Hello!
I took on my main plot mid-June 2015. It was extremely overgrown as the previous owner was an elderly chap who had been ill for a very long time. Initially, I had to dig out a number of self-seeded Ash tree saplings and generally just get the site cleared. I don't mind saying that it was back-breaking work and took me the rest of the season. But by the Autumn, I had cleared the main bit (about three quarters of the plot) and was able to have two raised beds put in. The 'before' photographs:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/148378394 ... res/r31C44
My husband knocked up the raised beds for me from decking. Wickes had an offer on at the time and he reckoned they ended up costing £15 each to make. It started a stampede down to Wickes with some of our allotment friends! Each one is 3.5 metres long and 1.5 metres wide. I didn't want to make them any wider as it would make planting a challenge. I was able to save an established rhubarb (albeit I moved it) and get some winter cabbages in (the section under netting). Also had 'someone' taking a keen interest in my activity (see photos)!
https://www.flickr.com/photos/148378394 ... res/x1xw32
2016
There's a lovely established black cherry tree on the plot but it was way too high and in need of pruning. So I sent my husband up it with a saw and told him which branches to cut off. It looked lovely when the blossom came out. :) That whole back section is filled with roses, two plum trees, red and blackcurrant as well as raspberries. But mostly, I only had time to keep the grass down at that end as I was still working on the main area.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/148378394 ... res/412o87
So, I carried on with the back-breaking work of clearing the area, section by section. My other half then knocked up some more raised beds for me. Managed to get a total of eight in eventually. I can't begin to tell you how pleased, and relieved, I was when it was finally finished!
https://www.flickr.com/photos/148378394 ... res/oLT8wz
I went a bit nuts with the planting last year. I wanted to try as many different things as I could because I knew that I would not be able to do so this year. I ended up with a LOT! All good fun though. I was particularly happy with my sweetcorn, runner beans and 10-12ft high 'day of the triffids' type sunflowers! :)
https://www.flickr.com/photos/148378394 ... res/p580d0