Hello all, I'm here to pick your brains.

[adgecutler]

Just thought I'd better introduce myself before throwing questions at you all, I have been involved in gardening for some years now but really I'm just a hedge carpenter. Recently I have started growing veg (runner & broad beans, onions, taters, leeks, beetroot, carrots, brassicas etc.) at my allotment and know I will at some point want to seek advice, so after a quick google found myself here.
So far it all seems to be going well, I have cleared and rotovated an area that has not been cultivated for around 50 years and the soil seems quite good and the veg has plenty foliage (I did add a quantity of chicken house cleanings). I have left some old wood piles and long grass and wildflowers around the plots as I thought they may harbour some helpful friends to help keep the beasties in check. The only problems I have had are pigeons at the Brassicas (now netted) and Grey Squirrels at the beetrot foliage (anyone else had this?).
Anyhow I look forward to using the forum and thanks for having me aboard,
Jamie.

[Lesley Jay]

Hi Jamie!! Welcome to our forum!!

[Alison_Kristina]

Hia and welcome

rotovated

Hope you got some advice on the type of weeds growing on the plot before you rotovated it. With some weeds, each tiny root cutting will grow a new plant, so rotovating can actually make things worse rather than better.

That said, I bet it must be a wonderful experience to rotovate land that's remained untouched for so long . . .

Ali.

[adgecutler]

Thanks for the welcomes, I rotovated the plot during early November and then raked the worst of the roots out, as of yet I haven't really had a problem with weed and maybe do half hour a week weeding. There's a video of me rotovating the easy way with my little tractor of 70's vintage on youtube under wheelhorse raider 10 rotovator! I look a proper wally but it saves a lot of back ache.