[offbeatwarble]

hi all

i am completelty new to all this but to give some back ground

we got an allotment a few months ago and the weeds go the better of us and took over the plot, about a quarter it is ok with onions,courgettes,runners, broad beans, strawberries and fruit bushes

however there is an ares that is about 10 metres by 6 that is covered in weeds and grass i have cut this down but unfortunately having knackered my back a few weeks ago digging it will have to be done in stages.

Now my Q is what should i plant in there once its dug that will keep weeds down, i was considering planting a large crop of green manure as i think most crops now only last a few weeks before there ready for picking?

any advice would be great, don't think th allotment assoc. will tolerate us covering it in plastic untill spring!

[Mitsy]

herbs, lettuce, radish, winter or spring cabbage, swede, winter carrots maybe 

[barney rubble]

Check this out too for further info

http://www.allotment-garden.org/vegetable/general/sowing-harvest-vegetable-chart.php

[home made pie]

Hi and welcome

Firstly I know where your coming from re the bad back as going through this myself at the mo, I'm finding the more I try to do the better I eventually feel, resting it just made me worse and I nearly seized up completely...do what's right for you tho

Yep check out the monthly guide on here, very handy as a quick reminder and there's still loads you could grow, but equally and bearing in mind your sore back you could just bung in loads of herbs and fast growing salad, like you say what you don't eat/use will work as green manure...I find parsley go's mad, hate the stuff actually so I won't be growing it again but boy did it grow fast...typical 

Jan

[SnooziSuzi]

might be too hot to get on with lettuce until it cools down, but you can always start on your winter veg; savoy cabbage, maybe some swede, and some quick growing stuff like, as Mitsy said, salad stuff

best thing to do is clear the weeds, prepare the ground for next year and make  a really solid start in the spring IMHO.  Otherwise, in this weather you'll be battling with weeds which could take the fun out of growing your own veg

and welcome to the forums... sorry, must have missed your original post

[peterjf]

you still have tiume to get 2-3 wig wams of green beans , i prefere cobra beans ,

you will be well in front for next spring , maybe a dressing of animal manure in late autumn october - november

[japagow]

The answer lies in the soil.   Get the soil right for next year, get the means of production in place i.e. get a greenhouse going, find a source of mulch, make some raised beds, plan ahead and then you'll rest your back a bit and hit the ground running with a fantastic allotment in 2010.

[offbeatwarble]

THanks all, will try and get a few more bits planted, as for the majority of it though will take your advice and prepare for next year, just dont fancy the idea of hoeing 3/4 of the allotment every week as it will just be bare soil

would you cover it with plastic until spring or would some sort of mulch keep the weeds down?