Digging

[JustKia]

Please forgive the newbie here...

I've acquired a well used but not well cared for (over the past couple years) garden plot.
The biggest problem is that the previous gardener is still here - well, it's not a problem that he's still here, just a problem that I'll be under scrutiny and that you're nto allowed to ask questions because everyone is supposed to know all this stuff already...

My plot comprises:
9m x 6.3m
3m x 1m
2m x 1.5m (a very shady area on a slope)

It was rough dug back around the end of November and has been left alone since.
The soil is heavy clay, although not as bad as it used to be.
Crop rotation hasn't been particularly good in recent years and not much has been added in that time either - although the previous gardener insists that "it's good soil that is, doesn't need anything adding" *sigh*

Pretty much the only stuff that's been grown is broad beans, runner beans and potatoes (unknown variety, didn't do particularly well - probably in part down to the wet summer and in part because of the slugs).

Is it worth going out there now and digging it over again?

I know I probably won't get much out of it this year but I plan to give it some TLC on the quiet.

Is there a "best place" to get well rotted manure from or a "best place" to ask to start with?

Thanks in advance

[WendyC]

How exciting! A new piece of land to tend. Try not to worry about being scrutinised presumably if they still wanted to / were able to tend it, they would be. You might be able to sweetened them by asking for specific information, and then doing your own thing!
Handy that it was dug over, saves you a job. If the soil is basically in good condition I think I'd just add something to where the potatoes are going this year. Our local garden centres sell bags of composted stable manure, which although not the cheapest way to go, are easy to handle and you can guarantee it's well rotted and not too fresh. If you don't add anything, you will still get a crop but perhaps not as big. Runnerbeans and peas might appreciate a does of manure as well. I also use pelleted chicken manure for just about everything else. Digging may not be possible at the moment as the soil is very wet, at least it is here. Good luck

[Currysniffa]

Hi JustKia welcome to the vine

I wouldn't worry to much about digging it over again just yet because if its anything like my plots the ground is too wet at the moment.

I get my manure from a local farmer. Its delivered to my plot but I do have to pay him for it. Have a look for a local stables. If you have your own transport most will let you bag some up yourself and don't charge for the muck. If your want to add it to your plot this year make sure its well rotted. If its not you'll have to compost it till autumn.

Hope I was some help and good look with your plot

[Matt94]

you may find that the frosts have broken down your soil and now it maybe easier to turn over, however is your soil saturated, if it is, dont turn it over, it will take you forever, wait until it dries out a little and then try again.

following on from what wendy says - if you decide to get some manure from a farm, make sure its well rotted, and before spreading it on your patch, do a bean test to make sure it has no aminopryalid in it, which can abliterate all of you crops!

[kathycam]

Hopefully the ice/snow has helped break it up a bit. I've taken on a new plot and covered it with cardboard, then I can deal with it a bit at a time. It's good you can talk to the previous gardener, as he knows the land and he knows what he's done with it. I've got bulbs coming up in random places, so I must find out what they are. I suspect daffoldils.

You could possibly terrace the slope and add plants that are shade tolerant. I think spinach or strawberries would be okay.

Good luck!

[Currysniffa]

Three posts in a row \o/ do I get a prize

[rustylady]

You might be interested in this thread Kia http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...ing_49355.html

[kathycam]

They were all posted at 11.21, but I came last.

[JustKia]

Thank you.
Previous gardener is my grandfather but as I say he's not particularly helpful as he thinks everyone should already know whatever he considers worth knowing and if you don't know well then he's not going to tell you... Not quite sure of the logic but Grandma was the same.
In the past questions of "how do you grow xyz" have been answered with "well, you just plant 'um!"

So, here I am with all my newbie questions because having read through a fair few posts the answers have been so much more helpful.

Yes, if he was still able he'd be tending the patch I've now got the privilege of. He's still keeping the other half going for himself but is looking more to growing flowers instead of veggies there for now.

Things are rather still damp, no scratch that, rather wet out there right now - lifting the carrots was interesting to say the least.

I'd love to look at things like raised beds and no-dig but I'm not going to be able to do stuff like that for definite this year and probably not in Grandpa's lifetime - depends on how this year goes. If I do OK and do it "right" (by his closed book) then I can push the boundaries a bit.

[rustylady]

Depends on what you mean by digging really. You really don't have to double dig with a spade and bury manure every year like the "old boys" do.

You say the plot has been used, so presumably you don't have things like brambles and docks to deal with. The weeds that are there should be fairly easy to pull up or fork out. All you need to do then is lightly fork it over when it's dryer. Let it settle, then rake or hoe before planting or sowing.

He's probably got a compost heap, but if he hasn't then start one.

[rustylady]

By the way, what crops do you want to grow?

[JustKia]

Oh I know I am lucky in that I don't have an overgrown bramble patch to start with.

The crops I'd like to grow is a very long list =)

Onions, potatoes and tomatoes are a must.

Here's what I've got planned so far:
Potatoes: Casablanca, Charlotte, Desiree & Valor
Onions: Whites-Bedfordshire Champion; Reds-Kamal (F1); Salad-Apache
Tomatoes: Sweet Million (F1) (plus the mixed Summer Sensation from Suttons)
Carrots: Carnival
Peppers: Etiuda, Nikita (F1)
Chilli: Twilight (crossing fingers they'll be hot enough for my dad)
Wild Rocket
Little Gem Lettuce
Celery: Golden Self-Blanching 3
Rhubarb Chard
Beetroot: Chioggia
Radish: Bright Lights
Cauliflower
Strawberries: Red&White Alpine (plan to grow in hanging baskets)
Sweetcorn: Sparrow (F1) (did ask around incase anyone else was growing a diff type but no-one's growing any nearby so this was a random pick)

Herbs
Basil: Floral Spires Lavender & Lime Mrs Burns
Garlic Chives
Oregano (a staple in this house)
Sage
Thyme

Existing
Very large Rosemary bush/shrub
Mint patch
2 Rhubarb crowns (one of which Grandpa intends to force for a second year running)

Compulsory(!)
Broad beans
Runner beans

Here's What I'd like to add:
Tomatoes: Tumbling Tom; a plum variety; A beef tomato type; 100s&1000s
Broccoli
Brussels Sprouts
Cabbage (savoy type)
Carrots (regular type)
Lamb's Lettuce
Dwarf cucumber (big ones go to waste)
Garlic
Leeks
Lettuce (maybe a red variety)
Water melon
Parsnips
Peas (Petit pois type; Sugar Snap; Snow Peas)
Chilli (Bhut Jolokia & Vampire)
Sweet potatoes
Butternut squash
Swede
Turnips
Shallots
Some of the James Wong seeds (Callaloo; Popcorn; Quinoa; Electric Daisies; Cucamelon)
Lemon Thyme
Parsley
Raspberries
Blueberries (blue & pink)
Strawberry (pineberry)

To grow everything I'd like I'm pretty sure I'd need a much bigger patch

Oooh, yes, we've got a compost bin. I keep throwing "stuff" (veg peelings, etc) in there but it never seems to fill up much...

Charlottes are my fave spud - boil, crush, season, roast - delicious =)
Hubby & I like to mix things up with pasta/rice/couscous but Dad & Grandpa are potato every day types (with a very rare exception that they'll have a little bit of rice).

[Two_Sheds]

the previous gardener insists that "it's good soil that is, doesn't need anything adding"

He's probably right: clay soil is very nutritious.

Keep reading: you may discover that you neither need to dig, nor add horse manure.

[Stew_L]

you may find that the frosts have broken down your soil and now it maybe easier to turn over, however is your soil saturated, if it is, dont turn it over, it will take you forever, wait until it dries out a little and then try again.

following on from what wendy says - if you decide to get some manure from a farm, make sure its well rotted, and before spreading it on your patch, do a bean test to make sure it has no aminopryalid in it, which can abliterate all of you crops!

Hi Matt,

May I ask what the bean test is please?

[zazen999]

Oooh, yes, we've got a compost bin. I keep throwing "stuff" (veg peelings, etc) in there but it never seems to fill up much...

That's because it rots down! It's not supposed to fill up that much, when it does it's time to turn it.