My New Dug Patch (Newbie)

[Silverfox]

I'm getting a bit worried now. I have been weeding my allotment for the past few weeks now and have half filled the compost bin with just weeds on its own.

I would lift the bin an put it somewhere else but I have also now added some veg waste and I don’t want to attract animals.

I will not add anymore to the bin at the lotty and bring them home to add to the brown council bin, but help on how I can rectify what I have already done?

[Mrs Dobby]

Hi Reddy, welcome to the vine!

We've just got ourselves an allotment, that was covered with 8' worth of weeds! We've composted the grass / dandelion leaves, but have burnt all of the roots / russian vine / mares tail / nettles and anything with seeds, just to try and reduce the chances of the weeds coming back next year! The other benefit of burning is lots of lovely potash, good for your onions so I'm told!

Mr Dobby dug over one of the first 8' by 10' beds yesterday, removing a full bin load of russian vine / dandelion / nettle / mares tail roots, which are now drying ready for our next bonfire!

As to suppressing weeds, we've started to put down bark chippings on our paths to help prevent the weeds coming back, fortunately the council deliver it free to the allotment so we can use as much as we want! After we've finished doing the paths I'm considering using some to mulch under the strawberries / raspberries and rhubarb, in order to help keep it a bit clearer of the weeds!

Anyhows, hope you enjoy both the forum and your Growing as much as everyone else here!

[nick the grief]

I'm getting a bit worried now. I have been weeding my allotment for the past few weeks now and have half filled the compost bin with just weeds on its own.

I would lift the bin an put it somewhere else but I have also now added some veg waste and I don’t want to attract animals.

I will not add anymore to the bin at the lotty and bring them home to add to the brown council bin, but help on how I can rectify what I have already done?

I wouldn't worry too much SF. what you can do is seive the living bits out at the end & throw them in ht ebin for the council to get rid of for you & then steralise what you've got before use. You can do this by either

1. Use a chemical - not recommended unless you know what your doing
2. Use ***** or Armillartox - we you used to be able to but you can'twater it with Armillartox 1tsp to a litre of water
3. If you have a flame gun, pass this over it a couple of times
4. Put it in a big metal can & heat through on a bonfire (make sure it's we to start with & then the steam will do the job
5. or for smaler qty's moist compost in a metal biscuit tin in the oven or microwavable boxes & nuke it for a few minutes in the microwave

Hope that helps

[Sunbeam]

Hi there Reddy, welcome to the vine - I also started gardening this year and have enjoyed a super crop of peas carrots, caulis broccoli etc etc -even better is the fact that my 3 yr old now happily eats his veggies, cos he's helped grow them -

[Helianthus]

My undug patch II

I admire your effort. I have a largish (6m x 10m) plot (my garden actually) that is full of bindweed, molehills, knee-high grass, nettles, weeds and goodness knows what else. I would love to convert some of it to a vegetable garden but don't know where to start. Advice appreciated please.

[dexterdoglancashire]

Hello H and a warm welcome to the Vine! as you can see from the threads above, lots of useful advice and help.
I've got a very small back garden which my OH and I dug over at the beginning of the year. (I'll change my picture then you can see Dexter the dog on my newly dug last patch!).
You will find lots of useful tips and hints if you look around the Vine!
I just took my time, after my OH dug up the soil (it had been sadly neglected for 10 years and used as a dog loo!) to a depth I was happy with - especially considering what it had been used for! I divided it up into sections - I used Dr Heessayon's The Veg & Herb Expert as a reference.
Then I found GYO magazine in around May! Super articles, lots of useful advice - and of course the Vine!
I would say you are starting it at the right time - there is a good article in this months GYO regarding digging over your plot - so do have a look!
I could go on and on for ages, but you'll probably lose the will to live - so I'll stop now, except to say, it will be one of the best things you've ever done! There's nothing like serving up your "own grown" veg to family and friends! Phew! I'm off for a lie down now! DDL

[nick the grief]

Hi Helianthus,

Welcome to the vine. Just like DDL says, take it easy & do it a bit at a time. First off I'd spray it with Roundup then dit down with all concerned & ,ake a list of waht sort of thing you like to eat. The split that into "possibles" & "your'e having a Giraffe" (as Shortie would say - they all talk like that from Norf Landan).

Once you have your list of thing that you can grow you just need to fit them into the normal 3 or 4 year rotation system & decided how much you would like & away you go - It sounds complicated but trust me there is a long way between steps 1 & the end, well most of the winter enyway

Once you've sprayed the weeds Spuds are a Good pioneer crop as you dig the ground over when you lift them. If you look on the VIne there is a thread by Jennie all about No Dig spuds so that will help clear a bit of land for you whilst you concentrate on the rest.

Hope this helps & any more questions fire away there are now daft questions so don't be afraid to ask.

[Skipper]

I have dug up a patch of my lawn to make a bed for some cauliflower and cabbage seedlings ready to plant out under cover (or so I hope)
And need some probably really basic help.

I have taken out pretty much all the grass and weeds clumps, brushing off the soil where I can, and dumped it too the side of the bed. I read that annual weeds are okay in composter but not other biannual (is that right?) and because it's all a mess and I don't know the difference between different weeds I don't nkow what to do with all the stuff?

Any ehlp greatly appreciated.

Hi Reddy. I like you am new to growing veg so what I do is put all weeds to one side for burning and that way I do not have to worry about contaminating my compost.
Best of luck. Skipper

[dexterdoglancashire]

Hiya! forgot ( !) to recommend this book which is FAB: The allotment book by Andi Clevely - loads of useful advice - I keep reading and reading it and still come up with some more useful advice - a definite for all us newbies! DDL

[vicki]

thanks DDL ~ think I might treat myself to that book- good to get a personal recommendation, and I need all the help I can get!!!

[nick the grief]

You've got us Vicki what more could you want

[dexterdoglancashire]

who needs owt else apart from GYO, the Vine and Andi Clevelys book? .....not forgetting you Nick - of course! my gardening guru! DDL

[vicki]

well said Nick! I have to admit the Vine has been more useful than ANY book - somebody always has some good advice and its sooo friendly!

[martini]

I'll second that Vicki - I've learnt far more from the Vine than any of the books I've read

[nick the grief]

and we're cheaper