i now have an allotment..help..help..help..

SoScrooge

Hello

We got our allotment today! Hurray! But there is a problem - the patch has not been used for some years and is covered with thick grass.

I need to turn it in to a nice weed free patch.

Am I right to cut the grass and remove a few inches off the top (mainly grass roots)? I am then proposing to somehow mush the grass roots layer I
removed and turn it into compost.

Or, are there any other ways of getting rid of grass and weeds quickly?

Thank you so much for all your suggestions.

SS:o

raeble

Anastacia wrote:

More brain picking of the allotment specialists please !

We have just got the keys to our long awaited allotment as well. Its brand new with georgeous nearly black top soil. Needs weeding but not an un-manageable amount. But the rain just wont stop long enough to do anything. My dad says not to go on it or we'll just turn it into a mudbath. Is he right in saying that our plants will catch up ?

Your Dad is right, there is no point going on the allotment when it is wet. You may have to wait a few days for it to dry out once it stops raining. Things will catch up. If you plant anything in this rain you are in danger of them rotting so you'll have to plant them again. I would also advise once you get on your plot to dig trenches down the sides for drainage.

Also we are starting with a 5 rod patch for my family of 4 & my sister & her husband. Do you think we are right in thinking we should ask for another 5 (atleast) ?

It depends on what you are planning on growing and what you can find to put in there - you'd have to hunt for seed potatoes for instance. A five rod patch is half a plot.

Lastly, whats the conscensous on chicken keeping. I think you all managed to put me off last time I asked but I am ready to be put off again now! There are some cute fat little brown hens running about over their now.

Thank you
Anastacia

On your plot? You'd have to check that this was ok in the rules with the secretary.

raeble

SoScrooge wrote:

Hello

We got our allotment today! Hurray! But there is a problem - the patch has not been used for some years and is covered with thick grass.

I need to turn it in to a nice weed free patch.

Am I right to cut the grass and remove a few inches off the top (mainly grass roots)? I am then proposing to somehow mush the grass roots layer I
removed and turn it into compost.

Or, are there any other ways of getting rid of grass and weeds quickly?

Thank you so much for all your suggestions.

SS:o

You are right to cut the grass then dig the soil, turn it over and leave the grass to dry off. You then shake off the grass. Make sure you dig out all the perinial weeds including roots.

The easiest way and only way in the case of some weeds (except couch grass, mares tail) is to cut the grass, cover the plot with round up. Leave it a week or so. All the grass should be brown - you should be able to shake it off when you dig. Some of the perinial weeds like Docks & dandelions & bind weed have very long routing systems and take more than one application - be sure to take out these roots and burn them.

SoScrooge

raeble wrote:

Some of the perinial weeds like Docks & dandelions & bind weed have very long routing systems and take more than one application - be sure to take out these roots and burn them.

Burn them? Will they burn? Sorry, if it is a daft question.

tim_n

http://www.selfsufficientish.com/allotments.htm

check out container crops on here: http://www.recycling.moonfruit.com/

SoScrooge

I have another question, please…

If I cut the grass, dig the plot and turn the soil over, and then cover the whole area with black plastic and leave it for a week…. Will it help the weeds to rot or not?

Thank you for all your suggestions.

SS

raeble

Annual weeds and grass will die but not all of your perenial weeds - they will still be there waiting for you to take off the plastic. It is a good idea to cover areas that you aren't working on so you don't get more annual weeds springing up.

The reason I suggested burning the roots of the perinial weeds is because some of those things can start growing again. I heard they found a bind weed root in a tomb in Egypt, they put water on it and it started growing.
Instead of burning you can always put the roots of the perinial weeds into a black bag and leave them to rot down - I think it takes a year or so. You then have a very good liquid fertilizer than you can mix in when you are watering.

A few good sites to check out if you are allotment gardening are
http://www.allotments4all.co.uk/ - everyone here is very friendly and helpful
http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/mbgardening/ - the allotment tales message board
http://www.kitchengarden.co.uk/forum/index.php - these are the forums of the excellent Kitchen Garden Magazine