Allotments 4 All

I have been visiting my son in laws new plot today in a part of Bucks. They are new ones and its a field thank goodness its only approx 20ftx20ft.  Can anyone please help as to the  best and quickest way to cultivate it. He thought that he could just get a rotovator but its clay.  My advice right or wrong was to either lay polythene on it for a time until the grass and weeds have died and then try rotovating it or better still dig it.  I wondered if there is a weed killer that he could use that would be OK to plant after a few weeks. The thing is the kids want to get down to it and start growing things, at 6 and 4 they don`t understand.

An idea they used on 'It's not easy being green' in the last series was to lay cardboard over the complete site and spread 2/3" of topsoil/compost over it. 

They then planted into this.  Not sure whether they put holes in the card to plant through to the weedy ground underneath. 
I don't think they did though, I think the roots just found their way through the soggy cardboard eventually. 
Try their website here:   http://www.itsnoteasybeinggreen.org

GOOD LUCK  ;D  ;D  ;D
Donna

I've used glyphosate on my new plot, I've still got to dig it over first,
but it does break down quite quickly and you can plant after a few weeks.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glyphosate

If they've got couch grass (the tough grass with long white roots) or thistles and other perennial weeds, weedkiller won't touch them.

Covering them in something substantial and opaque (layers of cardboard, sun-resistant black plastic, weed-suppressant fabric etc) will put paid to them in a year or so.

The route I took is a pretty common one and will work really well at this time of year and with enthusiastic kids.

Go and buy seed spuds and onion/shallot sets while you still can. And plant some tomato seeds in the next week or so.

Cover the ground, or as much as you can.

Dig out a section. Make it four feet wide by however long you want! Mine are 4' x 8'. Four feet means you can weed/tend from both sides without trampling your beautifully dug soil. Clear all the weed roots by hand and bung em in a bag for dealing with later. Get some onion or shallot sets in and move on to the next section.

Uncover and dig out section two. Now assuming that a few weeks has passed by, you may well be able to plant spuds. You want to be sure that frosty mornings won't kill them off. And have a look at those onions/shallots... aren't they encouraging?

Next, go for section three. As above but how about some tomato plants? Or French or runner beans?

You get the picture. Plant as you go, don't do too much at once, compost everything you can to feed the beds for next year (because it's grass now, the ground hasn't had all its nutrients used up).

And have fun!
 

or do it the old fashioned way and dig by hand  :o lol!! just do a section at a time.

I've just taken over a plot as well, and was in the same position.  It is quite daunting looking at an un-cultivated plot, but once you get going, it will all come together.  Our soil is very heavy at the moment, due to the weather we had over the winter, so rotavating wouldn't be much help.  Digging by hand is hard work, but if you do little by little it will be the best way.  I started on Saturday afternoon and now have one bed dug, which is 6 ft X 17 ft.  I am going to get my chitted potatoes in this bed once the weather warms up.  I have also marked out 3 more plots, and will be making a start on them this week.  one is for my dad, one for pumpkins and one for onions and garlic.  But looking back up the plot to my dug bed is very satisfying, and gives me the will to continue the hard graft.

I got a plot 3 weeks ago, was uncultivated for 2 years and therefore grassy.

I opted for deciding on my bed sizes first (6tf x 12ft), I will have 7 in all when Im done.
Then i started to mark out and dig 1 at a time.  Dig off the top layer of grass and dump them in a place to rot down.  The dig over the soil and remove any roots.

I have then planted my broad beans and peas in the first bed.  Now im moving on to the second.

I suggest, 1 bit at a time, planting as you go - the kids will see some food growing as you get through the heavy work.

The kids will love to get their hands dirty.  A suggestion - you do the digging over, while they play in the dirt and pull out an weeds/roots.  Its a game for them and you dont have to keep bending down to pick them up!!

Good Luck

K

A years a long time to wait!

Glysophate certainly got rid of my couch and nettles, its a lot quicker if you dont have the time, personally I'd blast it with Glysophate then wouldn't use chemicals again. Wait a few weeks after a couple of applications then rotovate it.

I remember a similar question coming up on Gardener's Question Time a year or so ago. It had a little extra twist as the plot owner wanted to go organic.

John Cushnie, something of a hero of mine, said (and I paraphrase): "What I would do is go down on Tuesday and spray the whole plot with glyphosate, then on Wednesday, I'd go organic".

Personally, I would glyphosate it and 2 - 3 weeks later, rotovate it. Most allotment purists won't like this but you did ask for the quickest way.

EDIT: Just read Sawfish's reply - great minds e.t.c.

Thank you everyone for  your help, I will pass on the info.