Allotments 4 All

... the no dig way :)
I couldn't understand for ages how to sow and plant through mulch. In fact you don't - the mulch gets moved aside whilst the plants are sown/planted until they are a little bigger, then it's pulled back around them. Pics of planting out globe artichokes - moved from the Gallery by request ::)

Globe artichoke seed was sown at the end of June in modules.

Weedy patch next to asparagus is where they are going!



About a week before planting out, lay out rows with string



mulch with spent hops



then straw, then leave everything to settle



when ready to plant out, scooch back the mulch to ground level in the row



plant seedlings (these are 24" apart)



when they grow bigger, the mulch will be scooched back around them :)

SS, a very good illustrated explanation of your mulching.  Would grass cuttings be all right as a substitute for spent hops and the straw put on top of that?

Yes, I have vast quantities available, and use them all the time. The one thing to watch out for is soggy rotting grass; don't use that unless you're putting it on something indestructible like rhubarb, or the bed is going to be empty for several months while it settles down. It's excellent stuff in the right place though. For general use, the best is recently cut grass which hasn't started rotting yet.

Thank you Pauline, the spent hops were just what I had - if I had enough lawnmowings I'd use them :) It was Robert's picture of his rhubarb mulched with supersquelch from the middle the lawn mowing pile that really got me interested in mulch! (Your fault Robert :-*)

Either hay or straw will do - if you can find spoiled hay or straw, that's best of all ::)

Thanks RB and SS.  We have plenty of grass cuttings here.  Some areas of our paddock are over 2ft tall.  I suppose I could go out there with a scythe and collect my own hay!   ;D

I possess a little sickle for that very purpose :-[ :P ;)