What to do on new lottie

[new2growing]

Have just dug over (roughly) a large patch of my new allotment. What to do next? Is there something I can plant that won't die during the winter?

[Aberdeenplotter]

really a bit late to expect anything to grow this late but in digging rough you have done the best thing. The winter frosts will break the ground down ready for planting in the spring.

[new2growing]

Thank you Aberdeenplotter. I thought that might be the case. Should I cover the ground with something to prevent weed growth? Or won't they grow too during winter?And do I need to rake it or wait until Spring?

[Aberdeenplotter]

Some folks cover the ground with black plastic or cardboard but I prefer to leave it undisturbed and open to the elements. Weeds will grow as soon as temperatures are high enough but as it's late in the season that you have dug your plot over weed growth should be minimal.

[Bigmallly]

As AP says, there is not much to grow at this time of year so here is some reading material which my be useful to you.

Vegetable Calendar -What Vegetables To Plant Now

[new2growing]

Thanks all. Will leave it open until Spring then start in earnest. Meanwhile, I'll make a base for a shed & get the rest of the lottie tidied. Looking forward to the New Year.Will keep you updated & maybe get a photo or two posted. Thanks again.

[Bigmallly]

I find this is a great time of year to plan for next year, decide what you want to grow, look through you seed packets, see what you have & what you need, browse some seed catalogues or look online. There is still plenty to keep the mind active, only 3 months till the clocks go forward, it'll fly by................

[Hans Mum]

If youre thinking of fruit bushes or trees though this is the time to get them in the bare rooted are in the shops now....you'd have to prepare the ground a bit better than rough digging though & put some well rotted manure or the like in the planting hole

[northepaul]

I find this is a great time of year to plan for next year, decide what you want to grow, look through you seed packets, see what you have & what you need, browse some seed catalogues or look online. There is still plenty to keep the mind active, only 3 months till the clocks go forward, it'll fly by................

Thats what I was going to say!

[Two_Sheds]

What to do next?

Is your soil clay or sandy?

If clay, then it's said that frost will help to break the clods up for you.
If sandy, then you definitely don't want to leave it bare to the elements, because rains & gales will wash/blow away your precious topsoil.


Weeds will still grow of course: weeds are ideally suited to their location, so you're likely to see some coming up ~ I have speedwell, groundsel and chickweed in FLOWER at the moment.

A good job to do is to start making leafmould: you can never have enough of it. Plus, if you collect leaves from bike lanes and pavements, you'll be doing your neighbourhood a favour too.

[alldigging]

Garlic? Shallots? Broadbeans?

Fruit bushes. Apparently they've started appearing in shops

[hawthorns]

personally id get some rotted manure or compost on top of it