New plot in Doncaster UK

[Jimitheskin]

Hi all! Just acquired my new plot, and it’s rather large at 350+ square meters.
It’s quite overgrown but mostly just grass and brambles. There’s a few dandelions scattered in too.

As for the previously dug beds there’s some mares tail but seems to be mostly localised to the bed luckily. Managed to get half the plot strimmed down last night and going to work on one half for now. The plan is to rake up all the strimmings to compost/Burn and then cover it all with black membrane apart from the 2 previously dug beds. I think that’s the correct way to go but any ideas are greatly welcomed!

Il upload some photos once I figure out how haha!

[burnie]

Welcome Jimi, you need to make a few postings before the site will let you post images, it's to stop spammers, advertisers or worse.

[bario1]

it's to stop spammers, advertisers or worse.

I just read something completely different for 'worse' there!

[Jimitheskin]

Ahhh I see! Thanks for the info

[nickdub]

Hi all! Just acquired my new plot, and it’s rather large at 350+ square meters.
It’s quite overgrown but mostly just grass and brambles. There’s a few dandelions scattered in too.

As for the previously dug beds there’s some mares tail but seems to be mostly localised to the bed luckily. Managed to get half the plot strimmed down last night and going to work on one half for now. The plan is to rake up all the strimmings to compost/Burn and then cover it all with black membrane apart from the 2 previously dug beds. I think that’s the correct way to go but any ideas are greatly welcomed!

Il upload some photos once I figure out how haha!

Sounds about right - if you can get some large cardboard sheets, they will come in handy too.

a couple of other suggestions :-

1)try clearing a small area completely, so you can get things like salad stuff growing asap
2) ask around among friends and allotment holders if they have any spare plants - most of us are chucking seedlings away at this time of year having grown spares which are no longer needed. (I've git roughly 100 cabbage plants with room for about 20)

[Jimitheskin]

Sounds about right - if you can get some large cardboard sheets, they will come in handy too.

a couple of other suggestions :-

1)try clearing a small area completely, so you can get things like salad stuff growing asap
2) ask around among friends and allotment holders if they have any spare plants - most of us are chucking seedlings away at this time of year having grown spares which are no longer needed. (I've git roughly 100 cabbage plants with room for about 20)

Thanks mate. Good advice! Yes been on the hunt for cardboard! We’ve decided to try and use the beds we have already dug for pumpkins/squash. Try and smother the weeds a bit at the same time. Hopefully we can get them in before it’s too lte

[veggiechicken]

Hi Jimi and welcome. I've just started planting squashes - so, if you're late, I am too.

[Jimitheskin]

Hi Jimi and welcome. I've just started planting squashes - so, if you're late, I am too.

Be fiiiine! What’s the worst that can happen?!

[chillithyme]

Congratulations on your new allotment! Sounds like a good plan. I made the mistake of clearing my new allotment in the autumn and not being able to get down there it turned into a jungle, I've now covered it, like you have, and am working a bed at a time, rolling back the cover as I go along!
Don't forget to plant as you get your beds ready, I keep clearing and only remember to plant things because my plot neighbours remind me too

I can't post pictures either, good to know it's because I'm a newbie, and not just my phone

[lottie dolly]

Welcome to the vine Jimi,things are behind this year,again,so not to late for several things,i will have stuff to compost as well,happy to give anyone if near enough.

[Jimitheskin]

Congratulations on your new allotment! Sounds like a good plan. I made the mistake of clearing my new allotment in the autumn and not being able to get down there it turned into a jungle, I've now covered it, like you have, and am working a bed at a time, rolling back the cover as I go along!
Don't forget to plant as you get your beds ready, I keep clearing and only remember to plant things because my plot neighbours remind me too

I can't post pictures either, good to know it's because I'm a newbie, and not just my phone

Thankyou! Yes you seem to have the same plan as I have in my head haha! Can’t wait to get stuck in. Just gotta clear away the strimmings. Can’t get down til the weekend now but gives them chance to dry out for a fire! Aye someday Wel be able to haha!

[bikermike]

congrats on your new plot.

I'd suggest getting the marestail covered ASAP, it grows most at this time of year, if you can nobble it now, it'll be really worth doing. (It may be localised now, but it won't stay that way...)

As for being late, everything is late this year, so just get some stuff in and give it a go...

[Jimitheskin]

congrats on your new plot.

I'd suggest getting the marestail covered ASAP, it grows most at this time of year, if you can nobble it now, it'll be really worth doing. (It may be localised now, but it won't stay that way...)

As for being late, everything is late this year, so just get some stuff in and give it a go...

Thanks! Yes gonna get down hopefully Saturday and get it all covered. Yep. Gonna try pumpkins and squash on the surface so they help smother the weeds

[bikermike]

sounds good. (I have a plot infested with the damn stuff, and if I could have avoided it before I started, I'd have been very grateful).

Also try to avoid moving soil round - you don't want to spread it.

(It's not the end of the world, but it's worth avoiding if you can)

[Jimitheskin]

sounds good. (I have a plot infested with the damn stuff, and if I could have avoided it before I started, I'd have been very grateful).

Also try to avoid moving soil round - you don't want to spread it.

(It's not the end of the world, but it's worth avoiding if you can)

Doesn’t sound good!! Yeah trying to keep the soil from the bed, kept to the bed. I think I’ve been fairly lucky to be honest as like I say it’s mostly just grass and brambles.