READER’S QUESTION

WE’RE taking over a new allotment this year. It’s infested with weeds. Is there a quick, organic way to deal with it?

J. Barford, Northumberland. I’m afraid not. But you can restore your allotment in stages. Postpone cropping half the area, covering it with black polythene until spring 2019. Then start work on the remaining land, removing as many of the weed roots as you can.

Plant your crops but keep working on the weeds. Next spring, the covered area can be used and your allotment should be well on the way to healthy production.