Allotment Virgins

[paulwbecca]

Hello one and all

We (my partner and I) have just taken on an allotment in Reading, we are very new to allotments and thought we would introduce ourselves and our allotment!! Our plot is 10poles very big for us and its in a bit of a state but have started to clear it all! Ive attached some pics for our first day, which was yesterday, think we done quite well!! Still got loads to do and having a major problems with cooch grass and bind weed so any advice would be greatly appreciated!!

Look forward to hearing from you all!

Becca and Paul

[Sue]

Hi Paulwbecca
Welcome to the Vine, what a wonderful growing space and lovely to see the whole family getting stuck in.
Couch grass and bind weed, that souds so familiar.
I started with the digging and sifting out all the roots, while this was very successful it was almost inch by inch reclamation. Then reading the vine discovered the cardboard method. You cover the ground with a thick layer of cardboard and/or newspaper to exclude the light, pile on compost if you have it. I did this for a year, piled on two loads of compost and then planted runner and french beans and got a very good crop. It got rid of nearly all the couch grass, not the bind weed although it was easier to dig out and it does look very weak and defeated now as I keep digging it out.
If you haven't got loads of compost, I tried it with the cardboard and putting potato bags on top to weigh it down, worked almost as well. The worms will gradually incorporate into the earth and start to make a good growing area for you.
Also you can use this with the raised bed method which again I've done. Make or buy raised beds - and some people put a membrane down, I haven't - used cardboard again, then pile in compost, sifted earth etc and use to grow right away. Some weed growth but crops grew fine, I'd put in a nice lot of well rotted homemade compost as well. Each time the crop is harvested give the ground a good forking over - and after about two to three crops should have got rid of all weed growth.
Good gardening, don't do too much at once and wear yourself out, enjoy being outdoors, nothing like a bit of homemade soup in the sun!
And one last thing, if you use cardboard do remember to take the sellotape off, I'm still finding strips of it.
best wishes
Sue

[pete10]

Hi where is your plot in Reading ? As Sue
has said take it slowly bit by bit is the way forward . One thing i have found
as regards to the couch bind weed etc is to dig a shallowtrench down the side of
your plot. As it keep the crap getting back into your beds .

Good luck with it all.

[Peter]

..... Our plot is 10poles ....

See initial post on http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...ead.php?t=4438

[carlseawolf]

welcome to the vine and enjoy your plot, please start a blog so we can see your progress

[giley69]

Hello there... good luck with clearing your plot. We are due to start clearing ours this weekend - I think I would rather have yours though

[moggssue]

Hi and welcome - you'll find lots of encouragement, support and advice around here. I don't get my mitts on my lottie until Dec by which time it will be lovely and overgrown - there seem to be quite a few of us in the same boat. Good luck with it all!!

[Flummery]

Looks like you've made a good bit of progress already. Just don't be discouraged. There's always lots to do but little and often is a good motto.

[paulwbecca]

hi were on the lower southcote plots in brunel road reading
i don't think I've ever ached so much as after two days trying to clear all the weeds out.
but very rewarding as we can now see how much we've done and can look forward to hopefully good crops next year
thank you for all the advice everyone hopefully i'll be able to give some back soon
thanks again paul & becca

[pete10]

I know Southcote quite well . Mine is at the back of Palmer Park Culver
Lane . Good luck with the plot ,Lots of progress by the look of things.

[Gary & Debbie]

Hi paulwbecca

We are not to far down the road are plot is in bulmershe in reading good luck and welcome