[Rosiebear]

Just started my allotment this year and have managed o grow potatoes which is great. 

Only problem is that after clearing my site of weeds, I set down my beds I am overun by weeds/thistles.

Can anyone give some cheap tips for laying down paths and getting rid of thistles?

Thanks

[Yorkie]

Welcome rosiebear 

I'll pop this over to the Grow Your Own forum , which is the place for questions like this, (and edit your question to attract attention too), but feel free to pop back into the Welcome forum and introduce your allotment in more detail 

As for your question, I don't have thistles as a problem but I think you will need a proper weed suppressant layer for at least a year to kill them off more permanently - don't just put a mulch on your paths as I guess the thistles will just grow back through them.

If the paths are to be permanent, you could consider plastic sheeting or - less slippy - either thick cardboard or woven weed fabric.  I have the latter, it's great and suppresses couch grass except where it gets out at the edges !  I'd avoid plastic if you want to rotate and cultivate the paths at some point, as it doesn't allow air and water to get through it, and therefore the soil underneath gets stale and starved.

If you're organic you won't want to use weedkiller on the thistles but if you want to go down this route then one based on glyphosate is your best bet for a longer-term impact, as it gets down to the roots.  You will still get new plants growing as the weedkiller doesn't kill currently dormant seeds though.