When to dig in compost

[Farmer_Gyles]

i'm still a bit confused with this
books and seed packets kind of vague or give what seems to be "conflicting" info

i've got 3 beds - brassicas, roots, beans and salady stuff - using basic crop rotation
so.... the beans and salady stuff bed follows the brassicas - books suggest digging compost into this bed in the autumn - but the brassicas haven't finished in autumn, some will be in situ till christmas
do the books assume all the brassicas will be dug up in autumn?
read elsewhere that should dig compost into the beans bed in spring
so is it best to do it in autumn or spring?

i'm only going to add home made compost - mix of plant waste, spent compost from seed trays and growbags, veggie peelings, shredded newspaper and cardboard etc etc - was all made in daleks over the last 12 months - probably about 2 wheelbarrows full

[Flummery]

I put my home made compost in spring where the beans are going - I usually dig out a pit and fill it then pile the soil back over - did it this morning in one area. This allows the mound to settle somewhat before I plant out the beans - usually mid to late May round here. In a cold year it can be first week in June. There are climbing beans I'm talking about - runners or climbing french. I also top dress many of the beds - some still have crops in of course. Anywhere I don't add compost to, I usually use for carrots, parsnips etc - anything I don't want to fork at the root. It's a fairly casual rotation but it works for me. I don't add compost to the beds in the autumn. For one thing, I'll only have had it in the bins since spring and it won't be fully rotted. For another, I suspect the nutrients leach out in the winter. Just my thoughts. Mind you, there are as many methods of gardening as there are gardeners!

[Farmer_Gyles]

thanks flummery - i'll be digging over the next couple of weeks so will dig some in
i'm slowly getting the hang of this GYO lark!

[zazen999]

Hi
My beans go in before the brassicas