new allotment owner

[staris]

just thought I'd say hello to everyone ;D
after waiting for around 8 years I've finally got my hands on my first allotment, it's a big plot and needs loads of work...4ft high nettles everywhere and loads of raspberry canes.
I've just about manage to clear it all down to ground level the old fasioned way,  no power tools just a sickle and a machete  :)
next I'm going to spray the lot with glyphosate wait a couple of weeks and then get digging.
whats the best plan for when i start to dig the plot, is it best to dig the whole lot over or just leave the bits where I'm planing to have footpaths.

[staris]

[manicscousers]

hi, staris, welcome to the site  ;D
we marked out the paths and then only walked on them, saved the soil getting compacted as the beds were made  :)

[caroline7758]

Welcome, Staris! You might want to think about covering at least some of your plot with black plastic or a thick mulch once the weedkiller has worked, this will keep the weeds down and stop you getting disheartened!

[lorna]

Welcome to A4A Staris.

[saddad]

Welcome to the site Staris..  ;D

[kt.]

Welcome Staris.  You could  blowtorch the groundlevel stuff, then leave it covered.

[staris]

i've had an offer from a farmer to come in with a tractor and plough the whole site over after i've spayed it with weed killer, just wondered what peoples thoughts are on doing it this way.

[kt.]

i've had an offer from a farmer to come in with a tractor and plough the whole site over after i've spayed it with weed killer, just wondered what peoples thoughts are on doing it this way.

One of two options.
Either do it painfully by hand and get each weed out slowtime.  (Thats what I did,  took months).  This would be my first option.

Or if the farmer does it - he will chop up all the weeds into little weeds, i.e. 100 becomes 1000.  But then again it would be easier to hoe the little heads off as they crop up. 

[Buster54]

 it's a big plot and needs loads of work...4ft high nettles everywhere and loads of raspberry canes.
I've just about manage to clear it all down to ground level the old fasioned way,  no power tools just a sickle and a machete  :)
next I'm going to spray the lot with glyphosate wait a couple of weeks and then get digging.
whats the best plan for when i start to dig the plot, is it best to dig the whole lot over or just leave the bits where I'm planing to have footpaths.
[/quote]
Nettles, Cooch grass and Creeping thistle are devils to get rid of my  experience  on nettles cooch grass and thistles after spending 6 weeks digging over my new plot and removing every root I could see they still keep coming through they survive by storing food and nutrients in their roots so the tiniest piece some as small as a quarter of an inch will produce a plant not to mention all the seeds that are laying dormant just waiting for the right conditions so I don't think glyphosate will finish them off completely just the surface plants as you will be amazed at the root system of those plants its like the London underground that is how they spread.After spending 2hrs digging you will be looking for the farmer like I was but after all the advise I was given decided to dig by hand took me 6 weeks(thats because I wanted to do the whole lot in one go)but some do a small plot at a time,I have covered half my plot with weed suppressant fabric and planting my brassicas french beans-peas and sweet corn  through it.the other half I have my swede-carrot-and upto now beetroot and have to weed it every day as the Creeping thistle still keep popping up,good luck your gonna need it
Buster

[staris]

i'm in no hurry as i've got till next season to get it into some kind of shape so i think i'll just dig it over   :)

[Amazin]

Whereabouts is your plot, Staris? With an eight year waiting list, it could almost be in Camden!

[STEVEB]

personally id adopt the hand dig method,so satisfying when you turn over the last clod.b*&^^%$r on your back but better than any gym membership and cheaper.