New plot already full of fruit bushes

[Ali.A]

I've just been offered my first allotment plot which is full of established current bushes. I understand that they have been planted for several years. Whilst I plan keeping a couple of bushes I have other plans for the rest of the plot.

any advice on the best way of removing them and if I should do anything in particular to the soil before I start thinking about growing veg etc? I'm a novice veg grower so would be grateful for any advice.

[noviceveggrower]

Hello there Ali.A and welcome to the vine
I took a load of currant bushes out in the Autumn. They were taking up a load of room and producing nothing.
To get them out and they had been there for several years I did a couple of things.
First I cut them down to ground level the best I could. Bit obvious I know.
Second I got my spade and went round the stump pushing the spade in as deep as I could get it in. Give it a good jiggle as much as you can. This will help break some of the big roots away from the base of the bush. The ones I ended up cutting through were massive. I discovered I had to do this when I cut my first one down and the went straight in with a fork. One busted fork later I came out of the shed with my spade.
Thirdly up to you. Depending on how established the bushes are depends on how you want to dig them out. I found working from the edge of the bush to the centre meant I got the big thick roots out first and less of a fight with the middle bit.
In the end I dug about 7 bushes out. Took more than a day and they did put a bit of a fight up. The soil its self was really dry and hard to dig over but I managed it and the soil is great now. I have started to dig it over again and am still finding loads of roots in the soil.
Someone will probably give you better advice on what to grow but I am putting my spuds there this year then turning it into my asparagus bed
Sorry seemed to of waffled on a bit. Hope this is helpful. Welcome again

[cariann88]

Hello and welcome to the vine

[21up]

Hello there Ali.A and welcome to the vine
I took a load of currant bushes out in the Autumn. They were taking up a load of room and producing nothing.
To get them out and they had been there for several years I did a couple of things.
First I cut them down to ground level the best I could. Bit obvious I know.
Second I got my spade and went round the stump pushing the spade in as deep as I could get it in. Give it a good jiggle as much as you can. This will help break some of the big roots away from the base of the bush. The ones I ended up cutting through were massive. I discovered I had to do this when I cut my first one down and the went straight in with a fork. One busted fork later I came out of the shed with my spade.
Thirdly up to you. Depending on how established the bushes are depends on how you want to dig them out. I found working from the edge of the bush to the centre meant I got the big thick roots out first and less of a fight with the middle bit.
In the end I dug about 7 bushes out. Took more than a day and they did put a bit of a fight up. The soil its self was really dry and hard to dig over but I managed it and the soil is great now. I have started to dig it over again and am still finding loads of roots in the soil.
Someone will probably give you better advice on what to grow but I am putting my spuds there this year then turning it into my asparagus bed
Sorry seemed to of waffled on a bit. Hope this is helpful. Welcome again

This is what i did with a row i had in my last allotment.
I 2 left the broken roots in as they were too deep
best way to do it but there is no easy way to get it right

[Ali.A]

change of plan

Thanks for your comments. After some careful consideration I decided that this plot was going to be too much for me. I looked at the plot again noting that some of the bushes were about 5ft tall with an even larger spread. There was no way I was going to manage this.
Having felt very disappointed the field manager suggested that I contact the chair of the committee as she hadn't been advised of anyone taking over her old plot (well looked after, flat, complete with blackcurrant bush, blackberry cane and rhubarb).
Well, due to a bit of confusion with the numbering after a few emails back and forth between us I am now the proud 'owner' of the field managers previous plot! Due to working full time I've only spent one weekend on it but so glad I have this long weekend to get some work done and its going to be dry!

[veggiechicken]

Well done, Ali. Sounds like the perfect answer to your problem.
Don't forget to take some photos of your new plot so that you/we can watch it develop

[WendyC]

That sounds like a very sensible solution. Well done for being brave enough to admit it would be too much. Sometimes we just accept what we're given and battle on. Hope you have a successful season.

[noviceveggrower]

Good choice. Best thing to do is admit what you can do and not take on to much.

[Nicos]

Hi there, and a warm welcome from me too!,