Complete newbie - help !

[Lettuce_pray]

Hello all, I am about to move into a house that has quite a substantial plot, both fruit and veg in a South facing garden. The problem is that it has not been used for about three years so the soil is compacted and weeds are everywhere. The fruit plot is overgrown and looking worse for wear. Somebody said I should cover the veg patch with an old carpet for this year to kill off the weeds and then turn over the soil next year and plant. Is this the best option?...and what do I do with the fruit patch?

Thanks in advance...

[rustylady]

Hello Lettuce, welcome to the Vine. Whereabouts are you? If you add your location to your profile it will show up on your posts.

Any pictures of the plot? What sort of fruit in the fruit section?

[Peas'n'Kews]

I guess the carpet thing will depend on
a) availability of carpet!
b) how impatient you are to grow - in which case you will need to dig a small patch of weeds out
c) dunno, run out of things!

You may want to get a wee bit of your plot ready for planting, just to get the satisfaction index up. Remember to get rid of perennial weeds (dock and stuff) if you intend rotavating).

Good luck!

Piccys would be good!

[Andromeda]

Depending on how bad it is, I'd probably cover the veg patch with something (plastic/carpet/cardboard) for a month or so and then weed it out and turn it over in beds/sections. I'd then manure each section (thick layer of manure) and leave it for the winter - that way the area will be ready for planting with a minimum of weeding and digging needed next season.

With regards to the fruit patch, it sounds like systematic weeding and fruit plant identification are the first plan of attack.

[Kleftiwallah]

I would set aside half an hour each day and dig over your ground removing all roots and rubbish NO LONGER THAN THIS.

The dug ground cover with carpet, cardboard or plastic sheeting.

Little and often and before you know it. A nice clean veggie garden.

Cheers, Tony.

[rustylady]

I would set aside half an hour each day and dig over your ground removing all roots and rubbish NO LONGER THAN THIS.

The dug ground cover with carpet, cardboard or plastic sheeting.

Little and often and before you know it. A nice clean veggie garden.

Cheers, Tony.

Agree with most of this Tony, but at this time of year plants can be bought from markets, superstores etc so I would suggest clearing a smallish section and planting up. Courgettes in particular are good at covering ground, suppressing weeds and giving return for your money.

[Florence Fennel]

Nothing to add to the excellent advice above LP, just to say a very warm welcome to the Vine

[Two_Sheds]

it has not been used for about three years so the soil is compacted ..

I'm just wondering why the soil would be compacted if it's not been used?

Have you dug a bit to see what it's like?

[lukens]

Grow Your Own Vegetables by Joy Larkcom has a good bit on reviving a neglected garden on Page 38. You can read the first bit of it on Amazon in the 'Look Inside' feature by opening up look inside then searching for "The Neglected Garden".

It's similar advice to above, plus heavy mulching, then digging back in in spring. Let the first flush of weeds grow back, and hoe them off. Don't expect great results your first year, and focus on plants that are naturally vigorous and act as good ground cover.

Another book I have (or possibly the same, I can't find or remember which) suggests growing potatoes through black plastic. Lay down several sheets of damp newspaper first, then some organic matter (straw, compost, etc), then black plastic. Make slits in the plastic and plant seed potatoes through the slits. It all acts as a great mulch, and when it's time to harvest the potatoes they should just be sitting under the plastic, so super easy to harvest. You can then just dig the organic matter in.

[donnakebab]

I agree as above but I wouldn't use carpet. It's heavy when it's wet and it goes mouldy then breaks up. It's been banned from our allotment site. I'd use layers of cardboard, good quality black plastic or weed suppressing fabric.

Don't forget to set up a compost bin.

Welcome. Some pictures would be good though as we are very nosey.

[Tripmeup]

Agree with most of this Tony, but at this time of year plants can be bought from markets, superstores etc so I would suggest clearing a smallish section and planting up. Courgettes in particular are good at covering ground, suppressing weeds and giving return for your money.

Agree...given that it's only June and the Summer hasnt started yet, there is time to prepare a bit of ground and plant some stuff either bought from Garden Centre or sown yourself (radish, lettuce, turnips, carrots can all still be sown)...

Nothing like having some veg growing away and then harvesting it for eating to encourage you to get the rest in order for next year .....or even later this year ( garlic, shallots and over-wintered onions come to mind)

[Feral007]

Welcome. Sounds like you've got a lot of work and food to be had - congratulations.

[ghostbreeder]

If it is of any help, I inherited a similar bit of land. Covered mostly in bramble and bindweed. I hacked down the tall growth and cleared just enough in the first year to get some fast things growing, radish, salad leaves and the like. The sight of the little chaps coming up encouraged me to work on the rest of it. The bindweed was the worst to get rid of but making sure that every bit of root came up has mostly cleared it (after three years!). The soil was absolutely fantastic, i think because of the constant leaf fall from the brambles.

[Lettuce_pray]

Thanks for your help guys and such a warm welcome. I will get some pictures up soon, I need to clear the patch first!!

Thanks again...

[bradlo]

Some "before" and "during" pics would be interesting...yep we are VERY nosey!!!!