New allotment

chelle1990

Hi guys wondering if you guys could spread some wisdom

We've just acquired a plot from the council....It needs some work. It's half a plot (125sqm2)

Its rather over grown, a few dandilions and such, as well a ant hill at the end...

The plan so far is to use just the half this year, and cover the half with ground covering untill we've finished the other half.

Advise needed is how best to go about clearing out the other half? Strim it down then dig the beds out? and the ant hill? Should be powder that or leave it be?

Thank you and look forward to your replies

RAS

Have you checked the Council rules on allotments? Or is the site managed by a group of plotholders?

Rules can vary a lot; one site in this city will remove anyone who has not completely cultivated their plot and gives them one week's warning, another would accept your plan if you planted some squashes or brassicas in part of the covered area and others would be fine with the plan.

So speak to them and make sure they are OK and then get it in writing.

chelle1990

RAS wrote: »

Have you checked the Council rules on allotments? Or is the site managed by a group of plotholders?

Rules can vary a lot; one site in this city will remove anyone who has not completely cultivated their plot and gives them one week's warning, another would accept your plan if you planted some squashes or brassicas in part of the covered area and others would be fine with the plan.

So speak to them and make sure they are OK and then get it in writing.

Hi funnily enough when we went to go look the plot over to begin with the council where doing a inspection of the plots and stopped us to ask if we where interested.

We did suggest the idea there and they seemed ok with it, and there are few with covering over parts of their plots (next to us has a small portion covered).

They don't seem overly strict as long as we are making a effort to do something with it (we get free rent until October as we came out of season).

Any ideas on the ants? Thanks for the reply

wellused

If you cover the ground that you don't intend to use this year then it is still under cultivation, if the ant hill is on the uncultivated part then leave it be it will be useful to the birds and the ant workings will loosen the soil. Usually the ground would be hard to dig at this time of year as it would be dry and hard but as we have had this heavy rain then strimming and digging should be made easier. Good luck.

chelle1990

wellused wrote: »

If you cover the ground that you don't intend to use this year then it is still under cultivation, if the ant hill is on the uncultivated part then leave it be it will be useful to the birds and the ant workings will loosen the soil. Usually the ground would be hard to dig at this time of year as it would be dry and hard but as we have had this heavy rain then strimming and digging should be made easier. Good luck.

The ant hill is on the part we want to cultivate, so we're going to have to disturb it. If we just dig it up, i guess they will just disperse to a different area?

Thats the plan on Saturday, strimming and digging up Fingers crossed! Hoping the weather will be less wet then (it can rain as much as it likes tomorrow)

forgotmyname

Yeah keep disturbing the nest and they will move on. If you can make a compost pile they may move into that.

In the wet weather my compost bin is loaded with ants. It seems to have phases where somtimes its slugs/snails, Other times woodlice and other times ants.

It seems to work well though because its always composts down to a lovely black fine/crumbly compost.

scottishblondie

No advice, just wanted to say I'm totally jealous! I've been looking at getting an allotment and all the places near me have a waiting list a mile long

chelle1990

forgotmyname wrote: »

Yeah keep disturbing the nest and they will move on. If you can make a compost pile they may move into that.

In the wet weather my compost bin is loaded with ants. It seems to have phases where somtimes its slugs/snails, Other times woodlice and other times ants.

It seems to work well though because its always composts down to a lovely black fine/crumbly compost.

Ooooh thats good to know thank you

chelle1990

scottishblondie wrote: »

No advice, just wanted to say I'm totally jealous! I've been looking at getting an allotment and all the places near me have a waiting list a mile long

I'm very lucky! Been on the waiting list a month? tops. But it does need ALOT of work....i wish i could post pictures its rather over grown

Dizzy_Ditzy

scottishblondie wrote: »

No advice, just wanted to say I'm totally jealous! I've been looking at getting an allotment and all the places near me have a waiting list a mile long

I went on the waiting list in August/September time, and clean forgot about it until I got the phone call on wednesday night


I will find out tomorrow exactly how much work needs doing to it, but I am prepared :j


Get yourself on the waiting list, and of some in the surrounding area if you can, you've got more chance that way

Dizzy_Ditzy

Chelle where "south west" are you? I am in a similar location