help i've just aquired an allotment

[firstimer1]

hi MaureenHall thanks for the advice i am also in stafford, how long do you think it will take to die off if i cover it up as i am pretty impaitant (not sure that correct spelling) and dont wont to use weedkiller many thanks belle

[firstimer1]

thanks to all who have replied and can anyone give me a clue as to what i could plant over winter

[Lazgaot]

All plant growth slows down considerably over winter, weeds included! From my limited knowledge overwintering crops are generally Japanese Onions, garlic, cabbages, Broccoli, Broad beans?, carrots, spinach/Chard, some lettuce varieties under plastic/glass...possibly more

If you plan on covering the weeds with carpet or cardboard then plan for about 3-4 months at least, more if possible and I've read up to 12 months for Bindweed, couch grass, docks and dandelions, to ensure they sufficiently weakened so when you dig them up the roots have no reserves to keep growing.

I was a little impatient and used glyphosate (Weedol and Roundup) to kill the weeds and grass. It made a HUGE difference to the effort required in digigng the soil afterwards. The soil just fell away from the dead roots and I'm pleased to say the soil is FULL of big fat earthworms, alive!