New Gardener

[Andy@Bioule]

Looking for some advise.
Having just sprayed an area of land with weed killer(mainly couch grass) and now waiting about 3 weeks before I rotovate it I would like to know which vegetables I can sow at the beginning of June to give me some crops this year.The soil is clay based but I have the advantage of good sunshine until October as I live in the South West of France.
Any advise as to what I can grow, what I need to add to the soil etc would be much appreciated.Andy

[sweetiepea]

I don't want to put you off, but it may take more than just a spraying to kill off couch grass, and I speak from experience! The root is very resilient and it can take an awful lot of spraying. In the end I had to dig and meticulously lift EVERY scrap of root to get rid of it. Leave a little and it will come back.

[Nicos]

Hi there- and welcome to the Vine!!

Which part of France (09)?- I'm in the North ( 61)

Sorry to say- for you- that I agree with sweetiepea...and if you rotovate it- you'll just be chopping each bit of root- and spreading it- and give it a better chance of surviving!
I think to be honest- I'd get stuck in - (easier with a British spade)and remove the top 2" of soil- then take out any remaining roots whilst digging it over- and at the same time adding loads of well rotted muck and maybe sand, well rotted leaves etc etc- just to give the soil some body.Then rotovate.
Then I'd put in some spuds ( bit late- but you should get some crop) and courgettes/squash. There's still time for peas and beans - and salad crops you can pick up from the market.
We're just finishing clearing an area of field- and this is what we've done ( except sand- cos we've got sandy soil)
Yup- it's hard work for a few days- but it's better to do a smaller area thoroughly than have to repeat the process you describe for several years- and loads more weeded than needed ( couch grass will spear spuds in dry years- and that's a waste of a potato crop!)
I'm sure other peeps will recommend other crops- but keep away from carrots and parsnips if you've added muck

[Two_Sheds]

I would add my tuppencworth ... I sprayed glyphosate on couch grass at least four times last summer ... and it's coming back again.

It really needs to be dug out, meticulously and carefully. Sorry.


as to crops ... you can sow stuff into pots and trays now, and plant it all out once your ground is cleared.

Do a small patch, then plant it up. Repeat as necessary

[Andy@Bioule]

Hi Everyone,
It's Tarne et Garonne (82)

I had a sneaking suspicion that I would have to dig it out as I have heard mixed reactions to the effects of rotovating and that it usually makes more work in the long run.

Soil preparation sounds to be the key so would it be a better idea to prepare the ground this year and start planting in Autumn. I don't want to keep doing it year on year for the sake of a bit of "hard labour" now:.Would I need to double dig and how deep to remove all the roots?

Could I still grow toms,peppers and chilli's in pots until I get the weeds under control ?
Are there any other plants I could put in pots for the time being ?

[gojiberry]

Fortunately couch grass can be dug out with meticulous digging as it doesn't usually go down that deep (unlike mares tail). It is harder to dig out of clay as there is more chance of bits breaking off. While you are digging I would cover the whole plot with black plastic and just uncover as you get time to dig a bit. That way the plastic will start to weaken the weeds and stop top growth.

Ian

[Nicos]

Couch grass goes down about 6"
A spades depth is probably all you need.Maybe a fork rather than spade would be easier if the soil is claggy- and then you're not ripping the roots apart so much.
What sort of area are you talking about??
Perhaps do a bit each day if you can once it's died back- sort of part of a bed at a time???
Then at least you can plant something out this summer!

Most plants can be grown in pots- many peeps on here just container grow- have a look in the 'search' area...you'll just need to do a bit more watering that's all!