Chemicals ? - Advice for a novice

[Jason]

Hi,

First of all, I hope I've posted this in the right forum!

A simple question, but I suspect not a simple answer : Should I use chemicals on my allotment? If so, are there such things as 'safe' chemicals?

I've recently taken over an allotment, and it's now all clear and dug. The 'old hands' around me seem to agree that, whist it would be lovely to be completely organic, in reality it is almost impossible (especially considering I work during the week, so my visits will be limited) and suggest a good dose of something or other to kill off all the weeds off I start planting.

Are they right or are there realistic alternatives?

I should add that I don't want to use chemicals .. but wondered what peoples experiences were?

Thanks,
J

[Andy Hamilton]

I have never used chemicals on my allotment, just means a lot more weeding by hand, but worth while I think. If you have dug your allotment are you weed free for now? you can keep your plot covered with some mypex/plastic covering for now to stop any new weeds taking hold.

Try putting in bits of wood on the side of your plot too, about the size you get in fencing and so they are halfway in this will stop weed growing in from the side.

If you can spare about half an hour a day up on your alloment with a splurge about once a fortnight you should be able to stay on top of the weeds.

Don't compost any weeds either burn them or put them in the waste areas that your council provides (that is if they do).

I also grew some mustard seed at the end of the season this not only smothers the area and gives the weeds less of a chance to grow but it works as a green manure and it is good in the place that potatoes have been grown to stop wire worm.

If you also grow many of your plant as seedlings then plant them out it will give them a chance against slugs ect.

I think that the old boys on your allotment have more than likely used chemicals for years so they will be a little set in their ways.(not trying to be offensive towards them) This is probally why they advise you to use some. Remember you have to eat the produce afterwards.

Hoe that helps you a bit mate.

[Jason]

Thanks for the advice Andy,

The plot is weed free, although I have to admit I did bury anything and everything when I dug it all .. probably a bad move

I like the idea of the plastic sheeting, I'll see if I can get hold of some - as you say, that should stop them from getting too big a hold.

I've found your article on companion planting as well, so I'll give that a go too. My wife is keen to have a few flowers on the allotment, so I can keep her and my veg happy at the same time !

J

[Wombat]

G'Day Jason,

Just a suggestion to go with Andy's - I have used peas as a green manure crop as well, you get a double boost because they fix their own nitrogen, as do any of the legumes. The pea plants were reasonably fleshy and rotted down quickly when I turned them in.

I can grow them over the winter and then turn them in in early spring to get things moving, but I am not sure if you guys can do that over there.

Nev

[Andy Hamilton]

Beans keep nitrogen in the same way as peas I believe too. They rotted down quite quickly in my compost. The growing season over here off the top of my head is March to October for most peas and beans.

I know that the frost is damaging to the seedlings and young plants so I think that it is a bit risky to try and grow peas over here in the winter months.

[rhyddid]

...

[Andy Hamilton]

Well you learn somethign new every day don't you worms liking cardboard. I have some hapily decomposing on my allotment at the moment and yep no weeds have come through. I also have a few bits of carpet but this MUST be HESSIAN backed carpet, the plastic stuff can be harmful to your plants.

I like the old gardening books too, some of the things you do have to be careful about in the old books. There is a thread here somewhere about using potato plants for pesticide that I stuck up, little did I know it was harmful to the nervous system. Mind you most of the stuff like double digging will never change.

That is a point well made about wartime gardeners too, i might add that most fo the third world is still organicaly farmed for the same reasons.

Cheers for the link will check it out shortly.

[Dave]

Thats not quite true about farmers in the developing world Andy, the levels of pesticides used are much, much higher than over here. In fact the notorious insecticide DDT has recently had a resurgence in the developing world.
Anyway, good advice for keeping the weeds down.
I sometimes use plastic sheeting or cardboard with holes in and grow courgettes through it. Or some kind of ground cover like nasturtiums, trailing squashes or lettuces around taller plants like beans, sunflowers and corn can keep weeds at a minimum. Nasturtiums are great for keeping aphids down too as they attract predatory insects - they look nice and taste good too - a bit like watercress - you can even eat the flowers.

[The Chili Monster]

Andy wrote

I know that the frost is damaging to the seedlings and young plants so I think that it is a bit risky to try and grow peas over here in the winter months.

Now, I realise this thread is quite old now but I noticed the other week that my local garden centre is selling peas for growing over winter. I was almost tempted into buying some the other week. Can't remember the name now. will have a look when I go back and let you all know.