Weeds on Allotments.

[onion_grower]

I am always confused. I like to keep a section on my allotment to grow wildflowers (Weeds) so it will attract the insects that eat all the aphids on my crops. I also allow the weeds to sometimes grow in between my crops to help with pest control. (I know that leaving weeds to grow between crops will take nutrients away from the crop and make compertition so resulting in smaller yeilds. I only leave some weeds :) I like to grow organicaly.

What is you thought on this as I feel guilty sometime on doing this when there is alot of allotment holders who keep there plot completely weed free.

[onion_grower]

[MikeB]

O.K. if you want to, BUT don't let the weeds go to seed.  You're neighbours won't be pleased if the wind is blowing in their direction.
Why not plant a Hebe?  Attracts bees, wasps and hover flies.
MikeB

[growmore]

Each to his own .But I  am glad your plot is not next door to mine ..Lol   ..Jim

[onion_grower]

I like the Grass paths wardy  :)

And I try not to let the weeds go to seed but you cannot stop them all.

[growmore]

I like grass paths Wardy,It was OG's wild patch I was referring to like the nettles ,the dandelions and the willow herb that I presumed would be growing amongst them... The owd bugg**s on our lotties would go barmy ..They wait to catch a weed popping up.They stand wid their hoes in their hand at the ready ..
woe betide anybody having them parachute seed thingies blowing off their garden.
we call em the blue maffia because they all seem to wear overalls..
ain't lottying great?....cheers .Jim.

[spacehopper]

Lol growmore, so they are on your site too eh?

[Rose.mary]

MikeB - I am so glad you mentioned Hebe, as a lottie neighbour told me today to take cuttings about now if I wanted some. I am looking for flowers that attract bees etc., without giving the excuse that I am only letting my weeds grow because I am organic. How often I here that one. >:(
I hate weeds I don't care if they do attract insects. I look around and all I see are weeds, there are a lot more wild parts than cultivated bits and if you want an allotment I say use it for the purpose it was intended - to grow vegetables and flowers.
Sorry to ramble but I just had to get that of my chest.

Rosemary

[busy_lizzie]

I don't need to deliberately grow weeds, they seem to grow of their own accord anyway.  I always seem to end up with one wild patch, usually at the back of my plot.  Perhaps next year will be different and it will all  end up being immaculate. ;D busy_lizzie

[the_snail]

If you are after a good hebe to attract bees try Hebe Mid-Summer Beauty. It has long erect purple flowers in summer.

The_Snail

[the_snail]

A picture of what it looks like :-

http://images.google.co.uk/images?hl=en&ie=UTF-8&q=Hebe+Midsummer+BEAUTY&spell=1&sa=N&tab=wi

The_Snail

[Mrs Ava]

Don't want them on my plot - I want all spare room for productive fruits and veggies.  Anyhows, we are fortunate to have a natural hedgerow surrounding our site full of native trees and plants, so the insects aren't interested in our humble dandilions!

[MikeB]

Good choice rose.mary,  October seems a strange time to take cuttings, are you sure because if so I will get some from the Hebe in my front garden.  I thought, although I am not sure that you took semi-ripe cuttings in the summer?

Regards

MikeB

[Rose.mary]

I only know what I have been told MikeB. My lottoe friend said that she had been trying to root cuttings in water, but no success. So she just put them in pots of compost in the usual way 2 weeks ago, and they are still alive.
Thanks for the input everybody.

EmmaJane, I have about 480 sq.mts on 2 plots, so yes I do have room. Although I have just ordered about 2 ton of seed from Kings. I think my plot will be more like a market garden than an allotment.

Rosemary

[hemajo]

Rose.mary, I think Hebes take quite easily from cuttings.  My neighbour found loads of self rooted Hebe plantlets in the ground after she had clipped back one of her Hebes.  I would say it is worth a try, as you say, in some pots of compost.  If they don't take, try some next summer.  Might be worth taking some heeled cuttings as well?  I have a Hebe that hadn't been up to much in it's pot when I rescued it from a sale and planted it out.  It was straggly for a couple of years, and didn't do much, but this year was fantastic with pink flowers which lasted for ages.  Don't know what it is called.  The bees loved it.  I just wish now that I hadn't planted it out of the way!  Might move it yet!

[marshwiggle]

Joy Larkcombe says the weed in the row competes less than the weed between the rows. My neighbours grow weeds and I get the seeds for free, so I get lots of hoeing practice ;D

[the_snail]

You can look on it theis way when the weeds are big enough you can pull them up and use them as composting material for your carrots next year.

The_Snail

[Mubgrub]

I just got a new book that recomends undersowing almost every crop with a green manure (all year round) to keep the weeds down, lessen pests and build soil fertility.  Anyone tried it?  Sounds like a great idea if you can't be up at the lottie every day with the hoe. ;D  And sounds like it would be beneficial to all he wee beasties that live in the weedy patches?

[wardy]

I didn't think the idea was to hoe them off.  Don;t you turn them in when the crop has finished?

[djbrenton]

I believe the latest idea is to sow white clover and just plant through it as a no-dig method.

[wardy]

That sounds like my kind of thing.  I'll have a look for more info on that.  Should attract lots of pollinating stuff