Clearing all weeds (or only some?) to prepare for spuds

[newspud9]

I've sectioned off a quarter (c.10x4 sq.m) of my new site. Strimmed to ground level and then covered with black plastic and left for 2 weeks. There is still a thin covering layer underneath of weeds/grasses that have gone straw-like in the hot weather.  I presume they are dead (?) as the uncovered parts are green and taller than me. Yesterday I sectioned off a 3x3 smaller area with the intention of ending up with a patch for growing spuds (I thought this would be a relatively safe crop to start with - tell me if I'm wrong).  Should I be aiming to first dig out every last weed and remove every stone and top covering of grass.  I thought I read somewhere that spud roots will "win" over weeds.   How far should I dig down if I have to remove as much unwanted weeds etc as possible.
What is the best way to then treat the soil if I want to grow spuds - or should I actually go with something else as a starter (and on the basis I reckon this small area will be ready during June).  Thanks to all for any helpful suggestions.

[newspud9]

[Tee Gee]

Hi newspud welcome to A4A

I am afraid I don't have a 'quick fix' answer but the following information might be of assistance to you!

There is still a thin covering layer underneath of weeds/grasses that have gone straw-like in the hot weather.  I presume they are dead (?)

Sorry !! but I doubt it! annual weeds possibly but weeds such as couch  No!

Should I be aiming to first dig out every last weed and remove every stone and top covering of grass.  I thought I read somewhere that spud roots will "win" over weeds.   

No you don't have to remove every one but in the long the more the better.

Potaoes will win over the annual weeds and can compete with the perennial weeds but they won't win them over.

How far should I dig down if I have to remove as much unwanted weeds etc as possible.

A 'spit' deep (spade length) should suffice for now!

What is the best way to then treat the soil if I want to grow spuds - or should I actually go with something else as a starter (and on the basis I reckon this small area will be ready during June). 

To save me a lot of typing here are a few pictures & links;

Potato culture;

http://www.thegardenersalmanac.co.uk/Data/Potatoes/Potatoes.htm

Soil preparation;

http://www.thegardenersalmanac.co.uk/Slide%20Shows/Soil%20preparation%20ss/soil%20preparation%20ss.html

Planting out;

http://www.thegardenersalmanac.co.uk/Data/Potatoes/Planting%20potatoes/planting%20potatoes.html

New allotment preparation;

There are a few ideas here for you to consider.

http://www.thegardenersalmanac.co.uk/Data/Allotments/Introduction.htm

[sarah]

i think Tee Gee has said it all really. it sounds as though you have quite a rough plot to start on. dont be put off though,  it will just require some time and a lot of patience.
As Tee Gee has already mentioned the weeds underneath the cover may look dead but if they are perennial weeds such as couch grass dandylion bindweed etc they will be alive and kicking beneath the ground and will be back as soon as they see the light of day.
If you have the patience and energy it is really worth the effort of removing as many of the roots of these weeds as you can manage.  you will be glad you did in future seasons.  it may be easier to leave a part of the plot covered untill autum/winter and give that a thorough dig over when it is cooler and the ground softer from rain.

on the part you cultivate this year it may suffice to do a rough job and put some spuds in (and other crops like beans and peas as long as you do what i call 'quick win' weeding i.e just pulling stuff up as it appears.

then next season you can cultivate the half which you had covered and dug and get some good crops in while dealing with the other half.

gosh what a long winded explanation. sorry.   :D

[newspud9]

Tee Gee, Sarah - thanks for both helpful advice and encouragement.

[1066]

Hi newspud9, I'm on my 2nd year, and still clearing  ::) my plot. The areas I didn't get to dig over this year I covered with a combination of manure, cardboard, newspaper and then black weed suppressant which I'm cutting planting holes in. I've read on here that some folks grow spuds like that, I'm growing pumpkins, courgettes, caulis and other brassicas.
what the others have said about the weeds not actually being dead after being covered for a short while is right, but it does make the digging easier  ;)
1066

[newspud9]

Hi 1066.  The thing is that I reckon I have a clearish idea of what I want to achieve; its just the journey seems to be quite a tough one.  What size plots are you using for the different items you're growing as I intend to do those too - I'm still in the process of planning and would like to try to get it right before the 5th attempt. Dont intend to feed the planet - just the family/friends and donations.
Thanks - newspud9

[1066]

hi, the journey can be tough can't it - for me it's either too wet, too dry, too windy etc etc etc, but the enjoyment I've got out of it is incalculable! And I'm in a similar position just growing what I want to eat, what I like to eat and what is practically speaking possible!
I have 10 rod plot, about 70% of it is cultivated this year. Of that about 1/3rd is covered in the weed suppressant - I'm growing a lot of pumpkins   8)  ::)   ;D
My sweetcorn and some brassicas will be grown this way. Its a bit of an experiment but I just couldn't face anymore digging this spring, so for me its a very practical way of being able to grow stuff and hopefully kill the weeds off at the same time.
One thing I have noticed is that the more thorough you are in the initial weeding the less of a problem later on, and that the areas I dug and weeded last year are noticeably better this year, less couch, better condition, and only a couple of brambles poking their way back up (which I'll deal with later).
I'm also trying to mulch as much as possible this year to cut back on the drying out and the weeding.

Hope this helps
1066

[chriscross1966]

I've taklen on a similar plot this year myself.... Most of it is under a plastic weedmulch. I've planted a few things through it , spuds, jerusalem artichokes, some climbing beans and an assortment of squash and other cucurbits. I'm grownign onions (lots of sorts) broad beans, peas, dwarf French beans plus salads and oca in the bits that I was ablet o dig over earlier on but the rest of my stuff (more spuds, sweetcorn, popcorn, more beans, outdoor toms and some more squash) are in bulk builders bags half-filled with soil (freecycled topsoil) mixed with compost and leafmould (plus some recently obtained freecycled horse manure) .... for me it was a case of what I could get in and when and there was no way I was going to be able to through-dig the whole plot befopre getting it planted. THis way I've got the mulch and the covering crops like squash shading out the weed s for a summer season and I should be able to dig over the whole thing come the autumn,  then arrange a sensible rotation system..... I'd liek to get some deeper beds in there so will continue to collect topsoil and builders bags as they are working out quite well even though they look a bit scruffy (my plot won't win any awards but I've got a lot less visible weed than any other first timer on our allotment site, I've also got a lot more stuff growing, a couple of the others already seem to be developing a thousand yard stare  as they've got a couple of small beds at the front dug but the rest of it is getting strimemd one a week and they can't face digging it  yet....

I'm still pulling couch and bindweed out of all my dug beds but I seem to be getting on top of them.... have to see what they're like when I get back from Glastonbury though they have had a two week period where I was only able to get down for a couple of evenings in the middle due to festival committments.  It'll be interesting to see what the coming rain does as only one rather small bit of my patch seems to have a problem with annual weeds although I'm expecting rather more soon as the plot to the south of me has been abandoned this year and is a forest of annual weeds right now......

chrisc

[sarah]

o i know that thousand yard stare... this time of year can be very demoralising for new plot holders, especially ones with a lot of work needing doing. the weed growth during may and june can be phenomenal and i think a lot of 'newbies' sink or swim at this stage. it really requires a certain amount of blinkered vision not to see the plot as a whole mess of couch and dandylions but as a project that needs patience and methodical plodding. it doesnt do to look too closely at the plots around you that have been worked for a few years as it will put you off for ever. you need to just take a deep breath and start at the beginning and do it bit by bit over a number of seasons. you will always be picking out couch and what ever but eventually you will be in control of it rather than the other way around. stick with it, you will eventually reap the rewards. its a bit like childbirth - you forget the pain after a while... :D

chris when you get back from glasto, the rain and sun will have covered your plot in weeds again, but annual weeds are not to be worried about too much.

[chriscross1966]

chris when you get back from glasto, the rain and sun will have covered your plot in weeds again, but annual weeds are not to be worried about too much.

I'm going to see if I can get a couple of barrows of leafmould to mulch the bit that seems to be sprouting them loads.... it's got a crop of Long Red Florence onions in it and they're plenty big enough to take an inch or so of leafmould going on them.... that bit is no better or worse for bindweed/couch than the rest of it.....

chrisc