What have I done?!

[PotteringAtPlot12]

Got my key today, ran straight up to the allotment then proceeded to spend 3 hours hacking away at brambles, they're popping up EVERYWHERE! I'm sure more popped up while I was there please send help!....... Or just a few words of encouragement for a complete novice whose desperately trying to convince herself she hasn't bitten off more than she can chew!

[PotteringAtPlot12]

Today's progress

[Bren In Pots]

It good that you're talking plenty of photos it does give you a boost to look back and see all the progress. You've done well for your first afternoon

[greenishfing]

You will get there. It looks a lot like ours' did when we got them 15 or so years ago. Are you doing it on your own? Try and rope in some help from friends/family for the early stages. We didn't but I wish we had. I remember when we first started a neighbour saying "it will get easier eventually". I didn't believe her, but it did.

[burnie]

Just don't try and do it all in one lump, make up sections and clear a smaller bit so you can see progress and that will be ready for planting. Do the rest a bit at a time and enjoy planning how you want it to turn out.

[veggiechicken]

Every time you go there, you'll make progress. You seem to have found a cabbage bed so the plot will have been in use fairly recently.
I deal with brambles by cutting them down to about knee height, then levering them out with a fork. So satisfying when each plant comes up. They spread by tip suckering, so some of the long whippy branches will have small roots that can be pulled up quite easily Its fun and very satisfying - believe me.

[PotteringAtPlot12]

It good that you're talking plenty of photos it does give you a boost to look back and see all the progress. You've done well for your first afternoon

Yes, I'm hoping the pictures will help me to see how far it's come on the days I feel like I'm not getting anywhere!

You will get there. It looks a lot like ours' did when we got them 15 or so years ago. Are you doing it on your own? Try and rope in some help from friends/family for the early stages. We didn't but I wish we had. I remember when we first started a neighbour saying "it will get easier eventually". I didn't believe her, but it did.

Hubbys helping, he actually seemed to be enjoying himself today which was unexpected haha! I don't drive anymore so my dad's offered to help with the shifting to & from and I'm sure both my mum & dad will pitch in if needed, the 6 year old has also offered up his services although the 11 year old flat out refused!

Just don't try and do it all in one lump, make up sections and clear a smaller bit so you can see progress and that will be ready for planting. Do the rest a bit at a time and enjoy planning how you want it to turn out.

Yes I'm hoping to get some done & planted in this year the rest chopped & covered for next. I'm one of those that wants everything done yesterday but I'm trying my best to set short goalposts and enjoy the achievement, I don't want to run out of steam before I even get going properly

Every time you go there, you'll make progress. You seem to have found a cabbage bed so the plot will have been in use fairly recently.
I deal with brambles by cutting them down to about knee height, then levering them out with a fork. So satisfying when each plant comes up. They spread by tip suckering, so some of the long whippy branches will have small roots that can be pulled up quite easily Its fun and very satisfying - believe me.

Yes the cabbages seemed really out of place in all that overgrowth! Pulling up the suckers and chopping the bigger branches up was incredibly therapeutic! Some of the suckers were so long! We only took loppers and a hand fork (why? Haha) today as we were only supposed to be going for a proper look before lunch but I'll be down for an hour or so tomorrow with a digging fork to try & tackle some roots!

Thanks all for the encouragement and the reassurance that there is light at the end of the tunnel, even if that tunnel is a very long one!

[veggiechicken]

The tunnel grows shorter the nearer you are to the end.


(Another of VC's wise sayings )

[Bluenowhere]

Sorry if you know already but with blackberries what you are looking for is the knobbly fat bit of root, normally a few inches below the surface. If you cut the roots below this with secateurs/loppers/small saw and dig the nobbly bit out then the other roots will rot off and not re-sprout. It can be anything from a plum size to about the size of a fist. The suckers will have smaller roots if they are this years.

Then you only have to dig out the roots where you want to plant and hopefully will be rotting away by the time you need to do that.

Agree with others, slow and steady, accept all help offered. You’ve got loads of time yet to get bits ready for planting.

Once you have cleared an area get it covered, manure, cardboard, weed fabric, the main thing is to keep the weeds down until you can plant something.

[Logunner]

Enjoy.

Be warned it becomes an obsession

[Cornerplot51]

Wish I had an allotment....enjoy yours

[Mr Bones]

Congratulations on getting your allotment. It certainly looks a huge task but you'll get there (3 hours on your first day is a good sign). Good luck with it and enjoy

[Logunner]

Wish I had an allotment....enjoy yours

Can’t give em away on our site..

[Scarlet]

Can you get a brush cutter on it? Then you could cover as much as possible and uncover a section at a time to did out the bramble roots.
Good luck.

[Snoop Puss]

Plenty of good advice already. So I'll just pass on encouragement.

Best wishes for a happy growing year.