Archived Topic
Topic ID 2456
23/01/2007 by jennywren
Mr Rotivator
Can anyone recommend a gardening company that will rotivate an allotment? The plot has not been dug over for several years and is "weedy" grass....I know that this is cheating, but really want to grow some veggies this year without too much back trouble!
0 replies
Archived Replies
Reply ID 34559
23/01/2007 by codek2
dont know of any companies as such, but be warned; rotivating just straight over could lead to more weeds as it just chops up all the roots of the existing ones. so sometimes hand digging can be worth it!
on the other hand, you could always just get a bunch of mates together, bribe them with beer (afterwards) and hire a rotavator for the day, and provide lots of sandwiches and spades!
Which allotment site are you at?
Reply ID 34594
24/01/2007 by jennywren
Yes, good warning codek2! I was thinking that if I hoe regularly and mulch I might keep it under control....! I may have found a company that will do the work if you pay them the rotivator hire fee and I might be able to share this with someone so I'm hoping for a pristine site very soon. I'm at Cromwell Road allotments, but have not been very much in evidence of late!
Reply ID 34618
24/01/2007 by Mr P
There are two schools of thought on rotorvating. Some say Don't - it chops up all the perrenial's roots (like bindweed) so they can multiply. Others say Do, but then rotorvate twice more 6 weeks apart.
If you are going to rotorvate, buy a load of weed supressing cloth or black plastic. Mark off the beds that you are going to deal with later (even years later) and cover them up really well. Come summer, those weeds/grass etc will be back with a vengrance and it can be very, very demoralising.
Work on the beds that you aim to plant on. There's plenty of time before major sowing season starts.
If you're sowing anything now it should be a few plants (like chillies) indoors in propagators with lots of cosseting involved.
My site was rotorvated and I covered the areas I didn't want to use right away; didn't stop the plot being Weed City, nor did it ensure all the weeds helpfully died without light - they lay in wait!
You may like to go onto this site: http://www.allotments4all.com it's a really good, helpful forum filled with both knowledgeable Old Hands and Newbie Numpties (like me).
Oh, and check the site for any inherited plants that you want to keep and move them before the rotorvation starts!
I'm in North Road allotments, feel free to email me with any queries.
Reply ID 34619
24/01/2007 by codek2
North road; ah! Been meaning to pop down to check out the shop, whats actually for sale at the moment? is it worth a visit?
(Only recently notices went up to say all hertford sites plotholders are entitled to use the north road shop )
Reply ID 34627
24/01/2007 by Mr P
quote:
Originally posted by codek2
North road; ah! Been meaning to pop down to check out the shop, whats actually for sale at the moment? is it worth a visit?
(Only recently notices went up to say all hertford sites plotholders are entitled to use the north road shop )
Oooh - that's news to me!
I believe it's open on Sundays between 11am & 2pm. It has ready stocks of netting, weed suppressant cloth, fleece, netting & bubble wrap (for greenhouses) on huge rolls and probably other stuff I haven't needed to look into yet. The 2007 seed order date has passed (fingers X'd I got mine in on time!) and the potato order is due by the end of the month.
You may like to ask to speak to Brian or Linda (the only names I know!) and they'll be able to let you know what the score is for off-site allotmenteers.
Where's your plot, Codek2?
Reply ID 34655
25/01/2007 by codek2
i'm in hertingfordbury. Think i'll pop down this weekend.
Wasnt interested in seeds although the seed potatos may be interesting. but certainly after some netting to protect from the damn pigeons!
Reply ID 34657
25/01/2007 by jennywren
Thanks for all the good advice! I'd like to put in a potato order if possible.... I think it's a great idea starting up a shop and I'll pop down to North Road to investigate too.
7 replies