[Sweet Pea 2]

I am going to have much less time to look after my (half) allotment next year as I have a new job (longer hours and longer commute), and I have started a new course, which is going to last three years.  I am determined to keep my allotment as I have really spent a lot of time on it since I started on it January.  And I have had a fair amount of success (some failures too).

One idea I have for time saving is mulching so that I can save time on weeding.  One of my local stables has free stuff that I can take away.  It looks like straw that has been used in the stables.  I am assuming that it doesn’t contain horse poo, as they also sell well rotted manure.  Would this be OK to mulch with, or will it contain things too fresh that will kill my plants.

Any other time saving ideas appreciated.

[PAULW]

I mulch my overwintering onions with secondhand straw from the stables also cover the spuds after planting and at the end of the year you dig it in and add humus to the soil.

[NigelB]

The poster NASH has a thread on a no-dig  system for his/her allotment, with pictures too.... Hang on while I find it, it seems very time-saving as well as being dig-free..... Ah! Here you go..... Clickerty-click...
Hope this helps......

[tode]

I've been using straw mulch round the rasps and it's fantastic. Better fruit, less watering, and less weeds.
Tried the same round toms this year, and worked waee.

Has another advantage: fruit that drops stays clean 

[poppies]

Mulched around the runner and french beans this year,  I did'nt have to water them once they were established, and no weeding either.

[Goosegirl]

Having invested in a brilliant Viking shredder this year, I have loads of stuff which has been in a compost bin and left to partially rot down to get rid of the toxins in the wood. Today, I made a container out of four posts and a builders' bag hung onto them that's open to the elements and I emptied the bin into it. In spring, I'll spread it on my veg beds as a mulch. Meanwhile, I have a mega heap of prunings ready for shredding that will go into the emptied bag in spring for use in autumn. Having mulched my flower beds with our rotted sheep manure, it really cut down on the weeding. Deep Joy !!!