Newish site in Catcliffe, Rotherham

[veggiechicken]

Fingers still firmly crossed - typings very difficult so please hurry up

[crannman]

i an now a allotment owner a great plot around 30ft +80 going to need some work hired a strimmer to day cleared most of grass and brembles give it another going over tomorro then its rotovator time

[polc1410]

Are you sure you wont be chopping roots of hardy weeds up to make matters worse? Rotovate with care!

I'm sure two sheds will be along in a minute to suggest Lasange beds or no dig or some such thing...

[veggiechicken]

Congrats crannman!! Think long and hard about rotavating - you don't want to chop up couch grass and make the situation worse

[crannman]

thanks for replys so rotovating is not a good idea ?talking to other plot owners and thats what they did any advice welcome

[crannman]

well had a dig today made a bit of headway but it was hard going very stoney managed to do dig 6inch deep will keep going bit by bit

[out in the cold]

well had a dig today made a bit of headway but it was hard going very stoney managed to do dig 6inch deep will keep going bit by bit

What's underneath it crannman? Is it just boulders, or solid rock?

Also, any photos of the plot?

[crannman]

old bricks large stones ect got some pics put them on when i find how to put them on (well mrs will)

[grahamR]

When I started on my plot, I found digging with a spade too tough for my skinny frame, a fork was better, but real success came when I switched to an apse. This was easier and much quicker - you soon develop a swing! I was able to get down to below a spade depth and broke up the clay subsoil (whilst trying hard not to bring it to the surface - not totally successfully). It is very useful for removing clumps of weeds without breaking up the roots. Later, I forked in a lot of cheap compost all over, and some manure where the beans and peas were to go. This year, I can push in my garden fork fairly deeply, with one hand. If you'd like to borrow my apse, you're welcome. If I'm not around, Tom (plot 18) has a key to my shed (if he's about!)

[grahamR]

Yes, we've all encountered the hard stuff. I found the bricks, stones, etc. very useful as foundation for the slabs my shed sits on. Under the topsoil lies clay of different kinds - as you'd expect, I suppose.
An official survey in 2006 concluded that most of the site was excellent growing ground - and my first year's results seem to bear that out.

[crannman]

ad a good dig and soil good not to much clay got a decent plot dug over put some spuds in this week can get down a spade lengh happy days

[grahamR]

You might be interested in the findings of the 2006 survey. You can find it at www (organic_guru) co)(uk/feasibilty/

( = .)

[crannman]

well 4 hard days and 3 beds dug over one planted with potatoes and onions rocks and stones used to make a base for a shed

[crannman]

Progress so far

Progress on my allotment so far 1st pic is allotment at start 2nd strimmed down 3rd 2 sections dug 3rd rubble then base for shed rubble used

[KittyColdNose]

Looking good but by eck clock at the rubble! Are you going to use it as a shed base?