New allotment :(

[NicoleW]

Just got the key to my new allotment. I knew it wasn't going to be all nicely tidy, and I expected some hard work. However I'm at a loss about how to start clearing all this. I have 2 weeks off with no kids and no husband so I can crack on and get most of it cleared. Any tips?

Also I own a horse, and was wondering - once it's all cleared, if bringing some manure back would help the soil before I start growing things?

[alldigging]

Strim, cover. Clear the junk. You might be able to reuse some. Wear gloves cos you don't know what's in there!

[Hazel at the Hill]

Welcome to the Vine, Nicole, and well done on getting yourself a plot!

It can be daunting taking on a plot this time of year when all the weeds have gone mad! You are going to have to get rid of them either by covering the whole plot with cardboard and on top of that, horsemanure and let it all die down underneath, or by getting your fork/spade out.

Either way, cardboard is useful to cover what you can't get round to straight away. Once you have dug it over, the weeds will want to grow back, so try and get hold of some winter brassica plantlets from the garden centre to plant out.

There are plenty of people who have taken on overgrown plots and put them to rights - I'm sure that someone will be along to show you a link to before and after shots to inspire you!

Meanwhile, can you pop your approx location in your profile? It'll help when people are giving you advice.

[teakdesk]

Welcome and congrats on the plot!

When I got mine it was in a similar condition although I also had to cut a very overgrown hawthorne hedge and remove sycamore bushes with a chainsaw! After a couple of hours work every day it was cleared and planted since under all the 6 feet tall weeds there was an allotment that had been well worked until a couple of years previously and I'm sure you'll find that as well as you start to clear.

As also recommended above, I strimmed the whole plot whilst the weather was dry so I could see what the previously planted plot was like - but I didn't clear it all in one go, just left the grasses and triffids lying on the ground.

To save time I chose not the make changes to the existing path structure.

Then I dug over a bed (trying where possible to keep to 4 feet wide beds that can be raised over time).

Then I planted the bed. Brassicas (may need netting though), french beans, late peas, leeks, and even squashes can be started now (especially if we have a good long summer!).

Then I admired the planted bed and that gave me the strength to start the second bed! Etc.!!!


Good Luck, it really does get easier!

The three pictures give an idea of what I did over about 4 weeks.

[Bren In Pots]

Hello and welcome to the vine Nicole

[Martin H]

Welcome to the vine!

Most plots are in a bad state when the new person takes over. In general, committees aren't very good at recognising when the previous occupant isn't coming back.

I took mine in Spring last year and it was in a similar state to yours.

But honestly it's not too bad when you get stuck in. My basic strategy is:

1) clear away all the junk. If you have any friends you can get them to help with this bit. If it rots you can pile it in a corner, if it doesn't then bag it up and take it away to the recycling centre.

2) clear away the top growth. Maybe borrow a strimmer for this bit. Personally I hate to waste good vegetation so I pile it in a weed heap to eventually make compost.

3) mark out a piece of ground, dig it over and get the weeds out. Plant something so you've got a crop to look forward to.

4) Keep on top of the re-growth on the rest of the plot until you're ready to tackle it. Cardboard is good; otherwise be prepared to re-strim every month.

If you keep at it you'll easily be ready for a full growing season in 2015. Good luck and if you need advice or even just moral support this is a great place to get it!

Here's my plot, end of March 2013 and this month:

[sparrow100]

Hi Nicole,

Congrats on the plot! I'm sure it looks worse than it is. Being on a site committee I know it can be a longish process when someone quits, and in the meantime the plot can go wild.

Lots of good points above. If you can get a strimmer and some tarpaulins, it's fairly easy to knock back the weeds and cover the space until you are ready to plant. Given the time of year, it might also be a case of covering and leaving till spring for over half of it. In Spring most of those weeds will have died off and the ones that come back are more easily dealt with.

If you don't know what stuff is on the plot (like the rhubarb poking up in the righthand corner of the second photo), can a plot neighbour or friend come with you to help identify things you might want to keep? Fruit bushes etc...

If you do it by manageable amounts it's less daunting. I definitely agree with the others - getting a small bed done and planted up is hugely motivating to tackle the rest, and if you start now you will have crops in spring too.

It's taken me nearly 2 years to get mine approaching sorted - I work full-time, have commitments other than gardening, have decided to level it as much as I can and I'm not hugely strong. Worth it though.

[NicoleW]

Thank you to everyone's replies. I really appreciate it.

I'm just trying to locate a petrol strimmer from somewhere to tackle it. I noticed a huge blackberry bush at the back, however I'm not sure if I want to keep it or not because of the brambles, the rhubarb looks good though! I'm going to do some research tonight and get a print out of what I can plant at what time of the year and ask the kids to help me choose which ones to plant, although we are in agreement we want to grow our own pumpkin for halloween 2015

[Strawberry patch]

Welcome to the vine and congrats on the plot

[noviceveggrower]

Hi,
Welcome to the vine.
The don't worry about how much work there is to do remember its not a race. If you do to much all at once you could give yourself some right aches and pains.
Best advice I can add to everyone else's great advice is draw a plan out of where you what things like your shed and compost bins etc. You can then shuffle things about on paper as much as you like.
It might look as if there is so much to do but once you make a start and clear the rubbish away it will looks loads better.
Oh and don't be sentimental on anything. If it doesn't fit in with your plan then get rid of it. Oh and another thing get to know your next door plot holders. They will tell you what was grown where, when
and when stuff was last grown on it.
Hope this helps

[Bigmallly]

Welcome to the vine Nicole..........little & often is my only advice, don't spoilt it by trying to do too much at once. Cover with cardboard until you can clear the area, horse manure needs to be well rotted before using it near plants or it could burn the roots. Good luck.

[Greenleaves]

Welcome to the vine Nicole, I am not going to add to the excellent advice already offered apart from:

Enjoy your plot....

[Guykp57]

Welcome to the vine Nicole..ask anything and someone will have an answer. Patient is a good thing and learn to enjoy the work you put in because reward are amazing.


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[Mumbles]

Welcome

There is a great thread about grapes plots before and after. Whenever you feel the weeds will never end have a nosey through that, always makes me feel better

http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...ter_34360.html

(Not sure how to do links from my phone, if no one beats me to it I'll do it in the morning when back on the computer)


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[Mumbles]

Here's the link to that thread:
http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...ter_34360.html