Digging in the polytunnel

[Bacchus]

I managed to get out today and start preparing the polytunnel for the year ahead.

These two pictures are of the central raised bed - needs quite a bit of digging but I'll get the rotavator in it to help.

[Bacchus]

My garlic is doing really too - though it's all outside. I took a couple of pictures too - just for a record.

That in the pots is "Christo" and "Fermador".

In the raised bed is more of the same with the Christo doing really well - right two drills.

The close up is a couple of elephant garlic just starting to peep through - my first time growing it. I've quite a bit of it planted.

[Penellype]

Wow that soil looks hard work! Looks like it needs a good dose of compost when you have dug it. what are you planning to grow, or have you not got that far yet?

[Bigmallly]

I was thinking to same Pene. It would be a quick fork over & 6" Manure on top.

[Bacchus]

Yes - it's tough going. It's "virgin" territory, basically farmland with the top couple of inches scrapped off with a digger. It's also quite "clayey".

I was going to incorporate some compost I have - farmyard manure that's been rotting for about 9 months - so still a bit young but not too bad. I was then going to empty a couple of bags of B&Q verve compost through it too - and mix the whole lot up with a rotovator.

I'm happy to take suggestions as to what to grow in it for the first year while things improve. Potatoes are an obvious choice but I'd really like to use some of the space for chillies and tomatoes if I can get away with it..

[WendyC]

Wow that soil looks hard work! Looks like it needs a good dose of compost when you have dug it. what are you planning to grow, or have you not got that far yet?

I thought it looked quite easy to dig but then I've been trying to clear a plot on good old Sussex Weald clay which hasn't seen any organic matter for many a year and is full of bindweed!

[Penellype]

I would think you would be fine growing chillies or tomatoes - you could always put some of those ring culture rings on top to give them a bit of a boost. Last year some of my tomatoes were grown in "soil" which was made up of sand and hardcore from the foundations of a patio, plus a generous helping of home made compost. They were fine.

[AlanP]

I would get all that compost in and then plant first early spuds (Rocket) by the time you have eaten them and turned the bed over it will be time to put tomatoes in. This is one crop rotation I use in one of my polytunnels. Rocket need to be planted 1st of Feb. After planting cover the ground, in case of frost with some fleece,they will grow quite happily under this until quite large.
Rocket take 11 to 12 weeks.

Good luck Alan

[Bacchus]

Many thanks for that tip - I see if I can source some rocket locally - I'd rather not have to pay postage costs if I can help it.

[john9159]

On the point of using a rotovator; these have a habit of creating a solid pan below the surface of the soil thus preventing adequate drainage.
Also, any weeds which may be present will cause further problem by being chopped up into yet more tiny roots causing further problems.
You can't beat digging by hand which I always do. Takes far longer but I reckon I can extract 99% of the weeds which were there previously.

[Kristen]

You can't beat digging by hand which I always do.

Depends on whether you are fit & able and have the time

There are other equally good methods. I still could dig, but I don't bother, I use a no-dig and mulching approach here - saves loads of time, and virtually no weeding required either.

[Bacchus]

Jut to add to this thread and save on opening another I bought a new apple tree today - It was £18 but is quite a mature one - so I'm happy with it. I'll be even happier if it grows of course.



It's a Malus domestica 'Elstar'

This adds to my
Gala
Red Devil
Cox's Orange pippin
and Braeburn

I hope they all get along...

[Kristen]

Braeburn and Red Devil have same flowering / pollination group as Elstar

Braeburn and Red Devil will also pollinate Gala and the Cox

[Bacchus]

That's great to know. I probably have space for another couple of trees so I'll see what there is available. I might as well go "different" again to maximise the variety types. I really should get a couple of "cooker" apple types. Crap apples I have plenty of up at the farm.

[Penellype]

James Grieve is highly recommended here, and usually easy to find. Its a dual purpose apple but I find them so nice to eat raw that I have never cooked one.