[Nufan182]

Good morning all,

I have just recently taken on a second allotment plot. It was covered with polythene and for the most part the soil is incredibly good. I have ph tested it and all seems well for the produce I would like to grow. However, on digging it over, I found burned carpet. Will I need to do anything to the ground prior to planting? It looked like it was rubber backed if that would make any difference.

The previous tenant paid for their plot but never used it. Just covered it over.

Hope this makes sense and look forward to hearing from you all.

Nufan

[Dopey113]

I hate carpet, its OK for people to use it, but then they leave it behind for others to clean up when the no longer want the plot and its up to the next owner to get rid of it.... like seriously it should be banned from using it in an allotment, and its not environmentally friendly as well, you throw it away in clumps and has mud and dirt on it, so how can you recycle that? it will go strait in to land fill, if its a new off cut, then it can be recyclable

[arugula]

If it was rubber or foam backed it could well have leached chemicals into the soil, not good.

[Nufan182]

Hello,

Thank you for your replies 

I have cleared the remainder of the plot and found another two car trips worth to take to the tip!! I am not a happy chappy. I have also bagged the burnt carpet remains and as much of the potentially 'contaminated' soil as possible.

Are there any tests, other than seeing how my crops grow/harvest (fingers crossed), I could undertake?

Nufan