This is the place to discuss not just allotments but all general gardening problems and queries which don't fit into the specific categories below.
(formerly allotments and tips, hints and problems)
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RunnerBean
- Tom Good

- Posts: 68
- Joined: Tue Apr 01, 2014 7:20 pm
- Location: Cambridgeshire, UK
Post: # 280424Post
RunnerBean
Fri Jul 25, 2014 7:15 am
I'm top of the waiting list and a half plot has come up. I haven't seen it yet but apparently the weeds are 4ft tall (and probably full of snakes). Has anyone got any tips or links to step-by-step articles on how to get started? I've been warned about rotivating. I was thinking of sticking a membrane over most of it until spring to kill off the weeds but I'd like to get a couple of fruit bushes in before winter if I can and build a compost heap. We're not allowed structures like sheds, greenhouses etc but we're allowed to build fruit cages.
Thanks for any words of wisdom

I'm pretty excited, I've been on the waiting list since Feb.
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ina
- A selfsufficientish Regular

- Posts: 7733
- Joined: Sun May 22, 2005 9:16 pm
- Location: Kincardineshire, Scotland
Post: # 280425Post
ina
Fri Jul 25, 2014 7:17 am
Congratulations! I would try and pull as many of the weeds as possible for a start - that'll give you the basis for a compost heap, too... (Only try and leave out viable seeds.)
Ina
I'm a size 10, really; I wear a 20 for comfort. (Gina Yashere)
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MKG
- Site Admin

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- Joined: Fri Mar 07, 2008 5:15 pm
- Location: North Notts.
Post: # 280429Post
MKG
Fri Jul 25, 2014 8:00 am
Well, advice snippet No. 1 - Don't worry about snakes. I suspect they're having you on. Adders will hear you and move long before you can see them. You may see grass snakes, but they're completely and utterly harmless unless you're a frog. You won't come across a smooth snake at all where you are, and a slow worm isn't a snake anyway (and is still completely harmless).
Mike
The secret of life is to aim below the head (With thanks to MMM)
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RunnerBean
- Tom Good

- Posts: 68
- Joined: Tue Apr 01, 2014 7:20 pm
- Location: Cambridgeshire, UK
Post: # 280432Post
RunnerBean
Fri Jul 25, 2014 8:21 am
I'm not too worried about snakes, I know my girls are dying to see one. The adders stick to the woods but there are grass snakes very close to the village, in people's gardens etc. The allotments are at the edge of the village so my daughters are pretty hopeful

Maybe we'll get slow worms in the compost bin, I've always wanted to see one of those.
BTW is that your poodle in your profile pic?
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MKG
- Site Admin

- Posts: 5091
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- Location: North Notts.
Post: # 280433Post
MKG
Fri Jul 25, 2014 8:25 am
No - it's a photo I picked up on the net. However, it's a matter of two peas in a pod - that's exactly how he looks and how he poses, although he's a little older now.
Mike
The secret of life is to aim below the head (With thanks to MMM)
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RunnerBean
- Tom Good

- Posts: 68
- Joined: Tue Apr 01, 2014 7:20 pm
- Location: Cambridgeshire, UK
Post: # 280437Post
RunnerBean
Fri Jul 25, 2014 8:43 am
Ah right. We're hoping to get a standard poodle in a couple of years when my youngest daughter is a bit older.
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WhiteWolf
- Tom Good

- Posts: 52
- Joined: Fri Aug 20, 2010 11:47 am
- Location: Gloucestershire, UK
Post: # 280443Post
WhiteWolf
Fri Jul 25, 2014 9:23 am
Congrats on the lotty
My advice would be.....
1] slow and steady, just take things easy
2] strim it all down, then either apply Glyphosate if you are happy to use herbicides. wait for this to take effect then cover. Or just strim and cover.
3] break the plot down into small managable sections and sort them one at a time. Looking at a whole plot (even a half plot- same as us) can be daunting and off putting.
4] lastly but the most important thing is.........
Have Fun
WW

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JoseyJo
- Barbara Good

- Posts: 117
- Joined: Fri Aug 28, 2009 3:03 pm
- Location: North Cambs
Post: # 280446Post
JoseyJo
Fri Jul 25, 2014 9:40 am
Hi Runnerbean,
We've found that covering the weeds has worked really well on our plot, when the covering was removed 6 months to a year later there were next to no weeds - just a few pale green straggly looking things which were easily removed. Saved a lot of time and also saved my back!
We've done what Whitewolf suggested and we're dealing with a section at a time In the meantime it looks tidier/less daunting covered in sheeting than when it's covered in weeds!
One thing I plan to do now is plant some green manure (probably fodder radish/clover) on some of the areas which are cleared - then we'll hopefully be improving the soil fertility and suppressing weeds at the same time. This is a bit of an experiment but hoping it'll work!
By the way, I see from a previous post that you're in Cambs - we are too (St Ives area.)
Jo
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RunnerBean
- Tom Good

- Posts: 68
- Joined: Tue Apr 01, 2014 7:20 pm
- Location: Cambridgeshire, UK
Post: # 280466Post
RunnerBean
Fri Jul 25, 2014 4:21 pm
Thanks for the tips! I am planning to take it slow, despite having lots of big, and possibly mad, ideas.
Jo, we're just the other side of Huntingdon from you.

I was thinking of green manure but first things first! A lot depends on how long I can persuade my children to stay there; they are only 5 and 3 so they get bored pretty quickly.
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RunnerBean
- Tom Good

- Posts: 68
- Joined: Tue Apr 01, 2014 7:20 pm
- Location: Cambridgeshire, UK
Post: # 280612Post
RunnerBean
Wed Jul 30, 2014 3:56 pm
Just been to pick the keys up, as it were. The other allotmenteers are absolutely lovely, full of tips and one of them gave my 3 year old a cucumber (she LOVES them).
I don't think I'l be able to get rid of the weeds without using weedkiller, some of the dock is taller than me. WOuld sticking a membrane down until spring kill everything off? There's also loads of brambles and who knows what else lurking in the grass. It's not all bad though, there are the remains of some sort of structure at one end and the posts seems pretty secure, so I'll probably use that and turn it into a fruit cage. I'm getting hold of some pallets to build a compost heap. There are a few other bits in there that I can't really tell what it is. Can't wait to get cracking and see what's underneath!
Is there a way to post a photo?
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Green Aura
- Site Admin

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Post: # 280613Post
Green Aura
Wed Jul 30, 2014 4:42 pm
Maggie
Never doubt that you can change history. You already have. Marge Piercy
Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one's courage. Anais Nin
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MKG
- Site Admin

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Post: # 280615Post
MKG
Wed Jul 30, 2014 6:05 pm
Take it all easy, Runnerbean, and don't overdo anything. You'll love it
Mike
The secret of life is to aim below the head (With thanks to MMM)
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MKG
- Site Admin

- Posts: 5091
- Joined: Fri Mar 07, 2008 5:15 pm
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Post: # 280616Post
MKG
Wed Jul 30, 2014 6:08 pm
RunnerBean wrote:Ah right. We're hoping to get a standard poodle in a couple of years when my youngest daughter is a bit older.
Don't take it to the allotment
They're lovely dogs and will keep you amused for life - but they're no respecters of nicely dug beds and thoroughly enjoy winding up their owners.
The secret of life is to aim below the head (With thanks to MMM)
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RunnerBean
- Tom Good

- Posts: 68
- Joined: Tue Apr 01, 2014 7:20 pm
- Location: Cambridgeshire, UK
Post: # 280626Post
RunnerBean
Thu Jul 31, 2014 10:09 am
Did it work?
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RunnerBean
- Tom Good

- Posts: 68
- Joined: Tue Apr 01, 2014 7:20 pm
- Location: Cambridgeshire, UK
Post: # 280627Post
RunnerBean
Thu Jul 31, 2014 10:18 am
Yay! In the first photo you might be able to see some posts (behind all the brambles). They don't seem too wobbly so I'm hoping to turn that bit into a fruit cage. As for the rest, who knows until I cut it all down. I'm in no rush and think the rest of this year will just be spent clearing and preparing for the spring.
Thanks for the help, everyone
