Allotment pics

[veggiechicken]

It snapped digging up one of those long brown roots that's white inside no idea what the weed is but long bloody roots.
MG

Dock maybe or hogweed?

[mrgrower]

I think it's Dock Is that bad?

[veggiechicken]

Its bad because its has long deep roots that are a pig to dig out Don't let it flower or it will seed everywhere - as I know

[mrgrower]

Yes the root was deep and if I glanced the side with a spade it was yellow. Ive heard that if you get over half the root the rest normally dies is that true or have I got the wrong weed for that?

[veggiechicken]

Can't answer that one MrG but the chances are that you won't get all of it out in one go anyway, not if the ground is hard!

[binley100]

Try a mattock or azada ..............
Re cardboard , if you know someone who works in a repair type garage they might have big cardboard. My OH gets boxes that bumpers for merc vans comes in and one box covers a huge area
Your weed sounds like a dock ......nightmare but not as much a nightmare as marestail........

[mrgrower]

I know Marestail I have first hand experience of it's all over my front garden mind you I read somewhere that Marestail likes acid soil so bringing the PH level down kills it? I don't know if that's just a gardeners tale or what..

A mate just offered to weld a tubular steel handle on my fork for me and my spade yay.

[binley100]

I've seen the chuffin' stuff coming up through a tarmac path ......I just keep chopping it off and smothering it. A good reason for not using a rotovator .........

[mrgrower]

Well I met my two allotment neighbors today two old Irish guys one a rum sod LOL took a look round commented on all the work I have done and called me a lier when I said I'd only been there a month. He didn't believe I'd done so much in a month I personally think I haven't done much. Then proceeded to claim back all the stuff I'd scavenged. However he did let me lend his spade which he assured me would cut through butter and with a metal handle he stated I'd have no problems moving the toughest of sods and he wasn't wrong it came in handy for digging more of the trench out and teasing up a load of rubble He also volunteered my services to helping him on his plot while I get my plot sorted.

[binley100]

That was nice of him .....doesn't he think you have enough to do

[mrgrower]

barrier fencing gone up to keep brambles back

Broke back mountain? Nope Couch Grass Mountain which has been covered and will be used to grow fruit bushes.

[mrgrower]

I don't think he does lol The other Old guy whos 79 has been on the allotment for 30 years and used to have my old plot he recons it's not a bad plot only issue is two trees at the back when in leaf cast a shadow the other rum old guy informed me that the two trees behind his plot where killed off by him and his mate by drilling into the tree and poring diesel into the hole I don't fancy getting over the fence would probably kill myself hahaha

[mrgrower]

I thought the war was still on so dug this trench It comes up almost to my knees. I may put pipe in it and back fill with gravel don't know yet?

[mrgrower]

Thought I could make use of this fence that I scavenged until the rum Irish guy claimed it back

Strawberries, Blackberries and some sort of Raspberry

Cardboard this is my fruit area unfortunately this is the area that will get the shade Sooooooooooooo I'm thinking when I get the shed up I will past a load of aluminum foil to hardboard and put it on the side so it reflects the sun?

[binley100]

Fruit doesn't mind a bit of shade ......I wouldn't bother.