Planning For Your Plot – our first Grow Your Own of the year

A group of keen beginner gardeners joined us at Greener Kirkcaldy’s training allotment at Ravenscraig Walled Garden on a sunny afternoon on Saturday 23rd April for this year’s first Grow Your Own workshop – Planning For Your Plot, led by our Community Gardener, Jackie.

There was a mix of people completely new to growing and those who had tried before but were looking for more hints and tips.

First we looked at the basics of growing spaces – aspect (sun and shade), wind (barriers on site), convenience (distance, time, water supply and compost) and soil (what to grow and what to do with different types).

Next, we discussed what we would like to grow in our plots and Jackie gave advice on how to choose what to grow and when to grow them. Then we moved on to organising our plot. We talked about crop rotation, the advantages of rows versus blocks and container growing.

After looking at the basics. We took a stroll around the training allotment and the other allotments at Ravenscraig Walled Garden to observe what people grow and how they have arranged their plots.

We finished with a look at practical considerations of growing – seeds, seedlings, tools and equipment. We discussed the costs and basic equipment needed to set up a plot and growing from seeds and buying seedlings.

Everyone asked lots of questions about their own gardens, balconies and growing spaces and came away with lots of ideas about how to get started and what would grow best for them.

Thanks to Jackie for her expertise and thanks to everyone who came along!

Our next Grow Your Own workshop is a full weekend workshop – Introduction to Organic Growing on Saturday 7th & Sunday 8th May, 10am – 3pm, again with Jackie at Ravenscraig Walled Garden. Places are limited so booking is required. Contact us by calling 01592 858458, emailing info@greenerkirkcaldy.org.uk or dropping by our High Street Hub, 254a High Street, Kirkcaldy, KY1 1LA, Wednesday to Saturday 10am – 4pm.