The 5 pole plot, between our two existing half plots has become available and rather than see it become a haven for weeds, the seeds of which are blown across our plots and the rest of the site, we have taken it on.  Gluttons for punishment or potential land barons?

The starting point did not look promising.

New plot before starting

The good news is that the more visible weeds are mostly shallow rooted annuals, which we’ll be aiming to get out, or at least strim off, pretty quickly so that they don’t set seed.  More of an issue is the bindweed and mare’s tail, lurking under the visible weeds.  these are endemic across the allotment site, so there will be ongoing battles there.

We have some spare summer plants and the winter brassicas growing on, so we decided to clear a portion of the plot ready for planting and were able to make pretty good progress in a couple of days. The radio gives away that we were listening to the cricket world cup while working.

After 2 days

A quick peer over the fence shows that we have a little way to go to catch up with the first plot.

After 8 Years

We’ve now sown some extra squash and pumpkin seeds and will be looking to create a planting area, cover up the strimmed weeds with weed suppressant membrane and let the squashes and pumpkins scramble all over the plot, before we set to with major renewal works in the autumn.