[kelly]

Hello to everyone!!

I have just signed my life away to a half plot allotment! It is very over grown and needs alot of ground work.

I didnt invisage getting a plot so quickly so am totally unprepared, and hands up have not clue AT ALL what I am doing!!

So, I have been over to the library to get my books at the ready to start reading, I will have full acess to the plot in about 3weeks time so have 3 weeks to come up witha  plan of attack!!

The lady today gave me abit of advice on how to get the plot ready and running!

So my plan is to strim back the grass, weed it all, then put cardboard down, and then but the black lining down (dont know the name!!) then put soil/manouere down on top of that, and plant things in that soil?

Would this be a good idea??

I am under the impression I wont be able to start planting until october/November time? Is this correct??

Congratulations if you have got this far!!

[richyrich7]

Hi Kelly welcome to the forums  

[Yorkie]

Hi Kelly,

Welcome!

The plan to strim weeds down is a good one.  After that ...

If you want to apply weedkiller, wait a couple of weeks to allow some re-growth, then apply the chemicals.  Wait a couple more weeks before digging.

If you want to be organic, weeding and then covering is the way to go.

The suggestion that you plant into manure / soil on top of the weed suppressant fabric, is a little puzzling.  The fabric will work both ways - stopping roots growing downwards, as well as weeds upwards.  If you want to grow through the fabric you'll need to cut holes in it.

As for planting in Sept / Oct, unless you want to grow spring cabbages etc, I'd aim to clear the plot for spring planting instead.  Spuds are then good at clearing overgrown ground.

Have a look at John's article on clearing a plot, and also search other posts on the Welcome forum for info on this.

Also, John's book 'Vegetable growing month by month', available on the home page of this site or through good bookshops, is absolutely fab on all aspects of gardening.  Many of the members here - both experienced and new - have learnt things from it.

[gregmcalister]

I like to see things growing so I would strim all the grass and put roundup down to kill the weeds. Then in a couple of weeks once the weeds have died I would start preparing a section to plant on just now then just carry on clearing the rest of the plot.  That way your plot is in good shape for autumn/spring planting and you also have some produce to harvest this year. Of course you don't have to use roundup and you could just start digging and removing the weeds by hand.

[DD.]

As suggested, I'd clear at least part of it to plant on, you can do this as you go.

Get your spring cabbage & caulis in, also winter onions & garlic. It'll be better than looking at cardboard come spring!

[wellybabe]

Hi Kelly and Welcome
Still learning lots myself so not able to give much good advice; but do take your time, look at the infornation at the top of this site and you can`t go far wrong.

The main thing is enjoy it as a hobby and Good Luck    

Welly x

[muddifoot]

Kelly , you sound just like me in March this year when we began with a plot full of couch grass thisles with iron poles stuck all over the place-  It scared the hell out of me.  but I must confess I hired this old boy on our site to plough it over-everyone said "bad idea" at the time I just wanted to get planting.  but now 5 months later -we have a beautiful plot that gets praised all the time and we have so many vegetables we have to give them away. if you can't have it ploughed divide-divide-divide. and dig a small space like 10ft by 10ft and start planting because the more you do the more you want to do- It's exciting to go to the plot and work. I hope you love it as much as we do.  good luck to you girl.
muddi -    

p.s  my motto is-Just ask-

[jannie]

hi and welcome from me to good luck  

[kelly]

for all your kind words everybody! I think I have somehow confused myself LOL!!

If I can help it, I dont plan on using any chemicals to clear up the weeds, so, If i strim the grass down, remove the weeds by hand, cover it all up and then what do I do after that?

Do I wait for the weeds to die then uncover after a couple of weeks and us that soil?? Or do I buy completly new soil and plant in that soil??

Sorry i sound really stupid!!!

[richyrich7]

Sorry i sound really stupid!!!

No you don't  :!:

Cover it all up then you have the choice of
a) planting through the covering cutting X's with a knife
b) peel it all back and planting direct.

No need to buy in soil.

[rictic]

Had our new plot a few weeks ago.  I would't lay the black matting, and don't be tempted to have it rotovated (as half of mine was) that just creates more weeds. I started by digging an area getting all the weeds out and plant something to over winter, then just dig and clear what you can until next season.  Don't be a slave to it and see it as along term project and most of all ENJOY.

Keep the faith
Malc.

[Elcie]

We started clearing our allotment on Friday last week and am pleased to say that we now have three raised beds, two of which are planted with leeks, onions, brussel sprouts, caulifower and sprouting broccoli.  The rest still needs to be finished clearing but it is so satisfying to know that something is growing whilst you are clearing the rest so I would definitely advise getting a bed ready for planting in one area then moving on to the next.

Not sure if anything will grow but hey, we are trying!