Hello I'm New...

Discussion in 'General Gardening Discussion' started by Big Stev3, Oct 9, 2011.

  1. Big Stev3

    Big Stev3 Gardener

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    Hi All,

    Im new to this site and have quite recently taken ownership of an allotment.
    Im after a little advice...
    Since having the allotment I have cleared an old compost bin and made 2 new ones. Removed a pond...!? Removed various weeds and dug the site over.
    Before I had the allotment it only had raspberry and red currant bushes on. There were ALOT of paths, which were extremely hard to dig.
    I've seperated the plot onto 4 beds

    Bed One:
    Potatoes (add manure)
    Bed Two:
    Roots & Everything Else (Add compost)

    Bed Three:
    Brassicas(Add Lime)

    Bed Four:
    Legums (Add Lime)

    I've also got a bed for Strawberries and a seperate bed for Raspberries, blackcurrants and red currants. There is also a pear tree and im looking to add two apple trees this year.

    The soil seems to be alright but does contain quite a few stones, i dont believe its been dug much before because most of the plot was paths. Ive managed to turn the plot by hand during September, broke down all the big lumps and raked over. A few very hard lumps still survive, they might break down now we've had some rain.

    Just a few questions:
    I want to improve the soil before next year, can i add well rotted manure all over the plot? I have been informed the manure is 20 years old.
    I was planning on mulching the entire plot with well rotted manure during October.

    Is my crop rotation plan adequate?

    Also I've seen alot of people covering their plots with plastic. I wasn't planning on covering my plot, i was just going to hoe once a week to keep the weeds at bay. Is it advisable to cover the plot with plastic?

    Any advice is greatly appreciated.

    Kind Regards
    Steve
     
    Big Stev3, Oct 9, 2011
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  2. ARMANDII

    ARMANDII Low Flying Administrator Staff Member

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    Hi Steve, welcome to Gardeners Corner.:D I'm not a veg man unfortunately, but I'm sure somebody will be along to give advise. Keep us all up dated on how you progress, and post a few pics as we'll all be interested to see the plot.
     
    ARMANDII, Oct 9, 2011
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  3. Aesculus

    Aesculus Bureaucrat 34 (Admin)

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    Welcome to Gardeners Corner Steve:thumbsup:
     
    Aesculus, Oct 9, 2011
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  4. JWK

    JWK Gardener Staff Member

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    Hello Steve and welcome to the forum :)

    Theres no need to try and break it all down by hand in the autumn. The winter frosts will get into the top rough dug soil and create a nice crumbly texture. All you need do is add a bit of humus in the spring and rake it over. Try to avoid walking on your beds, it would be good to define some paths again.

    Good idea. Get as much well rotted manure as possible, except for the bed you intend to use for carrots/root crops.

    You only need to lime if your soil is acidic - you can get simple pH testing kit. Otherwise it looks good to me.


    Plastic is just an low labour method of controlling weeds. Once you have removed the weeds during your digging over not many new ones should emerge over winter, so your hoeing plan sounds good to me.
     
    JWK, Oct 9, 2011
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  5. Loofah

    Loofah Admin Staff Member

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    Not much to add to John's response other than get as much spare muck as you can as it's fantastic stuff; also the plastic will also warm the earth for a slightly earlier start next spring and help stop rain leaching nutrients, but it is in no way essential.
     
    Loofah, Oct 11, 2011
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  6. CosmosGuy

    CosmosGuy Gardener

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    Hi Steve, Welcome to GC :dbgrtmb:
     
    CosmosGuy, Oct 11, 2011
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