post harvest soil care

[chaza]

I have grown some potatoes and tomatoes, when the harvest is finished can I keep the soil for next year if I add some of the nutrients it has lost like lime and some manure from the compost heap. if so how and when would I do that.


thanks


chaza

[Alison]

How are you growing, in the ground or in pots?

[chaza]

in containers

[Bren In Pots]

Chaza have a read at this older thread on re-using compost :-

http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...ost_59105.html

[Potstubsdustbins]

I presume you mean compost and the answer to your question is yes you can reuse it, I reuse all mine unless I have had a problem say with disease.

At the end of the season I riddle it to get rid of old roots etc and store it in dustbins. Come next spring I will freshen it up with some growmore or dried FYM as and when needed.

As you have no doubt discovered the nutrients in any compost only last about 5 to 6 weeks so you will have to supplementary feed if the plants are going to be in the ground longer than this.

[chaza]

so it seems the answer is yes. my plan is after my spuds are done and my toms, chillies and the such, I will leave it alone till next year. at which point the compost heap will have rotted down, then I intend to mix that and some chicken pellets maybe some lime to rejuvenate the soil for next years crop. does that sound like a good plan.


thanks

chaza

[KevinM67]

As someone who doesn't grow in pots/containers - do you still need to follow some sort of crop rotation plan with your soil??

Also, Chaza - are you planning to plant more potatoes next year re-using the same soil? - Because I'm not sure if using lime would be a good idea??

[chaza]

yes I intend to grow the same again next year maybe more chilli types.