Work Started on Allotment New Pics

kymrob

£76 its alot but it is worth it for all the enjoyment you get for the year

pendulum

I had a bigger area to do and it was just as overgrown as yours. We used a lot of glyphosate first, then a petrol brushcutter to cut the level of the weeds down to ground level. After raking and burning the weeds, we rotovated, and the site was transformed in very little time and for very little work. I only use a third of the site for growing this year (potatoes, peas and beans) but it only takes me about an hour or two a week to pull out new weed growth. I don't think that's any or much higher than average. About once a month I just re-rotovate the land I'm not using and then spend a couple of hours pulling out the weeds. I'd say the weed situation is quite manageable and I don't regret rotovating, but manually digging is probably best if you have the back for it.

glodh1973

http://s1131.photobucket.com/albums/m553/Pudsey611/allotment/?albumview=slideshow

More pics of allotment been today and it is not as bad as i first thought,

There is established raspberry, gooseberry, red currant and black currant bushes.

Not sure what the other stuff is so hopefully i will learn.

I have reserved it now and they are sending contract out.

kymrob

it looks ok! always look worse than u first think! u will be surprised how quick it u get under control! plus u have plenty of time! i would start to plan what u want to grow so and where just roughtly so u know where to put compost heap ect plus if u need manure think where it would be unloaded so u dont grow nothing that take months to grow in that spot (i learnt that the hard way) enjoy!
keep us posted it interesting

Primrose

That certainly looks a big challenge and I can only suggest that you tackle a small area at a time, scything down everything as low as possible and dumping it in a corner where it will make the start of your much needed compost heap.
I certainly wouldn't recommend rotivating. Whilst it may seem a quicker solution, anything like bindweed will just get chopping up and regenerate itself.

A good strong fork or spade, and lots of deep digging, yard by yard is the only long term solution for getting your land back into good shape again, and then weeding by hand as you go. And keep a separate bucket for bindweed and other weeds like oxalyis (leaves look clover shaped but if you leave the little root nodules in the soil they quickly grow again) and make sure that you burn them.

Some willing friends, and providing them with sandwiches and a few pints of beer for their time will also help get the job done a little more quickly.

diddly74

Yes it looks a lot of work, but then again you have a lot of stuff left for you that you don't have to buy and are already established. This was my allotment when we got it in May.

http://s1085.photobucket.com/albums/j433/donna_taylor1/Allotment/?action=view&current=DSCF0014.jpg

On top of being an almost complete novice!!!!:eek:

But we shall see how we go! Good luck with your allotment!

glodh1973

diddly74 wrote: »

Yes it looks a lot of work, but then again you have a lot of stuff left for you that you don't have to buy and are already established. This was my allotment when we got it in May.

http://s1085.photobucket.com/albums/j433/donna_taylor1/Allotment/?action=view&current=DSCF0014.jpg

On top of being an almost complete novice!!!!:eek:

But we shall see how we go! Good luck with your allotment!

Thankyou good luck to you as well.

how is yours looking now?

2 novices together as this is my first year of growing anything but i have wanted to for ages although normally i kill house plants so i am surprised how the veg is coming along

kinkyjinks

I've looked at your new photos and I agree, it's not that bad really. I know it looks bad at the moment but to my untrained eye it looks like it was planted at some point last year (pic 8 in the second lot of pics looks like a member of the onion family has gone to seed) so that should make it a little easier to dig.

This is a good site for identifying weeds and how to deal with them. It also has a handy section on which bugs, grubs etc are pests and which are good for your garden. If you clear out the raised beds soon, you could plant some salad stuff in them this year.

If you wanted to plant while you clear the ground (after covering what you don't intend to use this year) then it's not too late to buy some brassica plants from a nursery/car boot (it looks like you've got some sort of brassicas in pots at home?). I began sowing purple sprouting broccoli a couple of weeks ago and they don't need planting out in their final home until late July(ish). I think leek plants can be found in the near future too (I don't bother with them so am not quite sure) which stay in the ground for quite a while. I see you have some squash started at home too. I'd pick a spot on your plot without perennial weeds, cut the weeds back, cover it in cardboard, weigh it down with a bit of manure/compost/soil, cut a hole in the cardboard and plant the squash. Pumpkins are excellent for ground cover.

I'd definitely second a decent fork, like a power fork, I got one this year and wish I'd bought it last year when I was first starting out. It's also true that once you get started (if you enjoy it) normal time ceases to exist, you feel like you've done an hour, look at your watch and 3 have passed. I also completely agree that there are never enough hours in the day but this year has been easier than last year, even after taking on an extra half plot this year. Every year should be even easier still because I've learnt more this year and expect to learn new things every year

The very best bit of advice, IMO, is to go there regularly and get to know the other plot holders. They are a font of knowledge about the type of soil you've got, and problems they have encountered. For example, all the seasoned plot holders where I am swear you cannot grow carrots in the entire allotment...I intend to spend the next X amount of years proving them wrong:o;):o...I swear one of the carrot fly tricks must work:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:.

glodh1973

kinkyjinks wrote: »

...I swear one of the carrot fly tricks must work:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:.

Carrot flys dont like going over 30cm so try doing them in a raised bed sure i read it on here somewhere but i have put them up a hieght in my garden in a bigggggg tub and they are growing through :-)

yes got cabbage , leeks, purple broccolli, also sweet corn so fingers crossed might be able to clear some of it ready for them to go in.

glodh1973

http://s1131.photobucket.com/albums/m553/Pudsey611/Allotment%201/?albumview=slideshow

well we have spent 2 days clearing and getting there.