Allotments 4 All

I've just taken on my first allotment in sunny Burnley Lancs and it's got plenty of long grass, some bindweed, nettles, a few docks and some horse tail. I want to clear it all . I am thinking about killing the current vegetation with Roundup. Burning it all once dead and turning over the earth to let winter break down the soil. I would start sowing next year. Does anyone have any advice please ?

I would forget slash and burn, prepare a little patch now and then sow or plant something so you have something to eat this year and early next.  I would die of boredom if I had to clear a whole allotment before planting or sowing. We have two recent plotties who have gone at the whole lot, weed killing everything then burning or whatever then start digging.  It takes an age and while your back is turned the weeds are growing behind you, and after all that time you still have nowt to eat  :(   ~Both of them gave up  :(   I prefer the clear a bit, cover rest with black sheet mulch or Axminster, cardboard or whatever.  Little and often so you don't break your back.  THIS IS ONLY MY OPINION  though and you must do exactly as you wish as it's YOUR plot, your little piece of heaven and you are your own boss on it  ;D   Whatever you decide I wish you all the very best and I hope your plot makes you as happy as mine does me.  I even got voted the Best Newcomer Allotmenteer on our lotties so was dead chuffed.  :)   Wardy  :)

There is someone on our site that took on his allotment about a month before I did.  Mine was rotovated and the weeds grew back and I used to gaze at his plot wondering how he kept his so clear.  I found out he had used roundup - I was determined to be organic from the start.  Now, eight months later, the bits he hasn't touched since are just as overgrown as the bits I have not touched yet.  Touchee.

Couldn't agree more with the above posts.

I spent a whole month clearing my first allotment by hand but didn't get it planted up quickly enough and it was soon swamped with weeds again.

I'll always adopt the clear & plant method in future - let my crops do most of the hard work. With autumn just around the corner you could clear as much as you can by hand and fill the space with an overwintering green manure: this will stop the nutrients in the soil getting washed out, and you can dig it in to enrich the soil in spring. Roundup won't do any of that...

I took to an allotment about 2 months ago, I dug and planted one half, the other half was just dug, had loads of courgettes, summer cabbages so far. I would have been bored not growing anything at all, I havent used any weed killer either, being totally organic with this one.

Like the everyone i have not used weed killer but not though intention,  but i did it bit by bit and it seems the easier way. Depends on the amount of time you have on your hands. But along with this weed seeds will cause me problems next year wait an see.   


GOOD LUCK

Well that's convinced me ! I'll be clearing and planting. and when I can't plant any more I'll dig in manure and cover with sheeting. Thanks for the advice. Anyone know which retail outlets sell the cheapest suitable sheeting please ?

This link was posted a few days aga http://www.allplaz.com/acatalog/index.htm and looks quite good.

I'd definately agree.   I hadn't consciously chosen to be organic it just seemed the way to go.   By the time I'd finished clearing my lottie (taken on in march) I had filled a compost bin 1.5m square and high!   It took about 2 months to do though.  The best bit was knowing I was also reealy pleased to watch earlier plantings grow or to plan what was going in next.   I'd definately recommend that route other wise it can be a chore instead of fun.

I also agree with the roundup comments.  The people that weedkilled have to do just as much as weeding as me so no gain.  Like most things therefore - simply do what suits but ultimately you only get out, what you put in!  

Another thing which I wish I'd done sooner is compost the weeds which I'd dug up. Those tap-rooted ones have grabbed a lot of goodness from the soil...

The best method I've come across is to mix some grass cuttings and the weeds you've dug up and chuck 'em in a bin liner. Add some...ahem...urine*, & tie up the bag. Leave to ferment for a few months and then empty the contents into the compost heap.

(*this will be easier for the male of the species to do directly)

GOML  I hope you've had a chance to digest all this stuff  ;D  It seems apparent that folks on here like composting as much as lottying.  Stirring yer compost is a very calming pastime, like making rissotto  ;D
If you kill all those weeds with weedkiller you can't really compost them.  if you cover with black sheet mulch for ages they will vanish then you've killed two birds with one stone  :)  It is a slow job but you'll still have plenty to go at to get you going.  Most plots are huge aren;t they  :)  My black sheet mulched areas which ahve been covered since last June are now playing host to pumpkins and squashes which are romping over it. I've planted in containers too, eg builders rubble sacks, washbasket, compost bags upended with spuds in, couple of raised beds filled with manure.  No dig beds filled with potatoes as well.  All to save digging and weeding before planting as I wanted produce  :)

I have one compost bin that is full of a couch grass/thistle/other perrenial mixture.  It has been sitting for about 4 months and the ants have moved in.  I have another similar bin about half full and a third bin which I am putting annuals in.   Due to the prevaillance of perrenials, my annual bin is not very full.  :(