should I take on a plot?

[madmum]

Gave up my plot as it was being vandalised and got disheartened. Have now been offered a half plot, still very big and enough for me o manage. It has been neglected and is absolutely covered in couch grass etc, grass stands at least 2/3 ft high at mo.
Council have offered to clear it for me, i.e strim it but it hasn't been dug for years.
Am keen to get back onto a plot but not sure of best way to tackle it. Is it a good time of the year to start up? ANY tricks that will make it easier to manage?

[madmum]

[terrace max]

I'd say go for it. IMO it's the best time of year to get started because the weeds and pests are less disheartening and you'll have all winter to get things ready.

If the council will give it a good strimming you can then do the following:

1. Mulch with carpet (not the foam backed stuff),

2. Dig it over when you can see soil under the mulch,

3. Plant stuff. (Spuds are always a good starting crop because cultivating them opens up the soil.)

Just go bit by bit and soon you'll look around and discover you've created a proper growing space.

Good Luck.

[Jesse]

Take it madmum! :) And yes, now is the best time of year to get started, you've got lots of time to prepare the ground.

[busy_lizzie]

 I think Autumn is the best time for taking over a plot, because you won't be fighting the weed growth.  You could clear an area for your garlic and onions and concentrate on clearing the other stuff over the winter.   Then in the spring you will be better prepared for all your other planting.  Go on - you know you really want to!  :) busy_lizzie

[john_miller]

Digging couch grass at this time of year is far more effective at clearing it than digging it in the fall or winter. The drier soil at this time of year is far more likely to dessicate any parts of the rhizomes you miss than the wetter soils of winter. Use whatever time you can now to clear the plot as it will save you much time later.

[madmum]

Will give it a go, wouldn't if it wasn't for the support and info that everyone gives on this site - won't be saying that when my back is killing me!

Onions - do I put in seed or sets now?
Thanks for your replies.

Will keep you informed of my progress

[terrace max]

I'd go for overwintering onion sets.

There are seeds for this type of onion which I'm trying for the fist time this year but it's a lot more fiddly (but somehow more authentic) than good old sets

[wardy]

I'd recommend the Japanese onions sets as mine did really well for me last year.  It was my first few months on the plot and I was glad to get something in.  Some folks on our plots spoke about disease on our plots and they grew onions from seed.  Also the lotty assoc told me this am that they are changing the variety of onion sets from last year because of disease, so it might be worth asking around your plots to see if there are any likely probs with sets  :)

[redimp]

Go for it madmum - best thing I ever did and I am doing as much digging now as I can.  I have dug a row for my (failed) spring cabbages - I have planted some more but the slugs have been at these as well.  I have covered the row with old cardboard boxes and will plant through these.  I have also dug some other areas and sown it with clover which has done nothing so will be sowing some more before complaining.  I have also dug over my onion bed and am going to have big fire there as I had a little bit of white rot.  Ooh, I am sounded a downer aren't I but I did have my best harvest yet today  :)  I am finding it really easy to get out the perrenial roots at the moment.  When I first got the plot in January I found it really hard to get at the roots - they were disguised by mud and the areas I dug then soon became overrun with weeds once the weather warmed up.  I am far more optimistic about next year becasue of the digging I have done now.

[adam04]

best time??  of course, people take on plots early in the year and rsuh to get vegies in, then mess things up and make lots of problems for themselves. by starting now, you have the benefit of having time, and if you clear the ground then leave cllumps of soil on the surface the winter frosts will break it up for you.

[suzylou]

I've only had mine a few weeks, but I am really pleased that I do.  I have all winter to really clear it and get it ready for the "big planting" in the spring, but I've already got potatoes and onion sets in, and getting my Dobies brassica collection any day.  Next month, strawberry plants and garlic will be going in.

Basically, as soon as I clear a bed right now, there's something for it.

I'm loving it.

And my plot is ALL couch grass...it's a pain in the arse, and though I'm getting up the "thick" rhizomes it still comes through.  But mulching seems to be keeping the worst of it down.

I say go for it, I hope you enjoy it as much as I'm loving mine!

[ipt8]

If you are not worried about spraying I would kill all the weeds with Roundup, also called Glysophate. After 7 days you can start digging it. This will give you a confidence boost seeing all the weeds dead.
I think spraying is a good idea to start with but once your plot is under control avoid sprays if at all possible.
Pace yourself with digging, just a bit each time you visit and you will achieve your goal without getting disillusioned.

[redimp]

Good advice save for the spraying  >:(

I'm organic aiming for vegan organic.

[john_miller]

Good advice save for the spraying >:(

I'm organic aiming for vegan organic.

Except that this is the wrong time of year to be using glyphosate. Glyphosate is a modified plant hormone which disrupts the normal functions of rapid vegetative plant growth (specifically halting the production of phenolic [aromatic] compounds) seen in the spring. At this time of year plants are going into a phase of storing nutrients, rather than expending nutrients, as happens in the reproductive phase of their life cycle and the production of phenolic compounds does not occur. 

[madmum]

thanks for the advice, will start clearing it slowly and putting things in as I go along. Will also look at green manure to keep the weeds at bay. Not sure about spraying, am looking to be organic as much as possible.

have garlic to put in, have winter lettuce and peas on the go already, I will be looking out for any strawberry runners and raspberry canes so if anyone has some spare I would appreciate them to fill cleared space.

Will happily swop them for something. Just need to get myself organised at the moment.

Any advice about making a compost heap? Obviously won't be putting couch etc on the pile but will need to start from scratch. What's the best thing to put together?

[pntalbot]

Hi Madmum-- I`ve just made a Compost heap using `7` Palletts. I went to my local bathroom tile place and they were only to happy, to give away for FREE- but I gave them £2 for their trouble.I am in the same position as you, regarding weeding ( got Plot 4 wks ago ) My Plot hasn`t been worked on for 10yrs I`m told--so my Couch grass/ Turfs aren`t  put on this new Compost heap.I dig for about 2hrs a day in this heat and put above, in 8 sacks and take down local council dump--I gradually hope to clear my site this way and then cover with Black Sheets for winter.
PS Just put in Radish seeds and Strawberry Plants on some of the Plot weeded.

[madmum]

Redclanger
scuse the ignorance but what does planting through cardboard boxes do? Don't the slugs just slime over them to get to the plants?

[wardy]

I don't take turfs to the council dump I stack them upside down to rot.  Don't waste anything with soil attached  :)

Good info there about glyphos.  Thanks :)

[redimp]

Redclanger
scuse the ignorance but what does planting through cardboard boxes do? Don't the slugs just slime over them to get to the plants?

Slight risk but then they will be growing through the boxes through winter and come spring, I do not think there will be much of the cardboard left intact to shelter the slugs and snails.  The (flattened) boxes are acting as weed suppressant in the run up to winter and they will rot down giving me a bit of a soil boost (I only have a spit's depth in most places)

[madmum]

Thats a great idea thanks for passing that on.
Good excuse to go and clear out garage of boxes that OH seems to think we cannot live without!