Hello everyone. I'm a novice who has taken on a new allotment which was previously a field so you can imagine what the it's like. Weeds, weeds and more weeds which we are digging out very meticulously. My questions is: what do we need to add to the soil to improve it. I would say that the soil has some clay (not much) and does not rake very well. The plot is 50' x 25'. What would members suggest that's not too expensive but would help the soil. Access is not too good so I would have to barrow whatever we buy to the plot. Thoughts very much welcomed. Thanks
I have recently , like yourself , taken over an overgrown plot and last year I never bothered planting or treating the soil as I wanted to concentrate on clearing the weeds before I started planting, because, as well as the weeds you are digging out, there will be a huge bank of weed seeds waiting to germinate next spring .
I sprayed with Glyphosate and when the plot greened up with weeds ,I sprayed again, about 4 times in total last year and again this spring before planting, of course not everybody likes the use of chemicals, however.
I feel that until you have the weeds under some control, it is not worth planting and when you are ready to think about planting then plan your soil improvement.
I still have a problem with weeds , but had a good year and the weeds are manageable. I also asked the question about "weed control without chemicals " recently on here, and it might be worth your while looking at that as there were some very helpful suggestions, but I have sprayed again ! and will leave the plot to rest for the winter, apart from the Parsnips and Leeks which I will eat as the winter progresses