Hello again everyone.
I have just spent the last week cutting back the 6ft weeds and grass on my new plot. I also have had a seriously out of control Blackberry Bush to contend with. I have taken over a large plot which has been abandoned for some time and nature has been having plenty of fun.
Now, as I am completely new to this I thought I would lay out my plan of action for some of you experienced growers to criticise. Please tell me if I am on the right tracks here.
My next job will be to dig up all the ground and turn it over, therefore burying the surface level of grass and cut down weeds while also removing as amny roots as possible. I am then going to try and cover as much of the surface as possible with some old carpet in order to stifle any growth. All the cut weeds, grass and roots are destined for the compost heap.
After a couple of weeks I thought it would be a good idea to give the soil another dig and try and remove any left over weeds. There is a large amount of rotting manure at my site which I can use so I was going to lay this over the surface and then recover with the carpet.
So, does this sound like I am on the right track? Or am I missing some important jobs?
All sounds like a good idea to me! you have been busy! The second dig over maybe a little keen, though it depends on what weeds you have :) I did this with my worst patch of bindweed and it has virtually gone now.
Welcome to A4A BTW! ;D
There is a mixed opinion on the use of carpets, if you do a search for it you will find a whole variety from those who loath to those who love. I personally don't think it does any harm short term as a weed supresent, as long as you have some way of disposing with it afterwards and don't leave it on so long the weeds grow through it.
Quote from: Beisty on November 05, 2005, 19:25:33
I have taken over a large plot
My next job will be to dig up all the ground
Hi Beisty! I am by no means experienced - only started last January. And bear in mind I don't know how much time you have... BUT it seems to me you could try clearing one - smallish - part of the plot as thoroughly as you can then PLANT something. In November you can still plant broad beans, peas, onions, garlic or even green manure. Or fruit bushes.
And whilst that lot is growing, you can carry on clearing the rest.
I found it gives me incentive to carry on, but then maybe it's just me.... :P
All the best
D
Hi Beisty
And a warm welcome to A4A, the only part i know you should reconsider is disposing of weeds / roots on your compost heap as they have a remarkable tendency to survive, and consequently when you use the compost you'll be replanting the bu--ers!!
Cheers Kevb
http://clicks.aweber.com/z/ct/?ckObWgsI.qGJg0z72AEkvQ
Take a look at this booklet as well, it may help!!
Quote from: Beisty on November 05, 2005, 19:25:33
......
So, does this sound like I am on the right track? Or am I missing some important jobs?
We're still clearing our plot (about 60% done :) ) that was in a similar state. I think the advice to clear and plant a little at a time is sensible.
What we have done after the initial hack through the jungle is to dig over only once, getting the weeds out fairly thoroughly. The beds can then be manured and prepared at the next step. Digging and weeding it over twice seems like unnecessary extra work. Otherwise what you propose seems spot on to me. We've used black plastic rather than carpet, but the effect is the same.
I'm with Wardy and Dominque on this one get planting ASAP even if its only on a small scale cos if you don't its easy to loose incentive - the joy of seeing your seedlings coming through cannot be expressed strongly enough - my OH looks at me as if I'm insane cos I'm like a sprog with a new toy when I see those little shoots coming through!!!
Over wintering onions, garlic and broad beans can still be planted in November - GET PLANTING and keep on with the digging in other parts of your plot.
Good Luck and welcome to A4A - a friendly bunch of like minded folks!!!!!!
Hey Beisty, you make me feel like a plot slob :P! Am admiring your vigour, if you are doing all that you will sure be rewarded with fewer weeds. I'm with previous posters, like my favourite old boy says, just keep putten' stuff in, and you'll keep getten' stuff out.
The real point is to enjoy yourself - there's never one right way to do things, as long as you get what you want out of your plot, the way YOU love best is the right way! Have fun, keep posting - ;D ;D ;D
Hi Beisty
I a newbie too - got my plot proper back in March - it was covered with mares tail and bindweed and a lot of it got dug out - few bonfires worth. The summer was spent in a battle of wills - mine against the mares tail but it was therapeutic to go over there after work in the summer and take it out on the weeds.
In the summer there was a point when everything was growing and it did grow, much to my surprise and I'm sure in spite of me, when there wasn't a lot else to do apart from weed and a little spraying with garlic (great for getting rid of bugs) - anyhoo I have a decent amount of veggies in my freezer and a sack of potatoes and a fair few onions left. I had read some books about double digging but it is hard work espcially on clay soil so my plot just got a once over and it is still relatively weed free. I did grow lots of companion plants which covered all the gaps between my veggies - that helped a lot.
I love my little patch of heaven on earth and managed to come 15th in the Best kept allotment out of 500. Used to be very embarrased by my enthusiasm but glad there are loads of us out there ;D
Good luck
Lottie 3
Don't ever be embarassed Lottie3, whats embarassing about watching nature produce her bounty and eating healthy fruit and veg, getting plenty of fresh air and having a natter with like minded people down the lottie or on a4a.
Its those other mad hatters that visit Tesco daily that need their heads testing :D
do you have to be careful not to put the wrong weeds in compost bin ie. couch grass on the compost. I usually bag it and take them off site and put in bin at home.
Yea realy enjoy looking at supermarket prices. My butternut was lovely too.
Does that make you a mad hatter who needs her testing then Wardy ;D
Hi Beisty, Welcome to the board. You have worked hard and achieved a lot. Like a lot of plotters I would advise once you have cleared an area to get planting as soon as possible. I don't think you need to dig the soil twice either especially this time of year. The weeds shouldn't be growing very vigourously at moment, and if it is wet you will just damage your soil structure. If you have access to well rotted manure, then you are blessed and that will really help the nutrition of your soil.
We used carpets and weed suppressent fabric when we first started and a lot of people don't approve of them, but I think they are okay in the short term as long as they don't reach the stage of disintergrating, then they are a lot of trouble to dispose of. People will also say they do harbour slugs and snails, but at least you can lift the carpet and snag them. I agree with Kev and Maggie, don't put things like mares tails or couch grass on your compost heap, they will love that and just multiply. You will probably get loads of advice, but you will learn by experience what works for you. As everyone has said just enjoy your plot, it is a brilliant thing to do, expecially come harvest time. All the best, busy_lizzie
Hi again everyone
I heard/read recently that all those nasty weeds are full of really good nutrients and can be bagged up with a lot of grass cuttings in a placcie bag and left to rot down on their own. Once they are really unrecognisable they can be added to the compost heap.
Glad someone mentioned butternut squash have a few in the cupboard that I'd forgotten about.
Lottie3
Thanks Delilah
The whole of my office came over to my lottie one lunchtime and we had a picnic - they are fans now too coz they got loads of really lovely fresh baby new potatoes and other surplus stuff. As part of my agreement for the allotment I'm not allowed to use it commercially so I got a charity box from a hospice and they donated money to that instead :)
Beisty are you going to divide your plot up because if you are you'll save yourself some time and energy by not digging the paths :) Makes rotation easier to to have everything divided up. I usually take loads of nice things to eat and a bottle of wine when I spend a day over my allotment. Luckily it's within walking distance ;D
I don't like to waste the weeds so I have a couple of plastic "Daleks" for all the really tough weeds, exclude light for a couple of years and they will eventually give up and rot down
Hi Wardy I agree with your statement about allotments should be there to enjoy. If they are not the neatest plot on the site just as long as they are being used and the person who is using the plot enjoys or is enjoying what he or she is doing then that is what having an allotment is all about. Its your plot to gow or tend the way you want to in your own time and at your own pace. I sometimes get flack of some of the tenents on the site I am on saying why is this person not doing this with there plot or why is that person not doing that whith its plot? I have to tell the person who is asking the questions basically the same as I have typed above. Just as long as they are using the plot or if not putting membrain or covering down to suppress the weeds then that is all that matters.
Allotments = Fun + Fresh Air + Exercise + Making Friends + Fresh Wholsome Food and Fruit + Appreatiating the surrounding wildlife.
Allotments should not be = Stressfull (It has been like that for me this year and that was wrong!) + Back Breaking (Pace yourself, half an hour the first day, three quaters of an hour the second day, then a hour the third and so on.) + Worrying (If something is late going in it normally catches up, if something fails then try again, if it is to late there is always winter crops or next year.)
So Basically Do the Do's and Dont Do the Dont's!
If the allotment and vegetable craze carrys on then we should lobby the councils to make more land available for our use to grow our own!
Also Wardy thanks for the couch grass plant food. I forgot about that ::) Atleast it will do something good for the plants in the end.
The_Snail