So, you've just acquired a plot but don't know what to do next - don't panic! 

Allotmenteering is like alchohol, little & often. 

My old plot was about 22' wide & 137' long which isn't as big as some plots, but I do have a garden that's 160' long as well! 

When you are faced with waist high weeds there are Three approaches:-

        1.       Runaway never to return - Don't do this, you'll miss out on good food, free work out and the company of your fellow plotters.  It's like having a big family all in one place.

        2.       Cut down the worst & spray whats left with Roundup   - A couple of times and this should see most of the worst of them off but isn't at all organic.

        3.       Cover as much of the Plot with Something Dark - Black plastic that is used by farmers to cover silage pits is good.  Old carpets can also used although there is some questions over these now due to the chemicals that are used to kill moths & Cleaning agents that may have been used on them.

I've used a combination of 2 & 3. 

When you've done this you can work on a bit at a time digging and clearing the ground and planting a few starter crops - Spud are usually the favourite as you dig the ground to plant them, the foliage suppresses most weeds and then you dig again when you harvest them. 

There is a fourth way

If you can't face a lot of digging first off, try spreading a good layer of leaf mould, compost or manure on a piece of ground, plant your spuds in this and then cover with the plastic.  When you see the shoots pushing the plastic up cut a cross in it with a knife (carefully!)  to let them grow through.  This has the advantage of not having to earth them up and when you want to harvest just pull a bit back and dig enough up to fill your bucket and then cover them back over.

As to other crops, well there is plenty of help out there and don't be afraid to ask your fellow plot holders, most will give help & advise freely.