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  • #1

    New Allotment in January

    Hi everyone.

    I've just taken on my first allotment. The council have strimmed it so it's not out of control but it is completely grassed over with some weeds dotted about. I plan to mulch most of it with cardboard for the time being and creating just a few beds so I can start planting in the spring. So my questions are:

    1. Is it a bad idea to mulch with cardboard at this time of year?

    2. What is the best way to prepare beds when I have so much grass? Can I dig the grass in and just pull the weeds up or should I remove the top layer completely? I have no idea!

    3. Can I just buy compost from the garden centre to dig into my beds or should I be using something else? I don't really want to transport manure in my new car!!

    I would be grateful for any advice as I am a total novice (aside from growing a few herbs, peas and tomatoes in my garden)!

    Thanks
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  • #2
    Welcome to the Vine and congratulations on your new plot. I'm assuming you are in the UK. No reason why you can't mulch with cardboard as any time of year, just weight it down well. As long as you can cover the grass with soil as you dig it in it will rot at the bottom of the trench. Watch out for couch grass roots which need removing. Personally I would rather add well rotted manure to improve the soil structure than compost. Your car needs to get used to allotment life!

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    • #3
      Ask if there is anyone who delivers muck - we can get loads dropped off - it's £30 or £40 for a huge load. It's lots less effort than going and bagging it yourself as you are only moving it once.

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      • #4
        Originally posted by WendyC View Post
        Personally I would rather add well rotted manure to improve the soil structure than compost.
        How do you know when the manure is well rotted? I've read the same phrase loads but I'm not sure I understand what it means.

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        • #5
          Originally posted by GreaterMarrow View Post
          Hi everyone.


          3. Can I just buy compost from the garden centre to dig into my beds or should I be using something else? I don't really want to transport manure in my new car!!

          I would be grateful for any advice as I am a total novice (aside from growing a few herbs, peas and tomatoes in my garden)!

          Thanks
          Welcome, Don't remove anything, especially a layer of soil / grass. You can cover with thick cardboard on any areas you don't intend to use immediately.

          Areas you want to cultivate for immediate use dig the grass in.

          Don't buy in compost - you really don't need it. Soil is what you have, and plants are designed to grow in it.

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          • #6
            Originally posted by GreaterMarrow View Post
            How do you know when the manure is well rotted? I've read the same phrase loads but I'm not sure I understand what it means.
            Get some muck. Put it on your plot. When it crumbles and looks like soil it's well rotted.

            It doesn't have to take that long to break down and piles of not-so-rotted are fantastic for squashes etc

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            • #7
              Hello GM & welcome to the jungle, I can only echo what has already been suggested, cardboard unused areas to keep the weeds down. Your allotment may be able to source well rotted manure (known as black gold due to the colour) the darker the better. Good luck & enjoy your adventure.
              sigpic“Gorillas are very intelligent, but they don't have to be as delicate as chimps -- they can just smash open the termite nest,”
              --------------------------------------------------------------------
              Official Member Of The Nutters Club - Rwanda Branch.
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              Sent from my ZX Spectrum with no predictive text..........
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              KOYS - King Of Yellow Stickers..............

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              • #8
                Congratulations on getting your plot. There seem to be quite a few of us who have only got our plots this month.
                I might start a thread for us all to share our in progress pics.

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                • #9
                  Originally posted by Nicola.P View Post
                  Congratulations on getting your plot. There seem to be quite a few of us who have only got our plots this month.
                  I might start a thread for us all to share our in progress pics.
                  We already have one Nicola which anyone is welcome to join:

                  http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...dar_83084.html
                  sigpic“Gorillas are very intelligent, but they don't have to be as delicate as chimps -- they can just smash open the termite nest,”
                  --------------------------------------------------------------------
                  Official Member Of The Nutters Club - Rwanda Branch.
                  -------------------------------------------------------------------
                  Sent from my ZX Spectrum with no predictive text..........
                  -----------------------------------------------------------
                  KOYS - King Of Yellow Stickers..............

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                  • #10
                    Hi and welcome to the vine

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                    • #11
                      Hello and welcome to the forum
                      Carrie

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                      • #12
                        Hello and welcome to the vine
                        sigpic

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                        • #13
                          Thank you for your tips and words of welcome I can't wait to get started on my plot now!!

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                          • #14
                            Welcome to the vine GreaterMarrow and congratulations on your new plot

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                            • #15
                              Hi and welcome to the plot

                              Hard work ahead however the rewards are far greater and fresh fruit and veg is totally sublime it is worth the hard work to get established.

                              My plot was a weed bed from scratch however every time i visited i spent half an hour weeding and it is paying off happy gardening

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