help please with my overgrown allotment in bristol

[ilovemydog]

Just got key to allotment (well, actually half a plot)

Where do I start?

Speak slowly and no technical terms please!

Dig out weeds

Dig in manure

This may take some time

Do you want to grow fleurs, or fruit n veg?

veg and herbs, I am hoping....

Whereabouts in Brizzle are you,I have done a quick google and there are a few allotment associations. Bound to be someone around locally that can encourage you.

Get some mulching fabric from the garden centre (about 50p per metre) and cover the ground with it whilst you work out what to do first. It will suppress the weeds (if you leave it for 2 years they will die completely) and you can just pull back as necessary and dig over the ground you want to use without the weeds taking over everywhere.

Ask your allotment neighbours what the prevailing conditions are like, especially re weeds. We had couch grass in our plot and it turned out we needed to dig up and remove every tiny speck of root to get rid of it. If we hadn't we would have been fighting a constant losing battle.

Most of your work will be preparation now but it is good for your morale if you can clear a small patch and get something in like broad beans that will come up in the spring. That's what we found anyway.

Good luck, it's hard work but worth it

thanks for advice - will have to get an allotment dictionary!

riven, am trying a maplink... hope it works. Would LOVE you to advise. Don't even know what I don't know!

www.bristol.gov.uk/ccm/content/Environment-Planning/Parks-and-open-spaces/allotments/allotment-viewe r.en?XSL=area-search&MapId=25&MapArea=Speedwell%20/%20St%20George&SearchId=3