New allotment, losing the weed battle :(

[CuriousMama]

I went back to work on the allotment after a couple of weeks away (weather and other reasons) and was shocked at the amount of weeds. It's been neglected anyway so wasn't fantastic but It's just covered.

I'm tempted to use weed killer? Or else cover it with plastic? Either way will need lots of both.

My potato beds are ok-ish and potatoes are coming up. Apple trees are still alive. I planted some flower seeds but that area's been taken over by weeds although not too bad.

I really don't want to give up as this allotment's had 3 different owners in the last 3 years so if I give up too it'll be onto the 5th. The neighbours are so helpful with advice. Dp works nights so doesn't get much time to help so it's just me mainly.

Oh well I'll plod on I suppose and see how it goes?

organicgardening.about.com/od/startinganorganicgarden/a/lasagnagarden.htm
lasagne gardening may be the solution

Never heard of that Julia, I'll have a look though thanks.

Back now. I got the onions in and dp laid weed fabric and did loads of digging. I did loads of weeding too. It's looking better little by little.

Well done CM. Little by little is definitely the key.I've done between 3 and 4 hours this afternoon and am finding it's taking ages to do a small bit. I chucked some bean seeds in as a reward for digging .

That's good Wynken. We did 3 hours too. We've got the canes for beans and I've started their bed need to finish it tomorrow and put some more soil on the top.

Been down again today and did lots of digging and weeding plus seed planting. I put beans in and some flower seeds. Dp did a lot of digging. It's amazing how much better it looks

Well done, it's amazing how it seems to get better at one point! I have put a couple of plants in, but need to get more planting done before flump makes it's appearance!!

What are you growing karatekimmi? I was fascinated at the allotment next door. Was chatting to the guy today who has it. Him and his wife started theirs 4 years ago and it's great now. They have loads of raised beds. One had carrots in with jars on top. Not sure I can be bothered with that I may try some in a cloche?

I made a slug cafe yesterday. I used a piece of wood that has a lip, put pellets down and tilted that on the side in the hope the slugs will go there instead of eat my plants? I can wish I used the tilted wood to try to stop the rain washing them away? I used to do this when I had a garden with exdh and it worked for flowers (well, to some degree).

Been down there again. DS2 came with dp and I. We only spent an hour but ds2 did lots of digging and some planting Came home and it's hailed tonight!! Luckily not for long so hope the plants are ok?

Well done CM, we're getting there . I went up today and put some weed membrane I had over some of a quarter plus did more digging.

I'm going to plant squash through the membrane then dig out the couch in the autumn or spring. One more of the quarters has couch to be dug out at one end. I'm finding the plot has a big bindweed problem.

Squash sound a great idea!

Dp's been there today when I was at my course. He did some weeding. The weather's been cold and wet today so he did well to go. I'll pop down tomorrow even if it's just to check things?

Been down again today. We went a bit mad buying veg plants Got some broccoli, swedes, lettuces, beet, spinach and herbs. I put the broccoli and swede in. Dp dig more digging.

Nice thing was the neighbour I just got to know today gave me 1/2 dozen eggs I'm always talking to her hens they're so cute.

It's looking a lot better. We even picked up some wood today which will help patch up the shed. Dp has plans for it???

I really needed this thread today, got our allotment a couple of months ago, made a great start then DH ended up unwell so it ground to a halt - and we went back today and it is horrific!

I feel shamed as our half plot is surrounded by committee members' plots, so perfect rows etc. Depressing.

We plan to blitz it the next few weeks - god bless old queenie for and extra allotment day!

and an

Oh I have fantastic allotments either side luckily they're very supportive. I'd definitely recommend the weed fabric. We just ordered a sprayer for weed killer too as one side of our allotment is horrendous and we won't be doing anything with it this year.

How awful though to be surrounded by the garden mafia!! Apparently we're being watched The old guys are the worst they're like hawks!

Good luck and don't despair, look how much we've come on in such a short time.

Been down doing a bit today, little and often is best for us.

Hope dh is ok now though?

Oh and the slug cafe is working a treat! Lots of curled up corpses under it. I made another one next to the leeks too.

Glad to hear it's all going well. I've embraced the weed controll
fabric and have corgettes, pumpkin and squash planted through it. I have some iceberg lettuce in a raised bed ( not looking too healthy though :( ) some peas, beans, beetroot already in. On Wednesday my DH has "volunteered" to help and I'll plant everything else from seeds.

As we got it so late I have about a dozen large containers for home, and have tomatoes, aubergine, and more peas for here.

I must confess as I've never had a garden before, all my planting has always been in containers or growbags so I'm a little frightened of planting in actual soil! I need to just go for it and see what happens!

Flump is due on Friday, so then it'll be anyones guess as to how much time I'll be able to spend there! Hence the panick planting on Wednesday!

Ooo you have been busy kimmi

I haven't been down today and it's been a nice day too. Hope to tomorrow though as have more planting to do and must water. Plus keep an eye out for rabbit damage.

Good luck for Friday or whenever flump decides to arrive?

Been down for an hour tonight with dp. He did some digging and weed spraying (next door allotment guy lent him his spray) Whilst I pottered and went in another garden to chat. She did ask me in I didn't just wander in I coveted their shed/greenhouse as it has a wood burner And they inherited it from previous tenant! We inherited a dilapidated shed, lots of glass and a billion weeds.

Been own again to water the plants and put more in. I got invited into another garden and taken into an old man's poly tunnel Must say I really want one of those. His lettuces were huge!!

A good thing is nothing seems to have been nibbled? So maybe the anti-rabbiting has worked?

The weather's been fantastic today and I was stuck indoors for most of it on a course. But I still managed to get out so can't grumble.

meant down again

Seriously recommend the squash through weed fabric thing we did that our first year as plot so bad... also worked for courgettes....We have bought a cordless strimmer and have bribedtrained ds to use it... makes me feel so much better when the grass/weeds not at my knees

Sounds good 3rdnparty. Well done to ds

Lovely day again today so will be down after my course.