New Allotment In December. Your advice good people?

[toastiesmurf]

Hi all,

One week ago (start of December) I took on an allotment plot. It is a large 'half' plot, but more like three quarters. I appreciate that many people ask this question, but would love to hear any advice anyone has about my particular situation.

The Plot: The plot already has two large rhubarb plants, berry bushes round the edges, and a few carrots, onions, beetroot and potatoes still in the soil. There is also a patch of purple-sprouting broccoli which is inedible. The plot has therefore been worked on earlier this year, but has been slightly neglected since. There are three huge beds (that will need breaking down into smaller beds for access) with paths inbetween. They are not raised beds, and I want to keep it this way.

My Thoughts/Situation So Far: I have started digging over one large bed and have made good progress. The soil is quite clay-like and wet, but is full of earthworms and is otherwise quite nice. I just conducted a very rough soil test and the results show PH of around 7-7.5, high phosphorus and potassium content, if anything just a little lacking in nitrogen. I will be conducted more accurate tests and more of them soon.

My reason for digging over is that there are lots of weeds on the bed, some of which are nasty perennials. I figured that if I dig over in winter it will give chance for the soil to breakdown ready for spring. I don't know if I actually have time to do this for the whole plot, as today it was a little snowy and frosty... I should also mention that I want to do this organically, and I don't plan on budging on that. I also don't have a big budget or any transport, so the less extra materials the better, though my house is nearby if I do need to order anything. I also have a good amount of time, so that's not too much of a problem.

Keep in mind that it is December, so I could do with some really season-specific advice please! What can I/Can I not do right now, and what is the best way to get ready for a good growing season next year?

Some Queries:

Do I ideally need to dig as much of the plot over before spring to optimise soil, or can I dig it over in spring if I don't get it all done now?

Is the 'no-dig' method an option for my situation, given that the allotment patch needs bringing up to scratch and there are lots of perennial weeds? (Could I perhaps try this method on one of the three beds, and if so what is the cheapest and easiest way)

If I need to add anything to the soil, when should this be done, if at all? I don't have any compost ready right now, would it be better to add in spring? If so, would I need to dig the compost in come spring time?

If last year's owner grew, say, a row of carrots, should I keep this in mind when it comes to planting my crops - for crop rotation?

If there is any other advice that anyone can offer, that would be much appreciated.

Cheers,
Matt

[veggiechicken]

Hi Matt and welcome to the Grapevine!
Sounds like a decent plot to take on.
What perennial weeds do you have? I'm not a fan of digging everything just for the fun of it - so I'd remove the big weeds and cover the rest of the plot with cardboard until you're ready to plant something.
You could be putting in garlic, broadbeans and overwintering peas now.

[toastiesmurf]

Hi Matt and welcome to the Grapevine!
Sounds like a decent plot to take on.
What perennial weeds do you have? I'm not a fan of digging everything just for the fun of it - so I'd remove the big weeds and cover the rest of the plot with cardboard until you're ready to plant something.
You could be putting in garlic, broadbeans and overwintering peas now.

Hi VeggieChicken,

Thanks for your answer. It does seem like a decent plot - certainly could have been worse!

To be honest, I'm don't know all of the weeds yet, but I do have dandelions, I think it's couch grass (long white roots that run like creepers through the soil), and then some other weeds that sort of have matted shallow roots (not sure if they are perennial).

Can I ask for more information If I were to cover a bed with cardboard. Is that all I would need to do? Cover the bed now with thick cardboard and then plant through it come spring? I hear this is best for certain plants (i.e. not root veg)? I might try this with one third of the allotment to see what happens. I have already pretty much dug over the worst third of the plot.

It would be good to start planting now. Could I just plant into the bed that I have just dug over?

Thanks again,
Matt

[veggiechicken]

Sounds like couch. Its difficult to remove it completely as bits break off and regenerate. Remove what you can, whenever you see it but I don't worry too much about it. I should say that I don't have a plot now and I don't garden conventionally (as you'll find out from my posts on here!!).
Not sure about the matted shallow roots - could be lots of things - even mint (smell them).
With cardboard, it suppresses the weeds and warms the soil. You can peel it back if you want to plant rows of seeds or cut through it for plants.
Plant something now - its great to see something growing, keeps your spirits up over winter.
Somebody who knows what they're talking about will be along soon

BTW, where are you in the UK? It helps to know as our weather is so variable across the country.

[toastiesmurf]

Sounds like couch. Its difficult to remove it completely as bits break off and regenerate. Remove what you can, whenever you see it but I don't worry too much about it. I should say that I don't have a plot now and I don't garden conventionally (as you'll find out from my posts on here!!).
Not sure about the matted shallow roots - could be lots of things - even mint (smell them).
With cardboard, it suppresses the weeds and warms the soil. You can peel it back if you want to plant rows of seeds or cut through it for plants.
Plant something now - its great to see something growing, keeps your spirits up over winter.
Somebody who knows what they're talking about will be along soon

BTW, where are you in the UK? It helps to know as our weather is so variable across the country.

Yeah, I think that's the stuff. I'm doing my best to get as much out now as possible! I think I might plant some garlic, thanks! My only other worry right now is that my soil seems somewhat waterlogged and cloddy compared to other plots on the site...

I am in Leeds, in the North. It's just started getting very cold. Today was the first day of snow/frost covering, which I guess has made me feel time pressure.

Cheers!

[bikermike]

as per other threads, you should probably be seen to be doing something.
WRT digging etc. If you go no dig, you should be putting a lot of mulch down as part of the process, so any gathering of leaves/old compost/horse poo etc is a useful thing to do.

Do you have a compost heap yet? I'd start that now.

What do you know about your plot - are you in contact with the previous? do your neighbours know much about it?

What I did was dig over everywhere I could (by hand) to put out the infestation of marestail I had, and covered the bit I couldn't do with plastic.

Although I am moving to no-dig(ish), it's a damn good way of knowing your plot to dig as much as you can.

Bear in mind there's no "have to", but you'll get better results if you can clear the weeds/add some nutrients to the soil.

it's a good time of year to plant raspberry canes and the like

[Cadalot]

Here is my take on clearing a plot Alans Allotment: Clearing a New Allotment

[Snadger]

Welcome to the vine Toastiesmurf.

If your area is big enough I reckon it would be time for a bit of a trial on various areas to see what works.
It may be an old fashioned approach but it is reccomended that clay soils are dug in autumn and winter so that the frost has a bigger surface area to work on and shatter the big lumps to allow it to be raked to a tilth for sowing stuff in the spring.
Maybe try digging an area and see if this works for you. Sometimes even no dig officianado's dig the first year, remove perennial weeds THEN adopt a no-dig regime.

I practice a no-dig regime myself, but by rotating the area where I grow spuds each year (just dibbled into the soil), once in every 4 or 5 years I have to dig the spuds up. I can just about handle that!

Cardboard is a good mulch to put on, along with any organic matter. You could even cover areas with cardboard and weigh it down with the weeds youv'e dug out. The weeds will shrivel on the top of the cardboard.

There are no hard and fast rules with gardening, just experiment and see what works for you.

Oh, and only grow what you like to eat!

[Dalrimple]

Hi Mat as said before you don't need to do it all at once ! I would suggest get the spuds ,carrots ,beets out and use them the onions may be past it but get them out incase they arbour allium leaf miner .
I don't like raised beds and you don't seem to be going that rout,youv'e three beds to try diferent growing techniques! covering over with cardboard works for a mulch , carpets can help but are fround upon on some sites,you say it's damp in places you could dig across the beds to help drainage, you need to get some compost bins started and the worms are good helpers in draining the soil atb Dal

[Jimny14]

Welcome and congratulations on the new plot. I hope you have lots of fun working out what works for you in the next few years, I'm learning about my veg patch and tweaking it to my needs (a slow process as I'm also trying to do it without spending too much). If I were in your situation I think I'd cover over lots of area either with card or black plastic (thick) I use old farmers feed bags I've scrounged (also noticed some dry dog food comes in big thick black lined plastic) and dig over and remove weeds and roots from what I can. Remember you can always uncover areas as you go if you're feeling up to sorting out a larger area. Also at this time I'd be adding any organic matter I had available to the soil and either digging it in or leaving it as a thick mulch over winter for the worms to work on. I'd go with VC's idea of planting some broad beans but pick your least waterlogged area, I tried over wintering some broad beans last year in my clay and they rotted off due to the wet except one plant. I'm going to give it a few years of soil improvement before trying again.

PS good luck and have fun

[hamamelis]

Hi, and welcome!

I wouldn't get wound up about crop rotation following on from another plotter; if possible, it's best not to plant like following like, but it's unlikely to cause issues if you do it every now and again.

Personally, I'd get some garlic in the ground now (leave it a week or so for the soil to settle if you just dug it), but I'd wait for February now before sowing even the hardiest beans or peas in the ground; especially with soggy clay, odds are quite high that they'd just rot. Garlic wants to get cold, beans just normally put up with it

You don't need to dig compost in, it works great as a mulch, just spread as thick a layer as you can on. It'll be fine in spring if you can't get it now, though it is a good idea to cover the soil over the worst of the winter weather if you can, to protect the soil structure and help prevent nutrients leaching out.

I also just took on a new plot (having moved away from my old one), and most of what I've been doing in prep so far has been sitting in with a cuppa, sketching out plans for what I want to do when it warms up a bit

Enjoy your new plot!

[toastiesmurf]

Thank you everyone for your advice. Much appreciated!

From what has been said so far, I think I will cover one third with cardboard and try to dig over the rest asap. Then will either dig over the covered bed in spring, or attempt a no-dig method on that bed. Does that sound reasonable?

I have another question that has come up, because a few people here have mentioned getting compost on as a mulch on the beds that I dig over. What is the best and cheapest way to quickly get compost on the beds at this time of the year? There is a compost heap on the plot, but no compost in it to use. Do I just start throwing literally any organic matter on the heap and go from there? Can I pile organic matter (e.g. kitchen waste) straight on the soil as I make the waste?

Any more opinions on compost and my allotment in general are very welcome!

Thanks,
Matt

[toastiesmurf]

Hi, and welcome!

I wouldn't get wound up about crop rotation following on from another plotter; if possible, it's best not to plant like following like, but it's unlikely to cause issues if you do it every now and again.

Personally, I'd get some garlic in the ground now (leave it a week or so for the soil to settle if you just dug it), but I'd wait for February now before sowing even the hardiest beans or peas in the ground; especially with soggy clay, odds are quite high that they'd just rot. Garlic wants to get cold, beans just normally put up with it

You don't need to dig compost in, it works great as a mulch, just spread as thick a layer as you can on. It'll be fine in spring if you can't get it now, though it is a good idea to cover the soil over the worst of the winter weather if you can, to protect the soil structure and help prevent nutrients leaching out.

I also just took on a new plot (having moved away from my old one), and most of what I've been doing in prep so far has been sitting in with a cuppa, sketching out plans for what I want to do when it warms up a bit

Enjoy your new plot!

Thank you very much! Your words about relaxing with a cuppa are soothing. I feel rushed to get the soil as ready as possible before spring so it can break up and settle over winter. In your opinion, will this make a difference, or could I equally be digging over in early spring?

I think I'm going to take your advice and try to get compost on asap after digging each bed. I don't have any to hand right now, so how would you suggest I make/get hold of it now? I'd rather not buy in, but I can do if needs be. Any advice there would be appreciated.

I will enjoy it Thanks!

[toastiesmurf]

If I were in your situation I think I'd cover over lots of area either with card or black plastic (thick) and dig over and remove weeds and roots from what I can. Remember you can always uncover areas as you go if you're feeling up to sorting out a larger area. Also at this time I'd be adding any organic matter I had available to the soil and either digging it in or leaving it as a thick mulch over winter for the worms to work on. I'd go with VC's idea of planting some broad beans but pick your least waterlogged area, I tried over wintering some broad beans last year in my clay and they rotted off due to the wet except one plant. I'm going to give it a few years of soil improvement before trying again.

PS good luck and have fun

Great advice, thanks! I think that will pretty much be the approach that I will take, but I may just stick with garlic for growing now. Do you literally throw on any organic matter you can find for compost/mulch? Any ideas?

[toastiesmurf]

Welcome to the vine Toastiesmurf.

If your area is big enough I reckon it would be time for a bit of a trial on various areas to see what works.
It may be an old fashioned approach but it is reccomended that clay soils are dug in autumn and winter so that the frost has a bigger surface area to work on and shatter the big lumps to allow it to be raked to a tilth for sowing stuff in the spring.
Maybe try digging an area and see if this works for you. Sometimes even no dig officianado's dig the first year, remove perennial weeds THEN adopt a no-dig regime.

I practice a no-dig regime myself, but by rotating the area where I grow spuds each year (just dibbled into the soil), once in every 4 or 5 years I have to dig the spuds up. I can just about handle that!

Cardboard is a good mulch to put on, along with any organic matter. You could even cover areas with cardboard and weigh it down with the weeds youv'e dug out. The weeds will shrivel on the top of the cardboard.

There are no hard and fast rules with gardening, just experiment and see what works for you.

Oh, and only grow what you like to eat!

Thank you! I had heard that with the clay soil it would be more beneficial to dig it over before winter fully sets in so that it breaks up ready. I started digging one bed a week ago, and I can already see that the soil has improved compared to when I first turned it.

Can I just double-check with you - when you say I can lay cardboard on top and then lay the weed roots over it, do you mean all weed roots? Because I was wondering what to do with all those (burn it seems to be the general consensus). Will that be fine? Also, regarding cardboard as a mulch, would you then leave it or dig it in come spring?

Cheers,
Matt