Failed allotment inspection :(
Charlotte2311
Posts: 50
I've just come back from 3 weeks abroad to a letter saying I had an allotment inspection 4 days ago and I've failed due to weeds. I went up to the allotment today and I'm honestly shocked. The amount of rain has caused all the couch grass/bind weed/nettles I thought I had controlled to suddenly explode into a sea of knee high weeds.
For any of you that saw my plot when I took it on last year you will know how much effort I have put in to getting it under control without using chemicals. I've been visiting twice a week around my busy life as a hospital nurse and I now have 28 days to sort it out or my allotment will be taken away from me. I'm feeling really disheartened. Any advice would be most welcomed.
On a positive note, the raspberries, gooseberries, white currants, rhubarb, romanesco cauliflower, broad beans, courgette, carrots, butternut squash, beetroot and brussel sprouts are looking good (even if they do look a bit underwhelming and hidden compared to the weeds) 
Last edited: 04 June 2016 13:08:35
Posts
Oh how awful! Can you strim the worst of it so it at least looks tidy and work on weeding from there?
Worth telling them you had a long holiday and will be doing it organically so they know it won't be a quick weedkiller and run fix.
Definitely tell them you've been on hols, are in the habit of working it twice a week and will be clearing the weeds as soon as you can, working around your professional commitments.
They should understand and accept that. Good idea to strim as much of it down as poss before the weeds set seed. That'll make an instant difference and give you extra time to hoe or fork them out as and when you can.
Just curious, how did you keep everything watered while you were away? I'm panicking about a summer holiday and coming home to wilted veg...
I'll try and get hold of a strimmer. Someone else suggested a manual lawnwower- would that be likely to do the same job?
With regards to watering- I was very naughty and just watered the day I left and looked at the weather forecast. There was a lot of rain due so I didnt arrange anything. I have seen other people at the site with sprinklers but I'm not sure what I would have done if I had gone away at a drier time!
If the weeds are high a manual lawnmower isn't going to cope and nor will you pushing it. Ditto a motor powered one. You need a strimmer but if that's not possible, you can probably buy a sickle at the DIY store. Good for hacking tall weeds - http://www.diy.com/rooms/verve-folding-sickle/175088_BQ.prd
I'm in Norwich, to be honest I wish id waited and taken on a less weed infested plot but i just wanted to get on and plant things!
ill try and get hold of a strimmer ASAP then. Thanks