I have a new enemy

I'm back! Long time no post. Since July 2010, a lot has changed. We have a toddler now and we've moved to Hampshire. I assumed the plotting would have to take a long break while the little one grow up and I had more spare time. I was going to focus on the small flower bed in our front garden and redesign our small back garden to give me some more growing space (for next year as other jobs need to be done first). Friends told me to put my name on the waiting list for an allotment so that in 5-10 years time, I could start one up again. I finally got round to it about 4 weeks ago. 2 weeks later, I got an email telling me that some plots were available. I chose one and started work last weekend. Plot35 is back!

I've not measured the plot but it is more-or-less the same size as Plot35 in Worcestershire was (not counting the bit at the bottom of the slope which was overgrown and often flooded). The new plot has two major differences from Plot35 that will make gardening on it much easier:

1. The soil is light and sandy rather than heavy and clay. It will of course need lots of organic matter added to maintain fertility.
2. It is flat rather than sloped and prone to flooding. It also catches the sun well compared to other plots on the site. 

According to the fellow plotters I've met so far (all a friendly bunch), the plot was well-tended up to a couple of years ago when it was then left to its own devices until quite recently. It is now overgrown with thick couch grass. Someone took it on and dug over a couple of small patches but then decided to take another plot instead. Those patches (plus a few more which were not dug over) have been covered so on my arrival there were 3 patches of about 3x1.75m which just need light forking over. I've done about half of that already on two previous visits. I'll need to take a bit at a time, covering over some of the grass for 2 months (which I've read is the amount of time it takes to kill it off), before removing the dead remains. It'll take 1-2 years to clear completely I think given the time limitations I have as a working mum of one.

My new enemy is Mare's tail. I've never come across it before having had to deal with bindweed and couch grass on Plot35. Mare's tail is all over the site, even on plots that have been neatly tended for 20 years or so. Apparently it just doesn't budge due to the depths to which its roots grow. It looks to me just like brown asparagus poking through the soil. It doesn't seem to cause any problems though, unlike bindweed which strangles its prey if left for too long.

I am keen to differentiate my plot a little from all the others on site which are very neat and tidy. All grow rhubarb as if it is law. My aim is to grow cut flowers as well as veg which doesn't seem like the norm there.

Ok, well, I've got a few hours to myself this afternoon for a good session of light gardening. I've got some digging and raking to do to prepare the clear patches for planting. To go in, I've got some broad beans, leeks, celeriac and potatoes (from Charlotte), lavender, hyssop, horseradish. Plus, I've got parsnip, purple sprouting and calendula seeds to sow. Yesterday, I had 15 mins there and I planted the first things in - two peonies. They were bought as dried up roots from the garden centre yesterday (buy one get one free) and I'm not convinced they've gone in the right way round. If they come up next year, it'll be a bonus.