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BadBoyClub
Joined: 11 Apr 2007 Posts: 64 Location: West Dorset
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dpack
Joined: 02 Jul 2005 Posts: 46247 Location: yes
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Slim
Joined: 05 Mar 2006 Posts: 6612 Location: New England (In the US of A)
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gregotyn
Joined: 24 Jun 2010 Posts: 2201 Location: Llanfyllin area
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Posted: Tue Jun 19, 18 1:38 pm Post subject: |
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I would cover it in black plastic now, till autumn-end of September, early October, then remove the plastic, and cover in well rotted manure the areas that will need it, eg potato area and brassicas, and then re-cover the lot until you are in the mood to start gardening. Don't do the carrot ground, or the parsnip area as manure will cause 'fanging'-split roots. If you have enough manure then do the potato area. If you haven't then get some more for the spuds in spring as potatoes can be grown in fresh manure. Pig muck is good for potatoes as it is acidic and potatoes can grow down to ph4. I would also dig the bean trench now and fill with manure.
The main thing is to enjoy what you are doing-the results may not necessarily match the effort!
A lot is geared to soil type, if you are on sandy soil then your ground will always be hungry, on clay soil it won't be so hungry but will benefit from manure to help give some sort of soil structure that will be workable. Ideally if you are on clay soil you will do as little as possible in the winter. Sandy soil will grow earlier crops for you-warms up better than clay soil. |
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Mistress Rose
Joined: 21 Jul 2011 Posts: 15997
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Nicky cigreen
Joined: 25 Jun 2007 Posts: 9887 Location: Devon, uk
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tahir
Joined: 28 Oct 2004 Posts: 45676 Location: Essex
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sean Downsizer Moderator
Joined: 28 Oct 2004 Posts: 42219 Location: North Devon
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dpack
Joined: 02 Jul 2005 Posts: 46247 Location: yes
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Tavascarow
Joined: 06 Aug 2006 Posts: 8407 Location: South Cornwall
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dpack
Joined: 02 Jul 2005 Posts: 46247 Location: yes
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gregotyn
Joined: 24 Jun 2010 Posts: 2201 Location: Llanfyllin area
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Posted: Fri Jun 22, 18 2:07 pm Post subject: |
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I wondered if you may prefer the alternative of raised beds. This gives you permanent pathways round the garden and saves a bit on your back, but also gives beds you are in control of for each season, and you control the rotation better-a few extra plants won't fit then you do a swap rather than add them into another bed which is how you would do an 'open' garden. You can also put up a cover over selected beds, and so put things in sooner, or protect from the early frosts. Those first really early potatoes-yum. A covered bed also allows you to be growing into the autumn when the first frosts appear. I made my first cover frames out of wood but if doing it today I would use blue flexible hose pipe, which doesn't attack the polythene cover like wood- trust me!
Another advantage with individual beds is that you don't step back into something else to admire your efforts-been there a few times. Indeed you shouldn't get compaction from human feet at all. Years ago I did a long covered half bed the length of my veg patch 4ft wide and around 40ft long, half in early potatoes followed by early sprouts, Peer Gynt I think the sprouts were; and half in main crop potatoes, not covered followed by purple sprouting for the following spring. 3ft is plenty for a permanent walkway-wheel barrow and a bit!
Against this it costs a few bob to set it up. But if you go to any large steel factory they are often only too pleased to get rid of pallets that are not returned, I worked in such a place and had a field day! |
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Mistress Rose
Joined: 21 Jul 2011 Posts: 15997
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gregotyn
Joined: 24 Jun 2010 Posts: 2201 Location: Llanfyllin area
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Mistress Rose
Joined: 21 Jul 2011 Posts: 15997
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