Planting through cardboard

[loopylou]

Hi all

I've laid some cardboard down on section of my plot to help keep the weeds at bay over winter but was wondering if I could plant onions (if its not too late), or anything else, through holes in the cardboard? If I can, shall I still mulch over the top of cardboard with manure or other stuff?

This is the only area I could really plant overwintering crops in at mo as one section has brassicas in, another area has been sown with green manure and another is covered in weed membrane to try and kill the weeds off underneath.

If it is a problem should I pull cardboard up and use that bed for veg and put the cardboard to use on the other section I'm trying to kill off. This section though is planned for potatoes so I'm hoping the weeds will be dead by then. Help!!!! I've been growing veg at home for years but have had allotment since April.

Really appreciate replies.

Many thanks

Emma

[wssla00]

I haven't done this before, But I can't see why you can't plant through the holes. At least it would stifle the weeds.

The other option is to do what I have done with my raised beds and use the cardboard for your potatoes and lasagna bed them, intermixing with grass cuttings, leaves, compostable stuff and the cardboard on top. Especially if you are leaving them until spring?

I have a disability so not great on the whole digging thing so utilise a no dig garden when I can

[jackyspratty]

HI, I did this last year as my whole plot was laden with couch grass and was heavy clay. But I started in spring. There should be no difference this time of year.
I cut the weed down and got out as much root as i could before i gave up exhausted! Then I laid out the paths and covered all the beds with cardboard. I used a bulb planter to plant through the cardboard (thanks zaz!!) I mulched on top with anything from grass clippings, manure and used coffee grounds, plus soil removed from the paths.

Results - minimal weeding throughout the season, the cardbard rotted down into the soil to breakup the heavy clay, and the weeds were suppressed and the exxisting roots were weakened.

I cant reccommend this highly enough! It doesnt look great but it works superbly, and I tell everyone about it!!! I planted every bed this way. it was great

[loopylou]

Thanks for advice

Hi guys thanks for the advice. Just come back from the allotment and used my dibber to make holes for the onions so that was a good tip to use a bulb planter but I thought I'd improvise and use a large dibber I have.

Now I need to get some compost/manure on the top as it looks a bit scruffy at mo.

Thanks again


Emma