Here's My New Allotment

[Stork]

Well,

I took the plunge. It's only a half plot and it's totally covered in nettles and other weeds but nothing too nasty. The soil is actually very good underneath.

Anyone know what the plant/weed in the second photo is...the one with blue flowers?

I dug my petrol strimmer/brushcutter out of the shed to start clearing. I hasn't been used for 11 years. It started second pull.

I'm treating that as a good omen.

Stork.

[Stork]

[BarriedaleNick]

I think it might be green alkanet
green alkanet

[artichoke]

It spreads like mad. Exterminate it! Still battling it on daughter's allotment after 10 years!

[ancellsfarmer]

Cut down, wilt, then compost without roots, always before flowers mature. Roots will die if cast to dessicate,ie spread out on a drying rack, then incinerate, or pop them into the green waste at the tip!!

[Tee Gee]

My heart goes out to you over the years I have had six 8 plots like that .....never again

The soil is actually very good underneath.

Usually is when there are nettles around, but as nettles multiply from root runners as well as seed, ensure you get the whole plant out.

[johhnyco15]

im getting excited too have 3 weeks before i can have my new half plot its next to my plots so it will be really easy do all my tools close to hand from friday i have spent 30 hrs getting ready for planting out have not even had time to take photos its been so hot here watering my potato tubs twice a day and i have 40 of them its quite a mission

[Tee Gee]

watering my potato tubs twice a day and i have 40 of them its quite a mission

Now you can see why I am a traditional spud grower...................adding to which, I absolutely detest watering!   

[johhnyco15]

watering my potato tubs twice a day and i have 40 of them its quite a mission

Now you can see why I am a traditional spud grower...................adding to which, I absolutely detest watering!   

and ours is all hand pump however it does keep you fit even if in the height of summer its like its a knockout buckets barrows and cans everywhere lol

[Stork]

Thanks for all the replies. I have become very well acquainted with nettle roots over the last few days. They're coming out in huge clumps and I'm trying to make sure I get all the little thready roots as well as the thick tap roots. I have dug out about a third of the plot in about two hours so not too bad. I did take to chemical warfare the other morning when it was sunny and still. Sadly it lashed down about six hours later so I don't think the Round Up will be doing much rounding up. I'll be planting onion setts and sowing beans, chard and kale seeds tomorrow. It'll be nice to get something productive in the ground.