Prepping Bed for Peas/Beans

[vikkib]

I spent part of yesterday digging up the turf on an area approx. 120cm x 60cm that I would like to grow some peas and/or dwarf French beans in.

I've dug down about a spade and a half deep and sieved the soil once in a sieve with approx. 9-10mm holes and to my untrained eye the soil doesn't look too bad...

... But my eye is ever so untrained!

What do you guys think:



I've used a PH level tester all over the bed and it is on the line between alkaline and acidity, just slightly into acidity.



I've got some Levington Organic Blend Farmyard Manure and I'm going to get some edging to go round the bed today so that I can make it slightly raised so when I mix in the manure it won't spill out all over the place.

I seem to remember reading somewhere that peas need an alkaline soil. Do I need to add some lime?

Is it the same with beans or would I be better planting them in separate beds?

Is there anything else I should add? (the only other things I've got atm is 'J. Arthur Bower's Multi Purpose Compost' and a couple of 'Levington Gro-Bags').

[Snadger]

Looks fine to me! My lottie has an average of 6.5ph (Slightly acid) the soil isn't as good as yours, and everything grows fine for me!

[Two_Sheds]

Looks good to me. I've never tested my soil, but I guess it's on the alkaline side (we can't grow azaleas or rhodos here, but brassicas do well).

Slugs love young bean seedlings, so take precautions.

I start mine off in paper pots so they are big (5") and strong before they go in the ground late May.

[vikkib]

Thanks (again) guys!

I've just planted some peas and beans in loo rolls and I've got some mange tout germinated and going great guns (about 3" tall) so I think I'll do another bed too while I make more preparations for my bigger raised beds.

I've got some nemaslug that arrived yesterday but I was hesitant to use it when I've only got such a small area prepared. I think I'll do the other bed and then use it on both!

Should I mix in the manure before or after using the nemaslug?

EDIT - I've just tried to work out how many pea plants I could plant in my new bed and I wonder if someone could check my maths because I'm getting to around 92 plants (if I extend the width of the bed by another 20cm or so)

If I plant two double rows 60cm apart and each pair of seeds 5cm apart can I really get 92 plants in that little bed?!



If yes, I'd better get sewing some more seeds and finding some more loo rolls! It might have to be seed modules after all!