New Allotment Rotovated...what next

[Reks]

Hi all,
Last year I was alloted an allotment around April and my husband and I decided to dig (remove turf and dig thriugh stoney ground...phew!!!) and it was hard work and a very slow start! We managed to maybe dig just less than 1/2 of a 5 pole plot.

End of last I was alloted an allotment closer to home so gave up the old one and decided to rotovate (could not get myself digging again!!!!). Just got a call from the coucil that they have rotovated the plot (it is smaller than a 5 pole plot). Do I have to now dig manually too? I am wondering if its best to cover the plot asap to avoid growth of any weeds and also to warm the ground up.

I have ordered some seed potatoes (early main crop, it seems they can go in March?), onion sets and garlic to grow and might get them in few weeks time. Will look up my seed collection to get organised and see what I can start growing but I think maybe not much before March? Seeing some of the posting in the form, I am not late am I?

Any suggestions will be of great help.

Cheers
Reks

[binley100]

Personally I think you will need to get covers down whether it be cardboard or plastic cos the rotovator will have chopped up the weed roots and they will start regrowing. If you have the space you can start some seeds off at home ready . My early potatoes will be planted in march .Garlic needs the winter to make big bulbs but there's nothing to stop you planting them now. Also I think your onion sets can go in as they don't mind the cold. I would mark out into beds, decide where things are going then tackle each bed one at a time forking over and weeding etc ready for planting.

[Reks]

Personally I think you will need to get covers down whether it be cardboard or plastic cos the rotovator will have chopped up the weed roots and they will start regrowing. If you have the space you can start some seeds off at home ready . My early potatoes will be planted in march .Garlic needs the winter to make big bulbs but there's nothing to stop you planting them now. Also I think your onion sets can go in as they don't mind the cold. I would mark out into beds, decide where things are going then tackle each bed one at a time forking over and weeding etc ready for planting.

thanks binley......good idea. cardboard sounds like something I can get from nearby stores when they throw away their boxes............

[Nicos]

I'd dig it a bit at a time- it'll be lighter to do now, but the weeds/roots will need removing before they start growing again.
yup- I'd cover it too now

[Glutton4...]

Don't forget, if you cover the soil with sheets of cardboard, paper sacks or similar, you can just plant through it. Then just spread some mulch or compost over the top if you don't like the look of the cardboard!