How to Start an allotment or Vegetable patch
There are several ways to clear an allotment of veg patch, we will try to cover some of them below. The important thing to remember is that there is no easy way to do this although some may appear easier all methods require a large amount of effort. Try not to be put off by this as things do get easier.
Method 1: Traditional Method turn the grass over.
The traditional method is to simply turn the existing ground over, including any grass and weeds. Once the plot has been cleared you can the go through and pull out any roots that are visible.
The best time for using this approach is autumn, as the weeds will not be too active, and the winter weather will help break down the soil, making it a nice crumply texture.
In this method you must first strim the growth down to the ground and remove the foilage, this can be used to start your compost off or burned if there are too many weeds in it.
The way to turn the plot over is to dig a trench the depth of you spade and the length of the plot. Move the soil from this trench to the end of your plot. Next step is to turn the soil along the trench over and into the trench. This will fill in the existing trench and create a new one in its place. Continue across the plot.
Ideally during the above process you will add well rotted horse manure or compost to the bottem of the trenches as you fill them.
Most of the weeds should die off by the time the new season is ready, some make come back but these can be hoed off, and as you start cultivating the plot you can remove any roots left in the soil.
Method 2: Remove the Turf
As the title says in this method you remove the turf and growth from the plot and place in a corner of the plot, cover the turf and leave to rot down.
You can then dig over the plot as discribed in method 1.
Method 3: Using weedkiller to clear the plot
In this method you spray the hole plot with a systematic weedkiller such as round up, this kills right down to the roots.
The best time to apply the weedkiller is when the weeds are actively growing so March to September. We would suggest tackling the plot in sept, so that the winter weather can help break down the soil.
When the weedkiller has worked (usually takes 2 weeks from application), rake all of the dead weeds and grass up and burn it.
Then dig over the plot as described in method 1.
Method 4: No dig system
A no dig system is a fairly new technique and not used widely by allotment holders, the idea is that you dont dig the plot. Instead you cover the plot in plastic or sheeting that does not let the light through, in 9 months or so the growth underneath should have died off. You can then add manure, which will be dug in by the worms, you then plant directly into the ground.