Taken on another plot - couple of questions?!

[SarzWix]

Hi guys, sorry I haven't really been around much recently but, being a glutton for punishment, I am helping the old guy next door with his plot (he's in the middle of chemo & getting very distraught at the state of his plot) and have also taken on another plot
Anyhoo, this new plot has a very peculiar greenhouse/polytunnel thingy on it, which I'm trying to sort out to get some tomato plants in. It has quite wide beds on each side, which were full of couch grass, but also absolutely bone dry. In fact it's more like dust than soil. It made getting the couch out a lot easier, but now I want to plant in it - how do I get it wet again??!! I have a tank full of water, but when I water it, it just doesn't seem to be soaking it up If I add a squirt of washing up liquid (Ecover) to the water will this work as a "wetting agent"? And will I be able to plant in it afterwards?
Also, if onions have been left in a bed over a year and either gone mushy or started to resprout, how many years should I leave that bed before I put onions (or related) in it again?

Cheers chaps
I'll post piccies as soon as I can resize them!

[Flummery]

I think you'll be fine with your Ecover wetting agent Sarzwix. Just a few drops at first - don't want the toms frothing at the mouth! There are wetting agents added to most multipurpose composts and I doubt they are much different from a detergent.

As to the onions - if they are just mushy and rotten I'd leave it a year or two. However, if they have white rot, you are looking at double figures! Here's hoping - I suspect they are just rotting from being too wet - best of luck chuck!

[Paulottie]

Welcome to the two plot -lost the plot club!! You need to add some organic matter into the beds to hold that moisture in Sarah.

Doubt the onions have disease but I am strict about Allium rotation here (having had a few probs stopping me using my beds at home) three years minimum.

[Seahorse]

Can't offer any useful advice but way to go on getting a second plot *and* helping your neighbour!

[SarzWix]

Thank you
I did both things - added a couple of growbags each side, and watered with a few drops of Ecover before planting the toms, and without once they were planted. Seems to have worked ok
The onions, I don't think they had white-rot - they'd just gone mushy in the rain - Yack! There are six beds on this plot, and six on my original plot so I can keep them out of that bed for a good long while, just to be on the safe side.

Managed to resize some pics at last - our 'Paint' prog on the PC has mysteriously vanished...

The plot is roughly divided in 2: Right hand side is 4 beds, compost bins, rickety shed & raspberries. Left hand side is 3 beds, squiffy polytunnel, bramble filled greenhouse-come-fruit cage, tin shed, 2 baths, a water tank & some gooseberries!
We ended up with it because it hadn't been looked after since last summer & looked a tip, the secretary had offered it to 3 lots of people on the waiting list & They Turned It Down!!!! Foolish people! So I said we'd tame it & use it, but if either of my next door plots come free, I'll swap, as this one is at the other end of the site to Plot A (which is where the kettle is )

[Flummery]

Got your work cut out there kid - but as Lancelot Brown was wont to say, "It's got great capabilities!"

[SarzWix]

It's not as bad as it looks! We've strimmed it all down & had a big bonfire, you can see the 'bones' now - the beds are all edged already, most of the paths have weed suppressant on them. The dandelions have gone a bit mad & the seeds will probably cause a problem for a few years, but the soil has had good stuff added & it's been quite easy to dig so far!
Just wish I had a few more hours in the day...

[Mr Griff]

Wow! I think that you are very lucky to get a plot with so much already done & with tunnels & sheds etc.
Hope that it goes well for you

[queen lottie the 3rd]

Well done SarzWix, can't believe you,ve got sheds and polytunnel. All the best and keep digging.

[SarzWix]

Just a little update on the new plot We've worked like anything, Jez too as he's been off work (I think he's got the bug - went to shut the greenhouse this evening, came back 1½ hours later, having started clearing another patch )
We've planted 2 beds today - winter brassicas; kale cabbage & brussels, and beans; Climbing Cobra & Mr Fearns Purple Flowered, Navy Bean Edmund & Purple Teepee, plus a few Runners.

Hope to get another bed planted with leeks & beetroot over the weekend, and we're getting a bulk load of mushroom compost delivered tomorrow (hopefully while I'm at Dr's so I don't have to do the lugging around ) so everything will be well mulched, along with Plot A & Next-Door Neighbour Plot.

It's hard work, but Gosh! I'm enjoying myself

[Mrs Dobby]

Good work Sarah! Well done you guys, its looking great!

[areia]

omg theres a waiting list and people turned it down wheres the "i like a challenge" in people nowadays well done you for all your hard work, have to be a flask jobby till you get a plot next to you,

[piskieinboots]

way to go our Sarah, busy girl

[littlewin]

looks really great, enjoy !

[Novice Gardener]

Wow, well done, you've worked really hard. I'm off to my lottie today with the aim of digging out a second bed so I can get some bits planted out.