Advice for an allotment newbie

[WeeGarden]

I'm a little overwhelmed and looking for some advice. I was offered and so took on a small allotment (12mx9m) 3 days after my 3rd baby was born in April. I'd panic planted everything that was pot bound in mid May, and that has pretty much been it - covered maybe 1/8 of the plot. I haven't managed to make it up there much with school holidays and baby and keeping on top of weeds hasn't been easy. It's new ground (new development) so no previous cultivation - developers laid 6" of mushroom compost on top so that was good.

I want to go no dig method so yesterday covered half the plot with cardboard. I don't actually know where to go from here. Do I dig up the compost from where my paths would go and pile it on top of the cardboard where my beds will go? Not sure if there's enough compost for that. What can I do to mark the paths? Order in some woodchip or leave as clay, or not dig down to clay and leave the mushroom compost to be trampled in?

I don't want to spend an awful lot of money at the moment as not sure what the situation is going to be. There is marestail infestation around the site (not on my plot yet) and people have been complaining so developers might just come and dig the whole thing up.

So sorry for the long post... any advice gratefully received!

[Baldy]

Dont panic. !!!

[WeeGarden]

Dont panic. !!!

Can you actually read it in my post??

[veggiechicken]

For once I agree with Baldy Don't panic!
Try to cover as much as you can with cardboard. Weight it down with buckets of water, or bags of soil. If you have chippings, manure or compost, pile it on top. If not, don't worry as the cardboard will suppress the weeds and you can plant spuds and big stuff like courgettes in holes cut in the cardboard.
The compost on the paths could be moved onto the cardboard as its wasted on the paths. Perhaps concentrate on one area to make it deeper, so that you could sow into it.
Now is a good time to plan for next year - what you want to grow and for the layout. There's no need to edge the beds with anything. You may want to change the layout once you've worked with it for a while.

[Scarlet]

Some photos may help? You could weed sheet your paths. Wood chips paths will grow weeds on if left all summer but either option will require regular maintenance. Looking after a plot with 3young children won't be easy, do you have any help?

[WeeGarden]

Thank you Veggiechicken, that's very helpful. Good to know I can plant potatoes through cardboard next year, saves tackling that bed at least.

Scarlet - thanks! I'll try to get down there for a photo tomorrow. I don't have help - my husband is not at all interested and is allergic to outside. I'm planning on low maintenance stuff like fruit bushes and raspberries and strawberries, squashes and pumpkins, Sweet corn, potato and beans for the next couple of years until I can dedicate more time once the Smalls get older, but would like to at least get the layout in place now that I'm on maternity leave

[WeeGarden]

*silly question alert*

Do rows of veg always need to run North-South?

[WeeGarden]

Re. beds with no edging... I made one yesterday to put some cabbage plants in. Watered it, and the water made a river through the compost and washed a bit of the side away...

[bario1]

I'd maybe continue to cover with Cardboard, but mark out a couple of beds (as long as you like, but no more than 4' across), and dig them over to incorporate the mushroom compost. I know you mentioned no dig, but you may have to do a bit of digging just to get things started. Plant some onion sets and garlic so you feel like you're growing stuff, and spend the winter planning for next year. Also, collect up fallen leaves and throw them liberally over your plot as a mulch.

Oh, and don't panic!

[bario1]

*silly question alert*

Do rows of veg always need to run North-South?

No! Veg don't even have to be in rows!

[WeeGarden]

Thanks Bario

Er. Please can you let me know if I can plant garlic and onions through cardboard too?

[WeeGarden]

Thanks! I have a tiny kitchen plot at home and grow for prettiness rather than function - just have in my mind that being a serious veggie grower, you do so in regimented rows. Or else!

[bario1]

Yes you can, but making little holes in the cardboard for dozens of onion and garlic sets might be more hassle than its worth...

What is directly under the cardboard? 6" of mushroom compost? It's good stuff but not an ideal growing medium on its own...

[Scarlet]

Well, kids eat tons of desserts and jam, curds, fruit leathers, jellies etc....homemade is best I've got a lot of space taken up with raspberry, gooseberry, tayberry, rhubarb, red and blackcurrants. It's worth its weight in gold. I've planted through weedsheet. I put layers of newspaper down before adding the sheet, planted through and I cover over with a new supply of wood chip every year.

[bario1]

An allotment can be pretty too.... nothing wrong with growing in rows, but don't let what other people around you are doing stifle your creativity!