New allotment and I don't know where to start

[traceyb]

hi, I have just got the key to an alloment, and I really don't know where to start, my problem is that our allotment is a big patch of scruffy grass, don't think anything has been grown there for some time.  The council will rotavate, but everything i read seems to give me conflicting advice..so my question is should we get it rotovated (the soil is clay) or should we start to dig a small patch, or should I just go home and keep buying my veg in Tescos.

We are dead keen to get started but the problem is where to start

[traceyb]

[SPUDLY]

When people take on a plot at our site that has not been touched for a while they tend to plough first then rotovate it. If you cant get it ploughed then just rotovate will do. Don't get to disheartened, it looks scruffy at first ,but when its turned over it will look a lot better. If its getting done soon potatoes are ready to go in, just watch out for wire worm if its been covered in grass for a while. I've had my plot for three years and i still haven't got it the way i want it, it all takes time so dont worry. You will be surprised at how much better it looks when your plot is full to bursting with veg.

[beckydore]

Tracey

Do you know if it is normal grass or couch grass? If it is couch grass then it will grow back from a really small patch and rotavating cuts up the roots into lots more, creating even more plants. Ask one of the other plot holders - they will know.

Get ready for lots of digging!!! It is hard work but its great to start eating something you have grown.

If it is couch grass, see if you can get some black plastic to cover up the bits you aren't working.

Think about what type of food you like to eat and start looking around for seeds. There are quite a few things you can sow now in trays for planting when you've got the space in your allotment.

My first year was a bit of a disappointment, last year was much better and this year I've got high hopes for it.

Becky

[cornykev]

Hi Tracey, don't rotovate, strim the grass as low as possible, mark out a bed and dig out as much weed as you can whilst the rest is covered and roll back the covering and so on, a bit at a time and you'll soon get on top of things. Look back on this forum for simlier newbie postings and have a good read through all the best.  ;D ;D ;D

[Psi (Pronounced 'Si'!)]

I got my plot in Sept 2008 and it was totally over grown with couch grass.  I wasnt too sure where to start so I simply started by trying to get the grass down.  I did loads of reading and decided I was going organic so would not spray.  I then realised it meant lots of detailed digging and re-digging to pick out as much couch grass as possible.  To be honest it hasnt been as bad as I'd feared - hard work, yes - but not impossible.  I am now at a stage where I can plant but be warned it has taken until now to clear 3/4 of the plot although I have been doing lots of other things on the plot and reckon I have spent certainly no more than 2 hrs per week so far, so very acheivable indeed.  Take a look at my pics for enoucragement.

Personally I would clear an area and start growing, clear an area and then grow etc etc and you will get there.  I elected to do all the digging over the winter as nothing much grows then so I may as well prepare the site.

Any advice, please PM me any time.

PS great advice on this site

[saddad]

Welcome to the site Tracey....  ;D

[manicscousers]

hiya, tracey, welcome to a4a  ;D
we measured it all, made a paper plan, marked it out with sticks and string, covered the paths to walk on and dug a made a bed at a time, happy plotting  :)

[saddad]

Remember to take before and after photos, for us 'cos we are nosey, and so you can see how much you have improved it. Don't be afraid to cover some, with black plastic or cardboard to keep the light out.. it will be much easier to work if you don't let the grass get a foot deep!!.  :)

[Trevor_D]

Reluctant as we might be to agree with Corny, he's bang on correct!

Don't rotovate - dig. (It's actually good for your heart, too!)

And don't try to tackle the entire plot in one go. Take a good look: estimate what you think you might be able to manage by this time next year, then halve it. When you exceed your estimate, crack open a bottle and celebrate! Allotments are long-term.

And never think of buying veg from T***o again....

[traceyb]

this is great, what a helpful lot you are.

i think we now have a plan, and as we are going to try to grown organically its looks like i need to get familiar with a spade and start digging.

Sunday is now designated as Dig Day!  we are going to attempt to clear 2 small beds, one for potatoes, and one in preparation for the tiny little tom seeds attempting to germinate in my other in laws green house.  We are going to attempt to cover as much of the rest of the plot  with plastic as possible and tackle it slowly thru the year.

We're off to get some good old stable manure on saturday to start a heap, i guess we won't be able to use if for  a while but it will be good to know its sitting their rotting away ready for us to use later in the year.

thanks again for the advice, please keep it coming.  and i'll make sure we take pictures.

[1066]

Hi and welcome, hope you have a great day on Sunday!
re the plastic, the aim is to block the light from the area covered. I got my plot last year and some of the covers I used still let in light, if you can get hold of some cardboard and lay that down and then cover with plastic, the killing of the weeds seems to be more thorough. Other tips I've heard are that if you get fairly fresh manure and then cover the ground this also kills the weeds / couch grass, and then you'd be able to dig/turn it over more easily when the time comes
Anyway happy digging - its great exercise!
1066

[reddyreddy]

If you are getting manure check it is not contaminated (do a search on here). Also, I agree about digging, I got my allotment about 6 weeks ago and have dug, dug, dug plus strimming. I found this very useful:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rRMMtOCMAV0

Good luck!! ;D