Am I doing this right?

[teamladd]

Hi All,

Just been over the lottie for a hour to finish off marking out the paths, and also started to dig the paths.

I have chucked some cardboard down and then put the soil from the paths on the top. Is this the best way to do things or is their an easier way?

[teamladd]

[PAULW]

And what are these paths going to be made of.

[teamladd]

Going to use concrete slabs, I was aiming more at the way I have put the soil where i is, on top of cardboard?

[PAULW]

Well it will hold the cardboard down, a bit unfortunate the way whoever rotavated/ploughed the ground leaving all them clumps of grass, I would be inclined to build a composting area and rake all them clumps up then next year you will have some cracking soil to spread over the plot.

[teamladd]

Well it will hold the cardboard down, a bit unfortunate the way whoever rotavated/ploughed the ground leaving all them clumps of grass, I would be inclined to build a composting area and rake all them clumps up then next year you will have some cracking soil to spread over the plot.

Well thats fine I shall do that, I have marked out an area for 3 compost bins. I have made one just need to get on with the other two. I will make that my saturday job, building another one of those and then getting as much of those bigs clumps out as I can!

Thanks for the advice.

[Jeanied]

Gosh that looks like a lot of work - how about getting some manure in, throwing that on top of your cardboard and clumps of grass, covering it with black plastic and worrying about it all next year? I've tried this and grew potatoes through holes in the plastic the next season.

[PAULW]

JEANIED
Teamlad has six months to prepare the ground at a steady pace before the start of next season, why on earth would anyone want to cover the ground in plastic and then go and sit on their butt doing nothing.
He has time to clear an area ready for some overwintering onions, rough dig and add manure that will break down overwinter to the rest where it is needed.

[teamladd]

Thanks PAULW, im not a lazy person or I wouldn't of taken on an allotment! I do def wanna get some spuds in and a few other things for xmas etc. What other things would you suggest PAULW?

Im going to clear the grass as much as possible, dig it over, chuck some maure in then possibly cover it, we shall see how it goes.

[PAULW]

IMO Xmas spuds are the biggest con since bottled water unless you have a heated greenhouse or polytunnel, the amount of people on here and other forums that have bought seed and have ended up with ballbearing sized spuds for xmas is nobodies business.
You shouldn't need to cover your plot in plastic as you are digging in the winter when the weeds dont grow, whats your soil like? is it clay or sand?

[teamladd]

PAULW check out this thread http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...ase_37489.html

Sorry I ghadnt replied, been very busy up the lottie! (May as well make the most of this weather!)

The soil is a mixture really clay and sand!

[Two_Sheds]

IMO Xmas spuds are the biggest con since bottled water

ditto that