Post your allotment!

Scuzi said:
Cover it for the winter and forget about it. Come spring time you should have clear ground. If you dig now you’ll end up with a load of seed throughout the soil which will be difficult to control next season. I find with the no dig method that any weeds that do take are relatively shallow rooted and easy to control.
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Put a shift in today:

I really don't know how to get on top of it. The ground is rotten - uneven, full of bricks; a nightmare. I've covered it over and outlined some beds but barely put a ding in it.

I've also knocked some old wood together into a mulcher. I'll line it with cardboard I guess and see if it rots down.

Still need another roll of weed membrane but just not sure where I am going with this and what's needed.

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For the half uncovered - I am thinking to throw down an old tarp I have and put some pallets on it. I also sprayed it with a load of weed killer. Am on I on the right track?
 
dlockers said:
Put a shift in today:

I really don't know how to get on top of it. The ground is rotten - uneven, full of bricks; a nightmare. I've covered it over and outlined some beds but barely put a ding in it.

I've also knocked some old wood together into a mulcher. I'll line it with cardboard I guess and see if it rots down.

Still need another roll of weed membrane but just not sure where I am going with this and what's needed.

8gfwU9U.jpeg



For the half uncovered - I am thinking to throw down an old tarp I have and put some pallets on it. I also sprayed it with a load of weed killer. Am on I on the right track?
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is that your sandpit?
 
dlockers said:
It came "free" with this mess of an allotment. Feeling a bit annoyed at the whole system tbh. We were "forced" this plot, which to be fair is super convenient to my back gate, but it is a total mess full of junk.
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TBH this time of year just cover everything you can with tarp / fabric and weigh it down.
The ground fabric you can stake down and pull up in sections. Thats what I did with my first plot which was head high in weeds.
We got it Oct and by spring 99% of weeds underneath were dead.

Its hard to work out what your plot is from that picture tbh.
 
hamesy said:
What are you going to do with it?
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Screwfix builders bucket for scale…

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I honestly don’t know. It’s continuing to grow although probably plateauing now. I want to fill it with explosives but that would probably result in me ending up on a watch list so I’ll have to make do with entering a big veg competiton. Perhaps a pervert or local Onlyfans star will buy it off me to shove up an orifice of choice on camera?

I do have some edible ones which Mrs. Scuzi will be turning into pumpkin pies and soup. This variety is called rouge vif d’etamps, or more commonly known as the Cinderella Pumpkin…

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dlockers said:
Put a shift in today:

I really don't know how to get on top of it. The ground is rotten - uneven, full of bricks; a nightmare. I've covered it over and outlined some beds but barely put a ding in it.

I've also knocked some old wood together into a mulcher. I'll line it with cardboard I guess and see if it rots down.

Still need another roll of weed membrane but just not sure where I am going with this and what's needed.




For the half uncovered - I am thinking to throw down an old tarp I have and put some pallets on it. I also sprayed it with a load of weed killer. Am on I on the right track?
Click to expand...
Another option which might be easier to manage is to section off beds like you have done, and tackle them as and when you can. But now get on top of the rest by running a lawnmower over the bits outside the bed. If you keep cutting it regularly it will be much easier to manage than trying to build paths which will be difficult to keep weed free. I might take this approach next season if I can bag a cheap petrol mower.
 
Mercenary Keyboard Warrior said:
TBH this time of year just cover everything you can with tarp / fabric and weigh it down.
The ground fabric you can stake down and pull up in sections. Thats what I did with my first plot which was head high in weeds.
We got it Oct and by spring 99% of weeds underneath were dead.

Its hard to work out what your plot is from that picture tbh.
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Yeah OK - I'll persevere then. I've just added all of the black weed membrane you can see. The plot is as follows:

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I've added the weed membrane and built the composter at the back over the last 2 days.

Scuzi said:
Another option which might be easier to manage is to section off beds like you have done, and tackle them as and when you can. But now get on top of the rest by running a lawnmower over the bits outside the bed. If you keep cutting it regularly it will be much easier to manage than trying to build paths which will be difficult to keep weed free. I might take this approach next season if I can bag a cheap petrol mower.
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Yeah I think that's helpful advice too.. I have a massive green tarp I will put on the "other side" and maybe focus on these 3 beds for now. I have a bunch of pallets I can drop on it, too..
 
Perspective is off in that image - it's 55sqm. I think half the issue "I have" is it's compacted solid ground that has been abandoned for years from what I understand. Just not sure how to put a dent into it.

Welshman said:
my garden is bigger than that allotment plot......
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dlockers said:
Perspective is off in that image - it's 55sqm. I think half the issue "I have" is it's compacted solid ground that has been abandoned for years from what I understand. Just not sure how to put a dent into it.


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how about rather than whinging on here, you get the shovel out and get cracking...... 55sqm is nothing, i see grandmas digging up bigger plots than that before their breakfast.
 
dlockers said:
Just not sure how to put a dent into it.
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Divide it into small sections and tackle a bit at a time. To start with i'd double dig it down, turn the ground over break it up a bit with the fork and leave it until next year. You then do this for the rest of the plot over time. After you've got the soil prepped once you can follow a no dig style which is not only better for the soil but its far easier for you. A good first crop will be some potatoes next year, get some first earlies in and they will help break up the soil further, you can then harvest these in June time and then be ready to plant your other plants like courgettes, squashes, beans etc in their place.

Autumn is a good time for planting some things like Rhubarb, very easy starter plant. Also if you prepped a small bed you could get some garlic in before winter.
 
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yeah agree with 200.
#1 cover it.
Always have anything thats not active covered. It stops the majority of seeds that blow over taking root.
You can use anything, I use a lot of cardboard. Cardboard is good as when its on the ground water will run off between it, but also its life is like 1-2 seasons and then its either fully or partially rotted down.

But cardboard, tarps, old lino, anything
I wouldnt use carpet personally when it breaks down its a right mess and if its got plastic in it (many blends do) congrats you just filled you plot will little pieces of plastic.
 
I use cardboard in the no dig system and just dump compost and soil on top of it and it soon rots down and prevents a lot of weeds. I think the main thing is when people take on a neglected plot is that it takes a lot of effort to get it workable but after than initial phase things do get easier. Once you get that compost heap going and it starts to work for you things also become a lot cheaper. I also compost loads of leaves each year separately, makes excellent mulch.
 
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Thank chaps, will get some tent pegs ordered and throw this old tarp I have over it. I have some old pallets to weigh it down, too. It may actually be easier now to work the bit I've done nothing with...
 
Personally, I’d remove the weed membrane from the beds and use it for the paths. For the beds, I’d lay down a few layers of cardboard and cover them with compost.

Also, definitely start a compost heap. I currently have two going and use the compost each winter to top up my raised beds.
 
hamesy said:
Personally, I’d remove the weed membrane from the beds and use it for the paths. For the beds, I’d lay down a few layers of cardboard and cover them with compost.

Also, definitely start a compost heap. I currently have two going and use the compost each winter to top up my raised beds.
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I can grab some more membrane - the paths are covered and I've got 300L of bark in the boot I can put down.

Spent 20 mins earlier using my 5x4 tarp I've had knocking about for 5 years and threw some old pallets I had too.

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I've got 2 or 3 more pallets and some cardboard to cover the remaining bit.

There is some rosemary and sage I think right on the border - is this saveable/worth keeping?
 
Yeah I would take a few cuttings of rosemary. Strip it back to the first set of leaves.
Put it in water for a week or two on a window sill in a small vase / glass and wait until it springs a few roots.
The transplant it.

Rosemary gets too large and unweildy anyway so every so often you want to start a new one.
We had one on a plot at our allotment which someone had let grow to about 20sqm!
 
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