Grow Your Own Magazine

What a wealth of knowledge this forum is. Hope you dont mind if i draw on your knowhow now and again.
Just taken on my first lottie and am a complete novice....WHAT HAVE I DONE .
Apparantly it is not as bad as it looks and in a strange masacistic way im quite looking forward to getting the strimmer on it this weekend. Rumor is Lord Lucan, Shergar and the crew of the Mary Celleste are in there somewhere.
Thanks again , please wish me luck
Minty

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Well done Minty - and welcome to the Vine too!

Usual advice here - take lots of piccies (as we are v nosy here!), keep a diary of what you've done, and don't do too much at once!

Good luck - and most of all, enjoy your plot!

__________________
Hazel
www.hazelandjanesallotment.blogspot.com
update Sat 20/12/2008......End of year report - plot d (legumes)!.....

Congrats Minty! Looks to be about as bad as the 8' of weeds we faced when we took on our first plot in September last year! Hard work clearing it, but fun and rewarding, lots of satisfaction when its done!

Good luck with the plot!

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Blessings
Suzanne (aka Mrs Dobby)

'Garden naked - get some colour in your cheeks'!

The Dobby's Pumpkin Patch - a blogspot work in progress!
Last updated 26th November2008 - more new piccies!

Thanks hazel & suzanne, Have taken a lot of inspiration from The Dobbys Pumpkin Patch Blog, really really good,
thanks Minty

Just wanted to say 'Good luck' Minty, you'll do fine, honest. There may come a point in a week or two, when you'll wonder if it's all too much, and should you give up.... DON'T!! Read the 'blogs', or this thread Remind me not to get disheartened!
do a bit of retail therapy , and you'll be back on the case in no time!

Best tip I had was to invest in some weed suppressing fabric, and cover everything you can't manage to dig straight away (once you've strimmed it down), and just do manageable bits at a time. You might not be able to grow as much as you'd like to this year, but you can still do stuff in containers and they'll help to weigh the weed fabric down!!
You can do it

__________________
Sarah

http://www.hypermobility.org


“Tell me one last thing,” said Harry. “Is this real? Or has this been happening inside my head?”
“Of course it is happening inside your head, Harry, but why on earth should that mean that it is not real?”

Welcome to the Grapevine Minty! You'll get lots of encourage and advice here. Post your pics so that we can see how you get on.

And don't do too much all in one go ......... !

Looks like you're at the same place as I am.

http://dig-for-victory.livejournal.com/

^My blog (obviously).

Good luck minty and welcome. As Jennie says, little and often. Your back will thank you for it.

__________________
Kindest regards, David.

http://pigletsplots.blogspot.com/
updated - Thursday 8th January at 2130hrs

Welcome to the Vine Minty. It doesn't look too bad. I started from worse than that. As everybody says, do it a bit at a time. It will all come good.

__________________

From each according to his ability, to each according to his needs.

Minty
Welcome to the vine, your plot will be hard work but oh when it all starts to come together it's magic!
Try cardboard as a weed suppressent, I started out with plastic which looks horrible and not suitable for heavy clay, but found cardboard covered with a layer of compost works really well. After about six months, the worms have been really busy and eaten it all and as an experiment, I've one bed which has not been dug at all, just more cardboard and compost piled on top of the last lot and now a year later have 46 bean plants growing away merrily. It hasn't deterred the bindweed, which I have to keep picking out but everything else has gone.
Other grapes should be able to advise on which plants can be grown through cardboard or other weed suppressents - I think potatoes and courgettes qualify as good ground clearers.
But whatever you do do it bit by bit and be patient, too much and it gets disheartening.
Good luck with it all
Sue

Looks about the same as mine did originally - you'll get there! Just divide it into manageable chunks and do what you can, when you can.

__________________
You are a child of the universe,
no less than the trees and the stars;
you have a right to be here.
Max Ehrmann, Desiderata

blog: http://allyheebiejeebie.blogspot.com/ and my (basic!) page: http://www.allythegardener.co.uk/

Hi and welcome to the vine Minty. Congrats on the lottie. Take it steady and enjoy it rather than seeing the clearing as a chore. As soon as you get a clear bit, plant it then you will be able to look at something growing as well as the bit that still needs clearing!

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Happy Gardening,
Shirley

http://www.honeyjukes.co.uk

You've done the hardest bit - getting a lottie! As long as you don't put yourself off by doing too much at once you'll get it sorted and then you'll wonder why you ever ate that tasteless shop stuff!

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If a man is in the garden and speaks, and there is no woman to hear him, is he still wrong?

www.vegheaven.blogspot.com

Updated January 3rd - Birdwatching.

Hi Minty,

Welcome to the Vine. I can't add much to the advice you've already been given. Just remember, we're only a mouse click away

__________________
ntg

Never be afraid to try something new.
Remember that a lone amateur built the Ark.
A large group of professionals built the Titanic

http://grief-encounters.blogspot.com/

WOW Never had so many friendly responses to a hello.
I have resigned myself to not getting anything planted until end of the year, prefer like most of you are advising that little by little is best.

Underneath all the weed is a well established row of black and red currants also raspberries and gooseberries so i will enjoy something at least this year.
So tomorow is the morning of attack. Will let you know how i got on and post some pics too. Thank you again for all your friendly responses,,,,,,,,,,,,I FEEL LIKE I BELONG,,,,,,,,
Have a great weekend, minty (Kev)

No Japanise paratroopers then?

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I cook with wine, sometimes I even add it to the food.
W. C. Fields

But seriously strim off & then dig you will then get rid of the roots
I don't beleve in chemicals!

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I cook with wine, sometimes I even add it to the food.
W. C. Fields

Thanks bubblewrap. Yes the intention is to strim , rotavate and rake out a block at a time.
No certainly no chemicals, dont think the Japannese paratroopers would like it too much !!!!, thanks again Minty

Hi Minty and welcome to the Vine! Just take it one step at a time, and dont try and do too much else you'll end up with a bad back like me. BTW we found David Bellamys land rover in our back garden! LOL! Do let everyone know how you get on! Its brill taking photos because you can see what progress you've made. Good luck! Bernie

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Appreciate the little things in life because one day you will realise they are the big things

hi minty welcome, looks like your in the same place as me with your lottie, i've been a bit short of time recently, its great tho, just wait till you get your first veg, nothing beats it.

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Yo an' Bob
Walk lightly on the earth
take only what you need
give all you can
and your produce will be bountifull

I was in the same boat in Feb, and my only bit of advice to you is to get a BBQ on the plot. I found an old one on the roadside nearby - just the job!

After the hard work, sit back admire, have a BBQ and a few beers!

Careful about rotavating though. Some weed come back from little bits of root. You could just multiply your problem by chopping them up. Digging's harder but more thorough. Rotavating's great for somewhere that has no perennial weeds, you can just dig in the annuals.

__________________
If a man is in the garden and speaks, and there is no woman to hear him, is he still wrong?

www.vegheaven.blogspot.com

Updated January 3rd - Birdwatching.