Just saw my first cabbage white butterfly for the season exploring outside! I can't say I'm surprised. It's a bit too warm outside today, it'll take me a while to adjust to the change, I guess. Was 33c in the GH this morning when I opened the door at 10.30. I'm going to have to open up earlier if I don't want it to get too hot in there.
I have a petrol strimmer/brush cutter. I've only used it as a strimmer so far (for fear of chopping off my own feet...I'd never get the roof on my shed then!!!!) I'm going to wait 'til later in the year when all the leaves drop so I can see where I'm cutting. I'm not convinced that it'll help much but I'm in the thick of "end of Summer" clear up and the brambles aren't going anywhere.
Hello Plant pauper thank you it is a big decision to make a pallet shed and sure will have tricky times when I build it, are you going to make another compost bin? Where abouts are you?
Your shed sounds a good idea know what you mean about the roof, the only thing I can think of .put below measure the size height you would like for the slope
Went to get more pallets later on in day today and someone has taken about 3 of the ones I want which is a bummer - managed to get a few pallets in the car and even took my pallet tool so tried to take apart two pallets some planks broke most ok ish
Hey Gardengirl, I think we shall re name you Palletgirl lol
Not much going on at my plot apart from harvesting so enjoying doing other things. Will start getting some muck now from the stables and stock piling it ready.Some plot holders have cleared their beds already, but mine are all still full of produce for the time being.
I've just taken on a new allotment, and i'm looking for some advice on clearing it.
Initially, it looked like it was just loads of grass to clear, so it was strimmed. However, on raking it up, I've discovered loads of underlay, ontop of brittle, rotten black plastic.
It's going to be a pain to clear, and I have the option to choose another allotment on the plot, however at 7.5m x 27m this plot is 50% bigger than the other, and with 3 young kids, we need the space.
What i'd like to know, is should i ignore the 'bit at a time' advice that usually applies, and get the underlay and plastic up asap? Particularly, as there already seems to be grass growing ontop of the underlay and plastic. If so, then what is my best option for overwinter - should I go for green manure, or woven fabric as a winter cover before planting next spring? Should I just go for the smaller plot (which is already cultivated), or is there another option i'm missing?
plantpauper - to make a slope, if you have a power circular saw, i would take a plain panel door and cut it vertically down the middle. half the door can be used to create the additional height at the front. the other half can then be cut into two equal triangles.
alternatively, if you have no power saw, then if you can get ones with plain ply / wood panels (no recesses) just take the front and back panels off, use the wood in the middle for supports and clad with the ply / wood.
Hello Allotment newbie Davesaat I would say go for that plot it is nice and flat and a good size looks good and you can make it your own, I would try and get rid of the plastic as quick as you can then still do bit by bit but after that
Do a trail 50% green manure and 50% weed matting - you could also dig a bit and cover soil with cardboard and add horse manure if you can get any, that will be worked into the ground by worms
Where abouts are you? - me in Hampshire - do you have a shop on your site? me nosy good to look on Gumtree and any free sites to find any goodies and sometimes skips
Great idea for Plant pauper door shed
Ginagibbs good you still have stuff growing on your plot , great re name for me
thanks for the advice about the cardboard. rather annoyed now, as i've just chucked out about two dozen massive boxes last week. unfortunately, the plastic seems to be over the entire plot, so i've a lot of work to do. shame its going to lash it down all week.
btw, im in a small village in leicestershire. unfortunately, there is no shop on site, however there is an allotment association, so i think i'll see if anyone else needs a skip and then maybe share some costs.
Davesaat , hello your plot sound like the other half of mine that I took on last year
What you do depends on how much time you have but I would definitely do a section at a time rather than try and do it all in one go . People tend to give up because they try and do to much in one go and get disheartened . Sounds like you need the a bigger plot and the other one could be just as bad !
with the carpet , that was the last bit I took up because at least it stops the weeds underneath , the plastic unusually adds nothing but watch out I had mice living under mine and others on the site had rats under carpet
I used to go to the local tip each week with rubbish that I couldn't burn , so buy a fire dustbin
this a good site for practical ideas , it certainly helps me
Posts
Just saw my first cabbage white butterfly for the season exploring outside! I can't say I'm surprised. It's a bit too warm outside today, it'll take me a while to adjust to the change, I guess. Was 33c in the GH this morning when I opened the door at 10.30. I'm going to have to open up earlier if I don't want it to get too hot in there.
I must remember to plant carrots between the onions. That worked well last year. They seemed to like each other's company.
Top tip GWRS,
I have a petrol strimmer/brush cutter. I've only used it as a strimmer so far (for fear of chopping off my own feet...I'd never get the roof on my shed then!!!!)
I'm going to wait 'til later in the year when all the leaves drop so I can see where I'm cutting. I'm not convinced that it'll help much but I'm in the thick of "end of Summer" clear up and the brambles aren't going anywhere.
Hello Plant pauper thank you it is a big decision to make a pallet shed and sure will have tricky times when I build it, are you going to make another compost bin? Where abouts are you?
Your shed sounds a good idea know what you mean about the roof, the only thing I can think of .put below measure the size height you would like for the slope
Went to get more pallets later on in day today and someone has taken about 3 of the ones I want which is a bummer - managed to get a few pallets in the car and even took my pallet tool so tried to take apart two pallets some planks broke most ok ish
Thanks all
Hey Gardengirl, I think we shall re name you Palletgirl lol
Not much going on at my plot apart from harvesting so enjoying doing other things. Will start getting some muck now from the stables and stock piling it ready.Some plot holders have cleared their beds already, but mine are all still full of produce for the time being.
Hi all,
I've just taken on a new allotment, and i'm looking for some advice on clearing it.
Initially, it looked like it was just loads of grass to clear, so it was strimmed. However, on raking it up, I've discovered loads of underlay, ontop of brittle, rotten black plastic.
It's going to be a pain to clear, and I have the option to choose another allotment on the plot, however at 7.5m x 27m this plot is 50% bigger than the other, and with 3 young kids, we need the space.
What i'd like to know, is should i ignore the 'bit at a time' advice that usually applies, and get the underlay and plastic up asap? Particularly, as there already seems to be grass growing ontop of the underlay and plastic. If so, then what is my best option for overwinter - should I go for green manure, or woven fabric as a winter cover before planting next spring? Should I just go for the smaller plot (which is already cultivated), or is there another option i'm missing?
plantpauper - to make a slope, if you have a power circular saw, i would take a plain panel door and cut it vertically down the middle. half the door can be used to create the additional height at the front. the other half can then be cut into two equal triangles.
alternatively, if you have no power saw, then if you can get ones with plain ply / wood panels (no recesses) just take the front and back panels off, use the wood in the middle for supports and clad with the ply / wood.
remember of course to slope away from the door
Hello Allotment newbie Davesaat I would say go for that plot it is nice and flat and a good size looks good and you can make it your own, I would try and get rid of the plastic as quick as you can then still do bit by bit but after that
Do a trail 50% green manure and 50% weed matting - you could also dig a bit and cover soil with cardboard and add horse manure if you can get any, that will be worked into the ground by worms
in video about 5 mins in about cardboard https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qaeEiN_t954
Where abouts are you? - me in Hampshire - do you have a shop on your site? me nosy good to look on Gumtree and any free sites to find any goodies and sometimes skips
Great idea for Plant pauper door shed
Ginagibbs good you still have stuff growing on your plot , great re name for me
hi gg.
thanks for the advice about the cardboard. rather annoyed now, as i've just chucked out about two dozen massive boxes last week. unfortunately, the plastic seems to be over the entire plot, so i've a lot of work to do. shame its going to lash it down all week.
btw, im in a small village in leicestershire. unfortunately, there is no shop on site, however there is an allotment association, so i think i'll see if anyone else needs a skip and then maybe share some costs.
Davesaat , hello your plot sound like the other half of mine that I took on last year
What you do depends on how much time you have but I would definitely do a section at a time rather than try and do it all in one go . People tend to give up because they try and do to much in one go and get disheartened . Sounds like you need the a bigger plot and the other one could be just as bad !
with the carpet , that was the last bit I took up because at least it stops the weeds underneath , the plastic unusually adds nothing but watch out I had mice living under mine and others on the site had rats under carpet
I used to go to the local tip each week with rubbish that I couldn't burn , so buy a fire dustbin
this a good site for practical ideas , it certainly helps me
best of luck