Taking on a new allotment in spring

[liz283]

Hi
A friend and I have just taken on a new allotment which is covered in weeds - some of which are perennial. We've decided to clear a patch at a time and are digging up the weeds by hand. The soil is clay and so what we've already dug over is now in large clods. I've read a lot of advice that says that if you dig in the autumn/winter, the frost will break the clods down but I'm just wondering what the best way to break them down at this time of year is. I've read that a rotovator will do this but I'm conscious that although we've dug out a lot of weed roots, there are probably quite a lot still left in the soil and by rotovating, we could make the weed problem worse.

Also, we were planning to put raised beds on the plot and dig manure into them to increase the soil level but we were told by the site warden today that it's the wrong time of year for putting manure on the beds. So just wondering if anyone has any advice on what we should do next.

[alldigging]

Is any bit of it better?

Manure can't hurt but means you can't plant some things.

Layering organic material on .. Lasagna beds can be fun but require materials.
Cover soil with cardboard or thick newspaper and the soil to weigh t down. Will stop weeds hopefully and make the area you need to do urgently smaller.

[WendyC]

You are right to hold back on the rotavator. A recent thread on here concluded, I think if my memory is right that chopping and spreading perennial weeds does make it worse.
You say your soil is clay which needs careful handling. If it's too wet it is sticky and difficult to dig. Too dry and it's like concrete. When conditions are right the best way to break it up is just turning it over and bashing with the back of your spade! When you've dug a bit cover it as it will keep it moist and easy to work until you're ready to plant. Mulching as suggested will all help. If your large clods are too dry wait til it rains and flatten them out.
Can you add your location to your profile, doesn't have to be exact, mine is just West Sussex, but helps to give accurate advice.

[Martin H]

I'm in a similar position. A neglected plot, heavy clay, crammed with perennial weed roots.

I'm doing it the slow and painful way - picking the roots out a spadeful at a time.

I've done 5 weekends on it now and have got a few veggies in the cleared bits... I expect to have the whole thing cleared by the end of the year.

[Bigmallly]

Welcome to the vine Liz, you are right, it is a difficult time to be taking on a plot but hey, you've got one..............In the area you have already dug over, I would be tempted to get some tatties in, at least you will have something to show for your efforts. Source some manure to spread in autumn, make a compost bin & leafmold bin or just buy a dalek...................If you are thinking of going down the raised bed route, IMO cheap scaffold boards are ideal. Take it slow, enjoy & it will come together.

[alldigging]

Spuds and manure and lots of mulch materials (Find some lawn clippings).
The potatoes are probably reduced in the shops if you can find them still so well worth a look.

Add manure now as a cover for the clay. The summer weather either wet or sunny isn't good for clay so cover it all.

My plot was very clay-y and I dug and put spuds in and covered them with muck. Got a good crop and the soil was loads better.

[Edith]

One question. Do you need to cultivate/produce a crop this year? I ask because some plots do have rules about cultivating a certain amount by a certain point for new plot holders and this can mean annual vegetables depending on your local rules. Or you might have no requirements at all. We have to cultivate a third of the plot per third of the year for the first year, for example.

I think if you don't have that requirement and the soil really is bad I'd consider concentrating on improving the soil first. Build your raised beds, and put loads of manure, loads of anything compostable, not forgetting your cardboard. Cover to exclude light (worms prefer it like that). Basically I'd create a mini compost pile in each bed. In August/September if the pile has rotted down well I'd consider sowing field beans.

If you have to get a certain amount cultivated then I'd do one of two things. I think potatoes are great, and you can add manure as you go with them. The great thing with potatoes is that you actually dig the soil over about three or four times in the process of planting them and getting them out again but it doesn't really feel like that :-) . Depending where you are, you might be able to put in a few fruit bushes still. Another option is to spend £20 on soil and then either create a raised bed or dig out a patch and replace the topsoil with bought soil, to allow you to plant whatever you want.

My feeling personally is that time spent getting the plot set up and especially caring for the soil will never be wasted, much as I know you probably want to get on.

Oh ETA. There is manure and manure. First off, its not the wrong time for manure per se, what is wrong is putting down reasonably fresh manure directly before you plant. Basically, the chemical changes undergone by the manure in decomposition make the environment unsuitable for growing plants. I think its actually a great idea to put fresh manure into several beds to get them ready for autumn planting (you want to wait around 6 months over the summer). But your other option is to go to B&Q or somewhere and buy some farmyard manure. This will be well rotted and is fine to put on your plot directly. It will increase the worm activity hugely and it will also break up the soil. I'd be using around a bag for a normal sized bed on a heavy clay soil, or more. Oh do bear in mind some vegetables don't like recently manured soil-or they do but you won't like the results. Carrots in particular.

[liz283]

Hi everyone, thanks for the warm welcome and all the advice. I knew about not manuring beds for root crops but wondered if there was another reason why the warden was so anti manuring the beds at this time of year - he didn't elaborate. I have some potatoes ready to do so will get them in soon. Do I need to get the soil down to a fine tilth or will they cope ok in cloddy ground?

I think I will get a few bags of farmyard manure from the garden centre to add to the beds we want to grow stuff in now and will do a few as Edith suggests with fresh manure left to rot down until the Autumn. The I'll do the rest of the plot with a big load in the Autumn.

The information pack we had said something like we have 3 months to get the site prepared - can't remember the details without checking so not sure if this means just cleared or actually growing stuff. Ideally we'd like to make as much use of this growing season as possible as I'm sharing the plot with an American friend who's only in the country for two and a half years.

[rustylady]

No need for a tilth for potatoes, just dig a hole with a trowel or bulb planter and pop a spud in it.

Don't try to clear the whole plot before you plant anything. Clear a bit, then plant something. Make a start with your potatoes as soon as possible.

[liz283]

Ok will do. Thanks.

[DonSpillacy]

@ rustylady
I'm in a similar position (new allotment, clay soil, compacted and weed roots). I bought a few bag fulls of half price seed pots at weekend. However I've have been breaking the clay into a tilth, I never realised pots would grow through compacted clay. Thanks, you've just made this weekend a lot easier!

[leonmc0708]

Get the top layer of a decent section off and get some spuds in - this will help break up the ground as they are good for doing just that.


Get proper covers - thick heavy ones that keep all light out otherwise you only flatten the buggers and dont kill em off.

Its VERY surprising how hard it is to turn a plot over so as everyone has said do it in sections.

When I first got mine I got some great results from boradbeans as well - they grow well and produce massive yeeilds - so just for satisfaction give them a go.

[Kitchen Gardener]

Think I have been very lucky, my new plot has already been mostly dug over so I have just had to remove new weeds as I go. I bought seed potatoes this last weekend and have got them nearly all in, I also bought ready grown leeks and celeriac and have some beans started at home with more put in pots today. I have been given some cauliflowers and cabbages and once I have more ground cleared have masses of seeds to go in. I realise that my produce will be late but if we hopefully get a reasonable summer, I should see some return.