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Pondering next years plans....

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  • Pondering next years plans....

    Hi All

    I am coming to the end of my 2nd lottie season on a landshare plot - this year has been so much easier than last year as the clearing had been done and my youngest started school BUT the long summer hols has been my downfall and there are weeds galore - everywhere!

    I have 2 plots - Plot A (which I took on this summer) is for my hens and my fruit bushes - the fruit area is being split into beds with grass paths between as currently the area needs clearing - not too bad as previous occupant gave up fairly recently.

    Plot B is my veggie plot which I have had 2 years - it is split into 2 seperate sections - section 1 I cleared last year from grass and just fell into the way of rows; this year I have had potatoes and onions in which are almost cleared now and the cleared section is complelely covered in weeds. Section 2 I took over this year - it was dug over before the winter and just needed weeding. I have sort of fallen into "beds" here - and over the summer weeds have taken over beds and 'paths'.

    I have started clearing this morning and been pondering the upcoming year as I worked... I have 2 plots to look after plus housework, children and activities after school to get them too and I am starting OU so I need to get Plot B into an easier to manage state. I don't want to get overwhelmed once my OU course starts but also know I that I need to be organised.

    I am thinking of making beds - they may or may not be edged depending on what wood I can salvage - across sections 1 and 2. I am thinking this would be easier as I would have defined areas to grow/weed and I can do it step by step over the next few months. Am thinking of marking out the beds with wood stakes and string - or is there a better way that you have found?

    What would be the best way of dealing with the paths? Bearing in mind that it is landshare in someones garden so I can't use gravel plus I want minimum outlay and it needs to be easy to remove if necessary. Would weed suppressent fabric work? Rolled out where the paths are to be and maybe tent pegged down? Or should I just let the weeds/grass grow and then mow frequently to keep them managaeble?


    Sorry this has turned out a bit epic! How do you all fit everthing in with what you have to do?

  • #2
    get rid of the grass!!!!!!!!!!! i have a 10 x 20 mtr plot with a grass path down the middle wide enough for the wheelbarrow then the beds are 'created' each year with second hand scaffolding planks placed where I want them which means i can rotate crops easily increase or decrease size of the beds according to what i want to grow and when I rotavate the planks are lifted and its a much bigger area.

    you can use very deep layers of newspaper on you paths if you want to just make sure its damp when you lay it or it'll blow away...obviously its not a long term solution but you can replace them easily enough.
    The love of gardening is a seed once sown never dies ...

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    • #3
      Hi, I've just logged on after summer holiday absence!

      I just had to post a reply, not really with an answer to any of your questions but just to say how relieved I am that someone else has a plot full of weeds!!!! Sorry.

      I too have a little one just about to start school and two older girls and although had great intentions during the summer holidays I rarely got down the allotment! My visions of little girls in wellies helping mummy on the allotment, chasing butterflies etc, turned out to be me mad dashing down between rain showers, quick weed, quick dig, then back home again!

      I ventured down today and had great weeding session but theres so much more to do! I really admire you having two plots, and children and now going onto studying! This is my first year, although i've been growing veggies for a few years at home, and I can't believe how much harder it is on the allotment, so roll on next year when all is cleared and more organised!

      My beds are really evolving, and rows appearing as and when needed with some sort of rotation in mind! We have a slab path running up the middle but this has proved hazardous in wet muddy weather so I'm looking for alternatives too.

      Anyway, sorry to ramble on, hope you get advice.

      Emma

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      • #4
        My two ds's (6 & 8) are all for the idea of growing our veg/fruit, having chickens but the thought of actually DOING anything is quite clearly appalling to them! I am barely there 5 mins and it's "is it time to go home?" "I'm bored" - even the task of hunting for caterpillers/snails/slugs for 1p each was not considered a good job :S lol!

        Rotovating won't work - I don't have a rotovator! I had considered newspapers - would mean scrounging for papers as we don't get any but could work - do they dry out easily and blow away? Am tempted by weed suppressent fabric as once down it can be there for ages but easy to remove...

        oh the dilemas!! lol!

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