Allotments 4 All

Hi everyone - 1st go at this and at allotments!
My trouble is i have "spare" grass (apparently its called) ALL OVER my lottie, i started to take it up yesterday (still ache!) but is there an easier way?? have been told the black plastic method but that takes up to year so cant wait that long to start planting stuff! want to be organic as possible so weed killers etc dont seem to be that answer - can someone please help!? Thanks!

Hannah x  :D

Hi Hannah, Best way I found is once you get some clear ground put something in to grow so that when you visit your lottie you have something to look at and admire as you do a little digging at a time. You have got it at the right time to get ready for spring. Or the other choice would be to get Mr Hannah to dig it pfor you    ;)

I'm just clearing one now. First I'm strimming, then using a weed wand. After two goes with that a couple of weeks apart, all the grass should have been turned into potassium. I admit I'm using a rotovator after that. I'd rather cope with weeds next year than dig 600 sq mts now.

Hi Hannah, nice to hear you have a plot,
things that might help
1/ Buy a good gardening book and read when you have sparetime.
2/Split your plot in to sections across your plot around 4' wide and as long as you like with walk way between each section, then cover what's not dug in black plastic and dig whem possible.
3/On each section try to double dig and add well rotted compost or manure, try to grow potatoes the first years,
runner beans and peas in year 2
cabbages year 3
carrots & parsnips year 4
keep rotating your crops
If you take a look at Moggle thread "Haray ive got my lottie" you'll see some pics
hope you have fun
Windy

Spare grass, is that the same as couch grass? Big ugly white rhiozomes/roots?

Hurrah for you anyway on getting your lottie. I'd suggest strimming the tops of the grass, and composting that, then if you can, flamegunning the rest, if you can get ahold of one.

I think even a couple of weeks with black plastic might make a difference, weaken the weeds a bit. Might not do a great lot now, but by the time you've got to the other side of your plot, it might have done a lot - depends on how much you're going to dig over the next few months  ;D

Also, I think it was Gavin that said he got a technique going where he dug, and then somehow turned the whole clump upside-down, so the grass went to the bottom, and I guess rots away over winter.

Oh, and make a compost bin too :)

What's your soil like, and general facilities at your site? (Water, toilet, sheds etc)

I turned the grass in on some of my beds -it's a lot like single-digging. Just make sure the grass ends up at the bottom, it works very well.

Jeremy