Residual effects of weedkiller?

[hamamelis]

I took on a half-plot allotment last year- it was newly divided from a full plot, and the previous owner, a somewhat... interesting... person, is still the neighbour. The first time I met her she told me she used to grow flowers in one bed, by the simple method of chucking a packet of seed on it in spring, and spraying it with weedkiller in autumn. And she seemed surprised when I said I'd really rather not do that. All despite apparently telling the site rep she was growing organically.

Having seen her plot in action this year, I've realised she meant it- she's sprayed large swathes of grass (including a path she decided to make on my plot ), which is all now very dead.

I know roughly where she's sprayed, though I don't know what with exactly- and I don't know how long it'll really be before it's safe to grow on those bits again. I did attempt to grow a bit in the bed she'd done, with a bit of new soil over the top, but nothing did very well, and even the dandelions are growing funny on the edges where I didn't add soil - stunted with red tinges to the leaves. I never see her down there, so I can't ask what it was she's using. It's by no means the whole plot, but it's a fairly substantial portion that's affected.

So, my question is- what can I do about this? Does anyone have any ideas what rubbish she's stuck on it, or how long it'll be before it's safe to grow stuff on it again? Any ideas for improving the situation?

Thanks in advance.

[Snadger]

The two main weedkillers available to the amateur (or used to be ,anyway) were Sodium Chlorate which is a true residual weedkiller and Glyphosate which is a systemic herbicide.
Glyphosate is supposedly not residual and areas treated can be grown on straight away. The residual properties of Sodium Chlorate are supposed to disappear eventually, but may take a couuple of seasons and it should never have been used on land used for vegetables.
One other thought judging by the growth of the dandelions you describe, is that the land has been manured with herbicide infected manure at some time in the past?

[Two_Sheds]

Whatever it is, she's still been able to grow flowers on it the following spring?

(seems a bit daft to be spraying annual flowers imo, the winter's going to kill them anyway)

[hamamelis]

More than a bit daft if you want my opinion...

She just can't be bothered to weed at all, and I've got no confidence that she's reading the instructions properly- so I was a bit worried. Flowers *are* growing there- there's evening primrose self seeding all over the plot, but the ones growing on that bed are only a fraction of the size of the ones just outside it (I've done a different shaped bed that's overlapping where hers was, so there's quite a lot around the edges that's just left as it was at the moment), and again have that red tint. There's also small areas of bare soil, which considering it's been left for well over a year is a bit unnerving.

I'd made up the bed and planted it thinking it'd be fine by this year- but it's clearly not.

I don't think she uses manure- but it's a possibility- and things do grow, just not very well. Having seen how utterly careless she is about spraying everything, I'm kind of assuming it was something intentionally added. I did try using glyphosate last year in the back garden, when the brambles got too much (it didn't work, and it's a rental house I'm not planning to stay in much longer, so they've won for now) and it doesn't really look like the same sort of effect.

Maybe the Sodium Chlorate is it. She didn't really grow any veg on that part of the plot- which is why it was taken off her- in fact, she doesn't seem to grow much veg at all- just one tiny bed, it's mostly flowers- so possibly she is using stuff that should never be used near crops. Should I not try and grow crops there next year do you think? I could just leave it to flowers for another year, if it's going to be a poison risk. I did eat some of the stuff I grew there this year, and I don't seem to be dead, but...

[Fruit&2veg]

Sorry, not sure if you mean this is the only part of your plot she had been tilling? If so, given the total lack of cultivation/care the soil has recieved over the years, Could the soil there be totally exhausted? Just a thought, what with the plants not Doing? Have noticed Dandelions look like this before on really poor, dry soil. If things seem to grow okay on the rest of your plot, it may be another possible reason apart from the spray?

[hamamelis]

That is a good point- that wasn't the only part of the plot which was grown on, but it was the bit that had clearly been most used- the rest was pretty much grass, with only a few beds- the biggest of which I actually put my shed on 'cos it was the only truly flat bit, so I've only been using that and one other little one. I've been watching what she's been doing- being my main neighbour, and me being a bit of a beginner- and it doesn't look like she's really been considering soil fertility at all. It's also noticeably lower than the surroundings.

Maybe I should just work on improving the soil. Time for a clean manure finding mission methinks.

Thanks

[Two_Sheds]

Ask her what she sprays ~ say you're impressed and looking into buying some

[hamamelis]

Haven't seen her since June unfortunately, or I would...

[Fruit&2veg]

Haven't seen her since June unfortunately, or I would...

Perhaps she sprayed herself