Weed Control?

As my allotment plot was overgrown for at least two growing seasons, it has an abundance of weed seeds sitting in the soil ready to burst out whenever I water the beds. For this reason, every time I’ve sown seeds directly into the soil, it has been almost impossible to differentiate between the sprouting seedlings and the weeds.

To reduce the weed problem for next year, I have started preparing the beds already. Regular hoeing keeps the surface weeds at bay and helps the soil when using the “chop ’n’ drop” method. That is, cutting the weed in half, leaving the top to rot on the surface while the root rots below ground. This doesn’t work for all weeds. Those with deep roots generally need digging out.

I now have several small beds which, even though they haven’t been planted this year, I try to keep weed-free. This should make life a little easier when I begin planting in the early spring.

Accidental Spuds

When I first took the plot, I discovered a barrel of garden waste that, for some reason, wasn’t fully composted. So I tipped it onto an unused bed, dug it into the soil and forgot about it. A week or two later, I planted the bed with Calendula and Borage. Then I noticed a few potato plants coming up between the intended crops. So I left them. I don’t know if they will produce much, but time will tell.

Lonesome Cabbage

Being new to the gardening game, I transplanted my cabbages too soon. They had barely sprouted in the pots before I put them in the ground. I also neglected to cover them with netting, so they had to contend with birds, slugs and transplant shock. Only one survived. I covered it with butterfly netting, but it’s in a sorry state. It’s been attacked by slugs and I think it might be suffering from survivor’s guilt.