Starting from scratch

[Jamie1980]

Hi everyone looking for some advice please, just took over my first allotment
and it is covered with weeds.... my question is have i got to keep digging over and pulling these weeds out by hand or am i ok to go straight in with a rotivator and rake away the weeds etc

uploaded a couple of images to give you idea what stage im at !!

[rustylady]

Hi Jamie, welcome to the Vine.

I am anti-rotovating so you won't get advice on using one from me.

To be honest your weeds don't look too bad. If I were you I would clear an area and plant something immediately. Just do a bit at a time.

Any areas not cleared yet cover with thick cardboard or layers of wetted newspaper, this will kill the weeds off and when you come to dig them the soil will be lovely underneath.

Or try no-dig gardening and just plant through holes made in the cardboard or newspaper.

[Jamie1980]

Thank you sounds like a good idea

ive de-weeded some part so im very keen on getting something planted so it feels like im on my way

with the wet newspaper does it stay firm onto the soil and is it a case of going over with water every few days to keep it damp etc

Thanks again !!

[rustylady]

You'll probably need to anchor it down with something. Plastic milk bottles filled with water make good weights.

Try local bike shops (Halfords) for the cardboard boxes cycles come in - they're usually happy to give them away.

[redser]

Agree with RL. It looks like it's been well cultivated and that's just this season's weeds on top. The site looks nice and level. I bet if you sink your fork in they will pull up nice and easy. I would be inclined to do it by hand with a fork, one patch at a time too. It's very satisifying clearing ground like that
Before you start, have a quick walk around and pull off the flower/seeds heads of any weeds and pop them in a bag. No point letting them add more seeds on your freshly turned over soil.

[rustylady]

So Jamie, what are you going to plant? There should be plenty of vegetable plants available at the moment at local markets, B & Q etc.

[Jamie1980]

youve got a good eye redser !!

the ground is fairly level and the soil is pretty soft..... it will take me a while to turn it over but the satisfaction at the end like you say will be it worth it im sure

[bearded bloke]

Hello & welcome

I would also hand dig,there is a strange undefinable satisfaction to doing things in a peaceful & methodical manner

[Jamie1980]

Hi "Rustylady"

ive got some sweetcorn in big pots at home so was going to transfer them

was thinking of putting some carrot...betroot...Parsnip & brussel seeds down as ive been told there is still time to get something from them

do you reccomend anything aswell

ive done abit from home and looking forward to the challange of the allotment

[rustylady]

Carrots and beetroot = yes

Too late for brussels sprout seeds, look around for plants

I'm sowing Kelvedon Wonder peas in the very near future (when it stops raining)

Kale and Spring Cabbage can be started now from seed (I grow mine at home in 2" square pots, 1 plant per pot, and plant out when about four to six inches high. Remember to net them to stop the pigeons scoffing the lot (same applies to peas)

[KevinM67]

When I first got my plot, a big kick for me was having the blank canvas, therefore thinking about 'planning & design'.

Where should I locate compost bins, path areas, planning beds for crop rotation, planning beds for permanent stuff, where should I put a shed, fencing, building cages, etc., etc.

That was 3 years ago - I'm still thinking about it

[Jamie1980]

Thank you

youve been very helpfull

i think these forums are great for anyone starting up !! (like me)

[alldigging]

Def cover as much of the plot as you can't sort out this week. Cardboard/tarp, anything to exclude light. It makes the job of clearing more easier, encourages worms, reduces weeds, avoids weed seeds..

[Jamie1980]

your right i can imagine i will prob be planning still in a few years

but its so much of a buzz getting things right

im enjoying my mission getting the right priced IBC water storage tank at the mo !!

Thanks again !!

[Two_Sheds]

it is covered with weeds.... have i got to keep digging over

No, don't dig it again nor rotavate it. The soil is full of 1000s of weed seeds just waiting to get a bit of light so they can germinate.
Every time you turn over the soil, you bring new weed seeds to the surface, and to the light.

Your photo's not a close up, but they look like annual weeds which will be easy just to pull out. Leave them on the surface as a mulch, unless they've actually got seeds on them.

Def cover ... Cardboard/tarp, anything to exclude light.

Tarp doesn't work though, use cardboard and/or the wet newspapers.

They don't have to STAY wet, but an initial soaking in a bucket of water makes them stick together like papier mache, if you remember making that at school.

Weigh it down with lumps of soil or something to stop it all flying off next door