Grow Your Own Magazine

Hello all.

I got my first allotment July of this year. It had not been cultivated for over 10 years according to the neighbours, and whoever had it last must have been re-enacting the Somme because it is half-covered in trenches up to 4 feet deep.

Anyway, to cut a long story short before I got into digging the land over I was taken down with a chest infection of all things that lasted 6 weeks - not what a 26 year old expects! I finally started digging a fortnight ago, and inbetween building a shed and demolishing the remnants of the old one, I have managed to dig and clear about a fifth of the plot -the largest bramble root so far was just over 9 inches thick (not round, THICK!) I didn't know brambles got that big.

The problem is I now have about 60 Sq Metres of bare ground, and am wondering how best to protect it over winter. Is there any point at this time of the year in trying a green manure over the area, and if so, what would be my best bet?

Thanks in advance, having done a lot of reading on the subject I'm beginnig to confuse myself!

Cheers,

Andrew.

Hi Seniab and welcome to the Vine.
I may be proved wrong but I would say that unfortunately you have missed the boat for sowing green manure this year.
However, if you can get some manure (well rotted or already composted is best though not essential), I would spread that on the area you have dug over, then you can cover with anything from old carpets (not getting into that debate - some people do, some are seriously anti the use of carpets), woven black groundcover, blue or black plastic sheeting (a la damp proof course used by builders) or even cardboard. This will allow the worms to incorporate the manure / compost for you over the winter months, will exclude light so aiding in the prevention of weeds germinating ( and any that do will be severely weakened by the lack of light so will be easy to pull up in Spring) and it will also help warm your soil in Spring.
Good luck - I didn't know brambles grew into trees either - that's some size of tap root you dug out.

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Rat

British by birth
Scottish by the Grace of God

Blog updated Wednesday November 13th

Up in Tain it may be too late for green manure, Rat, but my Hungarian Rye (from the Organic Catalogue) says it can be sown in Sep-Oct, and I'd be tempted to give it a go as you are so far south.

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Hazel
www.hazelandjanesallotment.blogspot.com
update Sun 30/11/2008......Indoor Allotmenteering too!.....

I've just sown some green manure......mustard I think, and it's about one inch high now! We had a really severe frost last night and surprisingly it hasn't batted an eyelid!

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My Majesty made for him a garden anew in order
to present to him vegetables and all beautiful flowers.- Offerings of Thutmose III to Amon-Ra (1500 BCE)

As I said Hazel, I stood to be corrected. . I keep forgetting that you southerners have a slightly longer growing season than we do up here.

__________________
Rat

British by birth
Scottish by the Grace of God

Blog updated Wednesday November 13th

I am still sowing Hungarian Rye, and its germinating (and growing) fast. It's winter-hardy. Am slightly worried that my plot will look like a lawn come spring!

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~ What do I think of Western civilisation? I think it would be a very good idea ~ Gandhi

Just call me piggy in the middle on this one, Rat! Those good folks on the south coast get it tropical compared to us - my sister lives in Fareham and they grow kiwi without any protection or batting an eyelid....

With regard to the Hungarian Rye, I was a bit concerned as it is supposed to be tough to dig in, so I was advised to sow in rows to make it easier to get the spade in to turn it in come the Spring.

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Hazel
www.hazelandjanesallotment.blogspot.com
update Sun 30/11/2008......Indoor Allotmenteering too!.....

Hi all
Ive just sown some agricultural mustard here in Leeds and its up and seems to be doing fine. Its supposed to be good for inhibiting eelworm and if your lottie has been covered with grass then there may well be lots of eelworm in the soil - they eat all your root crops like spuds, carrots etc.

Just want to say welcome to the vine. Sorry not an expert on green manure and soil preparation on a large scale but hopefully there'll be plenty of other opportunities to help in the future.

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Food for Free

The only thing to remember with mustard is that it's a brassica so needs to be incorporated into a crop rotation regime!

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My Majesty made for him a garden anew in order
to present to him vegetables and all beautiful flowers.- Offerings of Thutmose III to Amon-Ra (1500 BCE)

Why's that then Snadger, if you're digging it back in anyway??

Or is it more of a pest and disease issue?

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Veni, Vidi, Velcro.
I came, I saw, I stuck around.

You wouldn't normally follow brassicas with brassicas is all I am saying!

I wouldn't personally use mustard as a green manure on next years brassica bed! It can suffer from, and be a host to, clubroot among other things!
Far better to use leguminous winter field (fava) beans as a green manure preceding next years brassica crop, and use the mustard on other areas!
There are loads of other green manures, some of which are winter hardy for example Hungarian Grasing rye is a good all-rounder which can be used on any area!

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My Majesty made for him a garden anew in order
to present to him vegetables and all beautiful flowers.- Offerings of Thutmose III to Amon-Ra (1500 BCE)

Thanks for that. You learn something every day....

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Veni, Vidi, Velcro.
I came, I saw, I stuck around.

I was warned about club root in my mustard bed last time I was up at the plot. Pulled a root and was clean ........ blessed be ! Just hope it stays that way.

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Catch up with my daily doings at http://kaypeesplot.blogspot.com/ and http://kaypeeslottie.blogspot.com/

Thanks for the tip Snadger! I think it did say that on the packet. Ive put it in a brand new bed so shouldnt make much difference anyway but worth remembering, ta!