[mickeyboy]

i thought i would have a go at digging by hand and it wasnt to bad. I dont think its couch grass so can i just dig it in like i have been on  shall i remove it totally?

Also there are loads of what i beleive to be artichokes can i eat them as there are thousands!!!!!! I think someone has planted them on a sheet of plastic a spades length deep. i'm trying to dig it up but its a mighty job can i leave it??

Sorry about the multiple questions.

Cheers
Mickeyboy

[shaun]

if its not couch twitch or scutch grass then dig it in mate,
as for the artichokes its a bonus get the plastic out of the ground though might have been put there to control them some folks have crazy ideas

[mickeyboy]

Thanks alot for all your advice.

Does that mean i can rotivate it instead then mate?

[Jeanieblue]

Like you, we took over a wild and weedy allotment in October last year.
After trying several methods, we've found the easiest is to mark out where we wanted to dig and skim off the top turfs first. After that, especially during the recent dry weather, it's been fairly easy to dig and weed underneath. My pal has made a long strip like this along the top of the garden and has built a 'wall' alongside with the upturned sods - she plans to grow beans in the bed, and pumpkins on the wall !!! Will report back in due course!  But the best advice - thanks, Milkman - is NOT TO GIVE UP !!!     Good luck. Jean

[mkhenry]

I am a bit late on this one but the advice still holds.Eelworm will be a problem,so if you are to plant potatoes try eelworm resistant ones.If not cut up some potatoes and plant the cuttings around the edges of the beds ,marking were they are. Then each day you visit the lottie dig the cuttings up and destoy the eelworms exposed. refresh the cuttings when needed. You cannot hope to kill them all, but you will give your crop a fighting chance.

[muntjac]

dont plant taties starve the * out    8oz lime to the sq yard wil cook em literally

[mickeyboy]

sorry i'm a little confused where the last two posts meant for me?

 I was going to plant my spuds in a couple of weeks will this be ok do you think??? I am going to put onion and shallot sets in one day next week.



cheers
Mickeyboy

[mkhenry]

Yes they were for you. If you are growing spuds on grass land then eelworm may be a problem.  In the old days you could use Bromo,but not any longer and I would not want to anyway. So its best to take some steps to help control it. There are no longer any chemical products you can use that would be effective. But no need to worry too much spuds will grow, its the size of the harvest that will be affected.

[mickeyboy]

Thanks alot for that i shall try your tip of putting cut spuds round the outside of my plot. How deep shall i put the cut spuds??

Thanks
Mickeyboy

[shaun]

i would just plant the spuds mickey.

[muntjac]

stick a trench down a 6 inwide 6 inch deep amnd 18 inch wide n then plant em ;pile the soil back on top .if you want to manure afore ya put ya spud in do so its good for em . then rake the soil back as i said n mound em up to a foot or so above the soil level n ferget em till ya harvest other than watering when neccasary n checking for weeds

[mkhenry]

Muntjac knows what he is talking about.Plant them and dont worry about pests etc.  I think he sometimes forgets that his Plant em and forget regime works on his plot because he has looked after the soil, he has fed it and watered it and got rid of all the things not wanted.  He is a successfull grower because he has done his homework. Stick your head up near him and he will squash you.If you need a feed he gives you one. He just sounds like a stick em in and forget em man ,but when you read his posts long enough you begin to see his expertise showing through.So stick em in and forget em, but keep one eye on em

[muntjac]

ooooooooooer i been analalysed  :shock:


...mind ur bang on ,but i try n give the info like i do cos i finking if i do it like that i can guide them folks into my methods and they get beter crops cos they listening to em n i made all the mistakes already or i hope i have but then i may make more mistakes later ......if ya know wot i mean..... now can i go doctor my head hurts  :cry:

[mkhenry]

:D   :D  :D

[mkhenry]

That was intended to be a smiley face.  Came out as d d Dont know why