Planning an Allotment
With waiting lists for allotment plots in the UK getting longer some planning beforehand will yield many benefits when you do get your plot.
Getting the right tools and doing the right soil preparation are vital to getting the most from the plot over the growing season.Get the Right Tools.
You will find many types of tools available for all aspects of cultivation, however you really only need a few to get started. The basic tools you need are for digging the plot, soil preparation, planting out, and weeding.1. Digging the plot
A spade or a fork are great tools for average soil types, they come in two sizes, called digging and border. The border type is slightly smaller in width and height; and are favoured by ladies. The standard digging spade and fork are bigger and taller and are favoured by men.
Spades and forks are commonly made from two materials, forged steel and stainless steel.
Forged steel is the strongest material and is commonly coated with an epoxy material as it is more prone to rust, it is also heavier.
Stainless steel is lighter and does not rust but it is not as strong.
If you soil is well prepared and light a stainless steel spade and fork will be a good choice, if your soil is heavy the forged would be a better choice.
If your plot has very heavy soil and been neglected for a while with lots of grass a digging hoe or Azada is a great alternative. These tools are used extensively all over the world and with long handles you use the power of levels to get through tough soil.
For taller people consider the Azada or a digging shovel with a long handle, these reduce bending and are easier on the back.
For an illustrated guide to digging the plot see - here
2.Soil Preparation
A rake is the best tool for this, use your fork or spade to break up the bigger lumps, let the soil dry for a few days after digging and then rake it. Choose rake with the right length handle so you are not bending when raking.3.PlantingOut
Once your seedlings are big enough and been hardened off you are ready to plant them out into the beds. A trowel or transplanting trowel is the ideal tool. A transplanting trowel is slightly narrower and generally comes with some depth markings to make life easier.4.Weeding
Once your crops are in and growing weeding is the next stage to ensure they thrive.
A weed hoe is the best tool for this, they come in several varieties, all are used by sliding the blade along the soil cutting the top of the weeds off from the roots.
Dutch Hoe - a flat blade in line with the handle.
Draw Hoe- a flat blade at right angles to the handle
Angled Hoe / Swoe - flat blade held at an angle to the handle
For an illustrated guide to digging the plot see - here
In summary
The ideal first set of tools to start your allotment should be:-
A spade and or fork
Either digging or border type made from either stainless or forged steel.
A good quality rake
A trowel or transplanting trowel
A hoe either Dutch, Draw or angled type
For an illustrated guide toallotment tools see - here
Getting the right tools and doing the right soil preparation are vital to getting the most from the plot over the growing season.Get the Right Tools.
You will find many types of tools available for all aspects of cultivation, however you really only need a few to get started. The basic tools you need are for digging the plot, soil preparation, planting out, and weeding.1. Digging the plot
A spade or a fork are great tools for average soil types, they come in two sizes, called digging and border. The border type is slightly smaller in width and height; and are favoured by ladies. The standard digging spade and fork are bigger and taller and are favoured by men.
Spades and forks are commonly made from two materials, forged steel and stainless steel.
Forged steel is the strongest material and is commonly coated with an epoxy material as it is more prone to rust, it is also heavier.
Stainless steel is lighter and does not rust but it is not as strong.
If you soil is well prepared and light a stainless steel spade and fork will be a good choice, if your soil is heavy the forged would be a better choice.
If your plot has very heavy soil and been neglected for a while with lots of grass a digging hoe or Azada is a great alternative. These tools are used extensively all over the world and with long handles you use the power of levels to get through tough soil.
For taller people consider the Azada or a digging shovel with a long handle, these reduce bending and are easier on the back.
For an illustrated guide to digging the plot see - here
2.Soil Preparation
A rake is the best tool for this, use your fork or spade to break up the bigger lumps, let the soil dry for a few days after digging and then rake it. Choose rake with the right length handle so you are not bending when raking.3.PlantingOut
Once your seedlings are big enough and been hardened off you are ready to plant them out into the beds. A trowel or transplanting trowel is the ideal tool. A transplanting trowel is slightly narrower and generally comes with some depth markings to make life easier.4.Weeding
Once your crops are in and growing weeding is the next stage to ensure they thrive.
A weed hoe is the best tool for this, they come in several varieties, all are used by sliding the blade along the soil cutting the top of the weeds off from the roots.
Dutch Hoe - a flat blade in line with the handle.
Draw Hoe- a flat blade at right angles to the handle
Angled Hoe / Swoe - flat blade held at an angle to the handle
For an illustrated guide to digging the plot see - here
In summary
The ideal first set of tools to start your allotment should be:-
A spade and or fork
Either digging or border type made from either stainless or forged steel.
A good quality rake
A trowel or transplanting trowel
A hoe either Dutch, Draw or angled type
For an illustrated guide toallotment tools see - here
Source...