Unused allotments

+1

5"/125mm of wood chips on the surface of the ground will rob the nitrogen from the soil.

 

This is true if the mulch was dug into the soil but just laid on top will rot down in time and give the soil nitrogen i do believe i know from my experience this has worked for me i grow allsorts without fertilizers or extra water


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Maybe 5 inch was a bit over exagerated probably more like 2 to 3 inch


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Is this in your veg garden?
I've heard of the "no dig" methods, but slightly sceptical, bearing in mind allotments around here are usually full of couch grass and bind weed, both of which I think are capable of getting through the wet cardboard.
They both get through tarmac reasonably easy, so wet cardboard should be a doddle.

 

I've been using a Mantis cultivator for about 10yrs now.
I'm wondering what effect it might be having on the worm population, as I dont see that many these days.

 

I think the Lasagne method definitely has merits, so don't want to appear to "Dis" it per se. I was just wanting to make the point earlier that I don't think it is a magic-bullet. Don't want to start a war, nor put the O/P off either - particularly given that he hasn't been here long

 

No chance you have those ghastly flat worms ?

 

Never ever seen them Kristen
Just wonder if the Mantis chops them up each year, so depleting the population.
It makes a very fine tilth, but that cant be good for them surely.

 

For example my dad. He spent years getting his allotment how he wanted it. His plot always produces all sorts of fruit and veg, and my dad is well known and liked at the site.

He's not getting any younger though, and a couple of years ago a major illness meant it was simply impossible for him to keep up with it. I did what I could but I could only do a few hours at weekends. My dad got a letter threatening to take the plot off him. Lucky for him his mates heard about this and went to the allotment committee meeting and fought my dad's corner. One bloke was quoted as saying "The man can't tend his allotment just now, cos he can't even soandso walk, he's been in and out of hospital all year". I'm pleased to say my dad can now once again walk, and tend his plot, and last year despite the rubbish weather he still managed to produce a great crop yield.

I'm sure its not always like that though. I have no doubt some people just can't be bothered. This is why, and I know this is controversial, I think allotment rent should be much higher. I can't remember what my dad pays, but its less than £50 a year I think. There's no other way you can get a piece of land with limited planning permission (for sheds, greenhouses, fences etc) for that price. If the rates were higher I think the minority that aren't really bothered might be more inclined to give them up to people that do really want them.

 

Can't win on that one C1. I'm keen for anyone who wants to have a go at growing their own to be given the chance. I'd hate for Rent to be a barrier (but I have no idea if £50, £100 or even £250 would be a barrier). Some allotments are clearly very proud, and want every plot to look well cared for ... others have admin that is too busy to be able to do a good job or that can't be bothered :(

We are less than 10 minutes from a major town. We have a lovely allotment patch - its huge, but its only a small village. I don't think there are more than 10 plots in use (the rest are mowed by the local farmer, so not "unkempt), but I am surprised that more people are not tempted - from the big town if not from the village - but the allotment association has publicised it in the town and clearly no takers (I don't know if there are plenty of allotments in the town, might be)

Too many food-miles on supermarket grub for my liking, and obesity and diabetes looms large on the News ... so surprised some people aren't making more effort to grow their own ...

 

No too much rotavating kills beneficial creatures ie worms and stuff in 1985 loads of birds used to follow farmers ploughing there feilds eating the creatures nowadays no birds follow cos theres no food left for them


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Yes i moved into this house last year the rear garden was just a lawn with allsorts of weeds and long grass never been cut so i hacked it all to ground level rammed a fork in not to turn over but to get some air in the ground was solid couldnt even poke my finger in to make a hole covered it all with damp cardboard then a mix of compost manure and topsoil wet it all then laid down mulch now after 8 months when i plant anything i just part the mulch and under it is lovely damp soft soil i just use my hand to dig down plant seeds or plants then cover back up with mulch.
I will probably have to put more mulch down as it is rotting away or i may just use fallen leaves instead as it works in the forrests and woods.
How many times do you see anyone go in the woods and fertilize and water everything that grows there ???


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Oh and yes bind weed and couch are a problem but i used roundup gel on the leaves and it kills the roots


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What's ploughing got to do with rotavating? Flocks of birds appear, as if from nowhere, when farmers start ploughing after harvest around here ...