetable heaven. Should I build raised beds? How do I rotate crops? And which vegetables guarantee a bumper harvest with minimal effort? Armed with these, and other first-time-allotment-owner questions, I went along to the Small Farm Training Group in East Sussex.

Our group had a mix of requirements; some, like me, were starting from scratch with a new plot, while others wanted advice on planning vegetable beds in their garden or smallholding. Course tutor Tricia Barnett started with the basics; explaining how to choose your plot (if your local authority does not have a waiting list for sites) and how to assess potential problems of its location (if, like many owners, you are allocated the first plot that becomes available). Checking the soil type, drainage, shade and sun are all important at the beginning, but Tricia also explained that the most useful thing any new owner can do is to talk to the old hands of the allotment site.

With a bundle of different seed catalogues in hand, we then discussed which were the easiest crops to grow and how beds should be rotated to prevent the build up of pests or soil-borne diseases. Tricia warned us that it's easy to get carried away at the beginning and embark on a huge and complicated system, which we would quickly tire of. A much better way, she advised, was to start slowly; digging over a little at a time and using mulches to prevent more weeds overrunning the areas that you hadn't yet cultivated.

She was keen to emphasise that maintaining an allotment shouldn't be a chore, and so suggested building raised beds and pathways for easy weeding; planting crops that don't need much attention; and setting aside an area with a deckchair where you can relax with a well-earned glass of wine after a day's digging.

For more information about the half-day Allotments for Beginners course at the Small Farm Training Group, Alfriston, East Sussex call 01825 762938 or visit www.sftg.co.uk.

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