Preparation of ground with compost - Question

[LostthePlot]

I have just acquired a new plot (yesterday) and spent this afternoon checking it out properly and seeing what was what. The plot has been 'worked' for the last year, well half has some sort of production on it, the other half is wilderness! The soil is very nice and soft to work, apart from clearing out all the weeds that have built up. The question I would like to know is, Can I just apply well rotted compost to the top of the soil and then cover it with suppressing membrane for the winter and let the worms do the work for me? Would I get good results using this method or am I being too lazy? I am definately going to be using companion grouping of plants when in full production and want to spend the next few weeks organizing the sizes of my beds and getting them laid out ready.

[Mrs Dobby]

Hi Losttheplot! Congrats on your new allotment and welcome to the vine, there's a great friendly bunch of grapes on here, and usually someone will be able to give good advice as there's lots of very experienced folks, and then there's Nick (in a class of his own - or should that be world of his own? Only joshing Nick!)

Good luck with clearing your plot, we've had ours for 5 weeks now, it was 8' deep in weeds, not been worked this year at all, so faced a similar problem to yourself. Like you, our soil is in very good condition, so what we've been doing is removing as much of the growing weed as possible, laying out the beds and paths, double digging the beds over to remove as much weed as possible and erecting the free greenhouse we managed to get, so its been very busy, but great fun and exercise! Hope you enjoy yourself as much as we have!

[Snadger]

You can do as you suggest and you will grow some good crops next year, but......

If it was me I would be itching to sow or plant something!

Does a nice few early broad beans not appeal, or garlic for instance?

It is an ideal time to plant soft fruit also, so...........

The choice is yours really!

[Snadger]

Wellcome to the vine, by the way!

[JennieAtkinson]

Welcome to the Vine LTP. Hope you enjoy it as much as we do.

Congrats on getting your plot - let us know how you get on.

[nick the grief]

I have just acquired a new plot (yesterday) and spent this afternoon checking it out properly and seeing what was what. The plot has been 'worked' for the last year, well half has some sort of production on it, the other half is wilderness! The soil is very nice and soft to work, apart from clearing out all the weeds that have built up. The question I would like to know is, Can I just apply well rotted compost to the top of the soil and then cover it with suppressing membrane for the winter and let the worms do the work for me? Would I get good results using this method or am I being too lazy? I am definately going to be using companion grouping of plants when in full production and want to spend the next few weeks organizing the sizes of my beds and getting them laid out ready.

Hi LTP Welcome to the vine. Good to see another "local".

In answer to your question,

Yes you are being lazy, but there's nothing wrong with that - Lazy is what I do best ask Mrs Grief

I would do this with the bit that hasn't been cultivated just cut it all down (use a strimmer it's easier) then cover it all. The bit thats been done already you can just fork that over & get the bits of weed out & if you nip over to Ryton (the old HDRA place) you can get yourself some Broad beans, Overwintering Onions & some garlic ( should cost you around £3 well it did me today ) and then you can have something growing. If you can cover the broad beans to give them a bit of shelter you'll get them to crop a little bit earlier & have nice home grown broad beans.

Hope this helps

[Earthbabe]

Hi LostthePlot and welcome to the Vine. Congrats on getting your allotment. I haven't anything new to add, just saying hello.

[Waffler]

Hi from me too!

[LostthePlot]

In reply to all of you who have suggested planting Broad Beans - I have a question. As I was clearing the plot, I stripped away the old Broad Beans plants and my 5 year old thought it was great fun to remove the lovely pink, purple speckled seeds from the brown pods. Can I now use these seeds to plant again? I hate Broad Bean myself but I would grow them for my son to participate and give the resulting beans to some needy case.

[Lesley Jay]

Are you sure they were broad beans LTP? From that description of the beans they sound like runner beans to me. If they are runner beans save them for next year. Either sow the beans indoors in April and plant out in May or sow direct into the soil in May.

Nearly forgot my manners! Welcome to the mad house!

[LostthePlot]

Oops! Thanks for that reply. As you can tell I do have a lot to learn.

[Lesley Jay]

What was the plant like LTP?

[Snadger]

Could even be Borlotti beans!

Sorry, but if it was me I would bin them as you don't know what beans they are, how they have been grown or any of there past history.

Far better for piece of mind to start afresh next year with newly bought seed!

Sorry if I sound like a killjoy but I always believe in safety first!

[Snadger]

Sorry losttheplot, forgot to add, welcome to the vine btw!

[LostthePlot]

Thanks for this reply Snadger, which is the advice I am going to take. As with hindsight, as you say, I do not know any history of the particular plant and for the sake of a few pence, I will start afresh with my Beans.