Hi there,
Just wanted to say congratz on getting your lottie, I'm still waiting for one. As others have said, do not rotovate - you will spend the next 10 years pulling out weeds if you do. Start working patch at a time, and get each patch planted up as fast as you can. By doing this, you stop other weeds taking over and you can still get something to harvest this year.
A really helpful site is : www.allotments4all.co.uk The people there are really helpful and are very, very clued up on the workings and laws etc concerning allotments.
I hope this helps you in some way and hope that you have many very happy years on your lottie. Wishing you success :-)
Feel free to email me if you feel I could help further.UK Allotment advice please.?
Hi - I would not use a rotovator if I was you as although you end up with a lovely looking plot within a few hours as soon as the rain comes and the sun shines on it - up comes all of those pesky weeds again - with a vengeance!!!! You are better of strimming down the worst of it to about knee level - making sure that you remove any seed heads first so that they are not dispersed further around the plot ready to germinate again!! ~then it is the old fashion digging method I am afraid. You are not to late to put in potatoes still - a main crop that stays in the ground for a longer period of time is probably best so that you can still get the length of time that it needs in the ground before the wet autumn weather comes again. Beans, Peas, Cabbages are all still ok to get going - just clear the area that you want to grow them in and get them in!! Make sure you net them so that the pigeons don't eat all your hard work!! Salad crops are always good. I would dig a square or rectangle plot and then plant in it - you will get disheartened otherwise if you try to tackle the whole plot and not grow anything. You will love it once you get started and wonder how you lived without an allotment. Wishing you the best of luck and a successful first year on the allotment :o)
Concentrate on removing the weeds by physically digging over the plot do not use a rotovator as they chop deep rooted weeds and couch grass etc making the task even harder when they start to grow. You will not achieve clearing the ground over night but time spent now in clearing will help you a lot next season. As you clear a section you could plant some salad crops like radish or lettuce and this will give you incentive to carry on with the task of clearing the ground. Not only will you achieve a clear allotment but the exercise and fresh air will help you
Hi from an allotment grower with 60 years experience the last thing to use is a rotovator they chop the weedsup and make the job worse.Start to clear the ground and shake as much soil off the weeds as you can and and pile them up ready to burn when dry.Ask advise from other plot holders they are usually most helpful You are not too late to plant some veg again ask pot holders .I am much further South than you so could not advise what to sow ,but yes you will be able to grow some thing
Right. Now I will give you yet another alternative. Don't dig.
This works on large areas that are not planted. Strim the weeds down, only dig out things like brambles. Cover the whole area in newspaper several layers thick. Wet the newspaper and put mown grass on top. If there is any woodchip/sawdust hanging around add that too.
Leave that to rot away and plan what you will plant. Water it occasionally if it looks dry, add more if it looks thin, weed anything that tries desperately to come through.
You will end up with a friable, weed free, moist soil and no aching muscles.
This site explains the concept in more detail
http://www.primalseeds.org/OTHERSTUFF/ne鈥?/a>
Why not give it a go :)
No comments:
Post a Comment