Clearing a new Allotment Plot - Help!!

[skinny_bum]

Wasn’t really sure where to put this topic and so just decided that here was good.

I have been growing my veg at home over the last year or so, and have been waiting for my name to come up on our local allotment list; I have been informed that my name is next on the list and that I should get a plot soon, as you can imagine I am quite excited and got to thinking as one does about what to plant and how to set my plot out, but 1st things 1st I said, how do I go about clearing my site??

I have heard that rotavating is a big no no because of weeds so could/should I use a weed killer if I use it over winter?

Is there any one out there can help me out with your knowledge, you all seem to be well onto the growing, just wondered if you could all remember how & what is the best way to clear a new site, as I can not find much information in any books that I have.

Looking forward to a load of replies

SB

[Mike Vogel]

Hi SB, I believe there's a thread from about a year or 18 months ago on this topic.

In your position, I'd decide how much i want to clear. i'd then skim the top off the rest of the plot and cover it with cardboard or heavy-duty polythene. You'll have a noice pile of stuff to make a stonking good bonfire.

Then skim off the top of the bit you want to clear and dig it over. Perhaps double-digging. But where you want to grow brassicas over winter, don't dig; they like firm soil.

For me, I like the exercise of diging, so I'd be clearing the whole plot, covering with cardboard as I go and piling stuff on top of that. Oh yes, and of course building a shed out of bits and pieces.

Is this any use?

mike

[richard p]

im going to dissagree with mike cos i avoid digging whereever possible. it depends on the state of the allotment when you take it over, if theres a waiting list it shouldnt be too much of a jungle. i would strim off anything to stimulate regrowth, if there is a lot of bindweed or couchgrass(long white creeping roots which will regrow from halfinch pieces) you need to spray with systemic weedkiller to kill the roots. then spread any manure and cover with black plastic. then leave it alone till easter.the black plastic will prevent moast weeds growing things like dandelion and dock with a long taproot will try to grow under the plastic but the weedkiller should have killed them anyway. when you are ready to plant in the spring you can remove the plastic to reveal bare earth which you can plant straight into..
i now run my veg patch in beds, as soon as a bed is clear of crop its covered in plastic, i never dig. the plastic does the main weed control. i spot spray bindweed and cooch grass when it appears.

[David]

Hi

I divided mine into 4ft wide beds on the thinking that you can reach from either side without walking on it.

Then strimmed off everything that was above knee height and sprayed with weedkiller (the stuff that stops when it reaches the soil) given a week or so to die down and a good raking to get the loose stuff out I then buzzed it all with my Mantis to a fine tilth, good layer of muck and got planting.

Just Mantis'd three beds at time so the weedkiller really got to work on the later beds and avoided the weeds repopulating before I could plant up.

Hope this helps - ask again if anything is unclear.

[skinny_bum]

Hi there all options sound really good, & alot easier than I 1st thought which is always a good sign, I will have to get the hubby down when I get the plot to give me a hand.

I need to ask David, what is a Mantis, some sort of Man tool ??

SB

[peter]

Strim and remove the cuttings for compost or fire.
Wait for fresh growth.
Spray fresh green growth with Glyphosate based weedkiller at correct dilution on a windless day and with nozzle set for fine drops, NOT mist.
Leave UNCOVERED until it goes brown, about a fortnight.
Respray to get all the bits you missed or that withstood it the first time.
Leave again till dead.
Either burn off the mat with a roofers propane torch, HSS hire them as garden flame guns, or scrape it off with a good rake.
Then cover what you cannot dig straight away and start digging.

What is covered can be used for plants through a mulch. e.g. Carpet or woven weed membrane with an X cut and the V's folded under, then plant in the hole.

The sprayed stuff MUST be left to grow as Glyphosate only kills healthy growing weeds, the action of growing moves the killer round the plant and kills it.

PS a Mantis is a very small rotovator see http://mantis-uk.co.uk/home.asp

[richard p]

i dont remove the strimmed of stuff , just let it rot where itis, dont see any point in carrying it to a compost heap, then carrying it back again in a years time

[David]

As Peter says the Mantis is a small rotovator but easily big enough for allotments unless you are taking on the task of clearing 10 rod in a single day - which you shouldnt be.

I don't have the time for digging and the mantis easily digs to a spit depth and produces a lovely tilth. It also mixes in manure if you spread it ontop and then go over slowly.

Look for them on ebay to get a good deal, I have a guy in Southampton who looks after mine and is well priced.

David

[Mike Vogel]

I'm just as organic as feasible, Richard, so I don't use weedkillers. I just dig out the bindweed as deeply as possible.

I forgot to suggest raised beds, though. I think they are a great idea and one you have built them you won't need to dig - just pile up the compost, leafmould or whatever and you will create a lovely topsoil. I'm getting great carrot germination this year from having done this last winter.

mike