Field to allotment help needed

baggins11

Hi

I have a large plot that I want to turn into an allotment. It has been laid to grass for many years. I was thinking 1m wide beds by maybe 20m.

I have bought 1m wide weed membrane and I have heard it is a good way of doing potatoes without trenching. I though this would help doing some of the digging for me on at least one of the new beds.

My soil is fairly heavy clay. I have put some wood ash in from a bonfire but haven't got any organic matter yet as trying to figure the cheapest way.

Do I need to buy 1M wide black polythene to warm up the beds once I have dug them - or will the weed membrane do this job?

Also what would you recommend for paths between beds? Large gaps to fit ride on mower between or smaller gaps to fit hand mower or would you cover with polythene and paving slabs?

I have so much to do and am feeling overwhelmed - any tips would be gratefully received!

Many Thanks
Baggins11

Mnd

If you own a ride mower, keep all paths wide, you can always cut them down later.
You won't be able to get it all done at once, so cultivate what you can, and keep everything else cut until you are ready

baggins11

Thanks Mnd, that's good advice. I am keen to do it all at once but I know I am better doing a couple of beds properly than several badly.

I was just looking for manure and came across CPA Horticulture who do bulk bags. Can anyone recommend them?

-taff

I wouldn't bother digging unless you have a mini digger or something like that.
Do maybe one bed this year or two at most. You can get manure from pretty much any farm, they may even deliver if you bung them a few quid, but if youre going to use it this year, make sure it's well rotted, if you have any that isn't, just spread it on the surface for next years beds.
You could use straw to cover, or grass cuttings. One of our local recycling centers sells compost bagged or loose.

Weed membrane is just to suppress the weeds, i wouldn't recommend cutting into it to plant potatoes, the black plastic is better for that. You don't have to warm up the ground, only if you wanted to plant before recommended dates.
Have a look at this video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HATC3rG6NbQ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qFT4O51DuQY

I would recommend watching a few of his videos, not the veg specific ones, might help you.

baggins11

Thanks so much Taff! I have heard about no dig before and completely forgotten about it. Looking at it, it is perfect for our plot.

We have a woodland that hasn't been touched for years so loads of stuff can be used for the base of the beds. I already have about 15 tonne bags of leaves to make leaf mould from last autumn but it looks like I can also just shove them onto the no dig beds with a mix of other things.

Lots of digging and moving today.. exciting times