[Nobbie]

I've got two allotments and a busy year ahead. The smaller allotment is on a site where we are having issues with a neighbouring resident so I thought I'd just leave it for a year and concentrate on the other plot. It's not huge, only 11*6 metres and has a bed of strawbs that I'll pick.

I don't want it to just go to weeds, so was thinking of sowing some sort of ground cover. Any ideas on what to sow? I've got some grazing rye seeds, but I imagine that would need mowing at some point to stop it setting seeds if sown on the spring?

[m1ckz]

you could cover it with membrain

[Aunt Sally]

Sowing a ground cover will probably not stop the weeds from growing and a weedy allotment may be seen by the council/management committee as "derelict" 

[Mr Dog]

Some 'vine' type squashes/courgettes, unsupported peas and just let 'em ramble about

[mumofstig]

I'd cover with membrane and plant squashes/courgettes/pumpkins through it...that's easy enough 

[surbie100]

I'd check with whoever is running the site. It would count as uncultivated on our place. Personally I'd do the same as Mum, with manure under the membrace/card. At least you'd get crops at the end of it too.

[mjg000]

Or a large bed of maincrop potatoes? They're in the ground the whole of the summer.

[Yorkie]

I agree with the others who have said that this wouldn't count as cultivation - unless it was clearly weeded etc and causing no nuisance to others.

I think an alternative plan would be more advisable.

[Goneterseed]

I would also consider that if you dont need to use it this year, it could be taken that you dont really need the plot, especially if there is a waiting list.

[Nobbie]

Great idea re the squash, potatoes were grown last year and got blight and weren't all dug, so I'll have a few volunteers coming up. Think I'll leave it until May and then zap with Glyphosate to take out the potatoes and then plant lots of squash with a good bit of mulch to suppress seedlings before the squash go rampant. My squash patch on my other allotment last year was maintenance free after planting in early June. Friends are always pleased to take squash off my hands.