Could someone give me a bit of advice please?

[Mizjazzi]

Haveing just set up a slightly raised veg bed for next year,should I cover it for winter to retain nutrients?And if so with what? Shredded newspaper,bark? Cheapest option is needed

I have dug in spent compost/soil from my veg containers, just filled it up with a ton of topsoil( Rowlan blended loam ), as it is very sandy soil.
I missed planting green manure,and my back garden does not get much sun in the winter months,so it is now too late and cold in Scotland?

I saw something about mulching with newspaper and bin bags over to potect the soil. If i did that, do I pierce the plastic to allow water through?
I also have a compost bin, but it is not ready either!
Advice would realy be appreciated!!!!
Mizjazzi

[vicky]

I'd cover it with cardboard or a thick layer of newspaper to stop any weed growth and it'll be slightly warmer come the spring to plant into. I don't bother with plastic myself

[Mizjazzi]

Thanks,
Will that have to be removed in spring, or will it compost?
Mizjazzi

[Pumpkin Becki]

If you use sheet cardboard (well anchored down so it doesn't blow away in the winter gales), it will have decomposed nicely by the spring, and you can tear it up and dig it in to the bed and it will actually help improve the soil structure for you .

[Mizjazzi]

Thanks so much!

Great stuff!!
Thanks for that,I will get on to that as soon as it stops pouring outside.
Mizjazzi

[Two_Sheds]

I've done a raised bed at school. I'm not bothered about nutrients washing away, but I have covered it with sheets of wet newspaper weighed down with bags of autumn leaves.

The newspapers will have partially rotted by the spring, and will be added to the compost heap.
In spring 2012, those leaves will have turned into leafmould, ready to add to the raised bed.