Help with weeds,

[abdehor]

I am trying to dig this new allotment but have a really strange weeds, doesnt seem to be a top at the moment but lost of thick roots like big fat worms, millions of them.
Anyone advice me how to get rid of them, dont want to use chemicals if I can get away with it.
The only thing I can think of it creeping buttercup,
And do I have to remove all these roots before I can plant my potatoes.
Sorry if this sounds daft but this is my first allotment and I havnt planted anything yet.

[abdehor]

[sandersj89]

Sounds like it may be Bindweed.

Are the roots very brittle?

If it is remove as much of the root as you can before planting anything.

In the spring repeated hoeing will see oit off over a couple of seasons.

Jerry

[Truffle]

Yeah, I agree with Jerry.

Definitely sounds like bind weed (our plot was covered in it).

As Jerry said, the best you can do is dig up the roots and hoe. Although, the slightest bit of root is capable of re-sprouting. You can also eat the roots...

I sift the soil with the garden fork to find all as may roots as poss.

Good luck,

Truffle

[Robert_Brenchley]

Dig out as much as possible. I've been hoeing the halaky stuff round my fruit bushes mercilessly for two seasons; I dug an exploratory hole a few weeks ago and found great fat healthy-looking roots still in there.

[Svengali]

I had a bindweed problem at my previous home - my nextdoor neighbour did nothing to control the problem which was originating in HIS garden. I filled about a dozen pots with a systemic weedkiller, and draped the growing tips of the bindweed into the pots.
At the end of the year, the problem had gone, both from my garden, and his!

[telboy]

Sounds like Bindweed, hope it ain't Asparagus!