New allotment overgrown - where to start?

[WoahBodyforrrm]

This is the patch I’ve just been given. The long grass has been cut back but there is still a lot to be done before it’s ready to start planting.

In order to get the ground nice and flat so I can build beds and nice pathways between them, would my first step be hiring a rotavator to achieve this?

If not, how would I get the site ready to roll?

Thanks in advance

I wouldn’t as you will splice up any rhizomes for perennial weeds and scatter them widely across your new plot creating more work long term. We took on a similar plot a few years ago and just patiently double dug it over our first autumn taking out the weeds as we went. You get to know your doll that way too. It’s a great time of year to get a plot as you have 3-4 months before hard frosts hit. Plant an asparagus bed early on (first year of you can) as it takes 2-3 years before you can cut it. Never regretted that investment and now eat fresh asparagus almost every day for 6-8 weeks every year. Delicious! You have horse radish by the looks of it growing next to you compost bins - leave it there it will be very happy and you can dig and grate it when needed - delicious fresh. The old turf can be turned upside down to rot or you can pile it up in a corner and cover it with some kind of cover and grow squash/Courgettes etc on it next summer.

Would you recommend covering the soil for winter to kill off any weeds?

Hm, no strong feeling on that - maybe green manure or mulch with actual manure to protect the soil structure once you have dug it. Depends what you are planting next year. Cover if needed but won’t add anything to the soil although it will help protect it from winter winds etc but can also be a breeding ground for slugs etc.

Don’t rotovate!

I used a no dig method with raised beds as on very heavy clay, but you don’t need to use raised beds. Google Charlie dowding no dig. You pile up cardboard, mulch manure and compost.

It’s often more manageable to cover some of it at first and concentrate on a bit. Don’t use carpet. You could do a bed of overwintering onions, you can but winter veg ploug plants too. It’s lovely to get some stuff growing. You could also start a cut flower patch, sow cornflower, poppies, wallflowers that’ll start now,stand over winter and flower really rarely next year.

There isn’t a quick fix so do a bit at a time and put in some paths to help with winter mud. This is a great time of year to get an allotment. You can make beds, layer on manure, cover oand when you good to go in the spring lift up the cover and the worms will have done all the work.

This site is great www.allotment-garden.org/allotment-information/allotments-some-tips-to-get-you-started/