Based on this time of year, and an overgrown plot. What are the next stages to prepare for growing next spring (although it would be nice to get some winter greens, late this year or early next year).
The main consideration however, would be to prepare the ground for good growing next spring. :)
Oh I'd get something in now to keep you motivated. Nothing worse than months of digging and backache
You only need to prepare a BIT and put the rest under cover til you can get to it which prevents weeds from getting any worse at least. I've covered swathes of mine in sheet mulch weighed down by various things and it's gradually becoming clear. I've then planted cabbages, peas and broad beans with a bulb planter straight into hard UNDUG soil. I'm doing that now with brassicas when my plug plants arrive from Dobies :) Most people do the winter digging thing to expose the ground over the winter but I won't be doing it. I'm allergic to digging ;D
That's a good point Wardy, because I hear everyone talking about digging it over to let the frost get in, but we very rarely get frosts round here. Besides I have a bone condition which makes digging a right pain in the arse ;D ;D
Oh Sketty we're kindred spirits :) I bore everyone to death on here about me bad back ;D  No, they have been very kind to me about it but I do bang on about my no-dig allotment. Still it's my passion and I wanted to prove that it would work and it has. I got my inspiration for no dig allotment from a DVD I bought called The Allotment (from Wildfire Productions I think) off the internet. The presenter has a bad back and does not dig and he showed what was possible without picking up a spade. I thought that sounded just the thing for me so set about it. It's too early to say with some crops whether it works but I think it will work with stuff which grows above ground which is lots of stuff if you think about it. I put some celeriac in hard undug ground by using a bulb planter but I don't know if it will produce decent bulbs. I'll let you know. I can PM you with more detailed stuff but here's pics showing no dig spuds, peas, beans, cabbages and courgettes etc :)
That would be brilliant wardy, anything you've got will a massive help. ;D
Hi Sketty
We have just got our plot which has been covered for the last 12 months. So far we have cleared away all the dead weeds, had a delivery of 4 tonnes of muck which has been forked all over (my back is still aching from Sunday!!!) and tonight / tomorrow we plan to rotovate it all in.
We werent planning on growing anything this year but we have been given some leeks and cabbages by a lovely neighbour. These have been of great help as we don't feel like we are doing all this hard work and seeing no results.
Just a bit unsure of how often to visit the plot to water the leeks and cabbages.
Good luck  ;) ;)
A rotovator, plastic sheeting and a little help would go a long way. Is there anyone who can help? ;)
Not that I can think of, off the top of my head, but thanks for the advice anyway, :)
Quote from: wardy on August 03, 2005, 12:31:55
no dig spuds, peas, beans, cabbages and courgettes etc :)
Wardy - did you just lay the spuds on the ground + cover in plastic? Any slug problems?
D
I peeled back the black sheet mulch last Sunday thinking there might be nothing there but I had lifted some spuds from one corner a week earlier so was kind of optimistic. I got loads and I'm really pleased as folks warned the slugs would love the black plastic warm dark environment. There are very few slug damaged ones. I have planted a bed of Desiree as I understand slugs don't like them :) I did use slug pellets safely enclosed in boxes around the spud bed and used coffee and coffee grounds round the bed as it's supposed to deter them. I have two more beds of Desiree and a bed of Cara done in the no dig fashion and some in bags and containers still to harvest. Can't wait. I did no dig cos of my back as digging is just agony for me and to prove it could be done. It can. It wouldn't be for everyone though as the plot looks untidy until the spud foliage covers the sheet mulch but then it hides it all :)
Welcome sketty :)
You could also try cardboard on top of the soil to keep the weeds down, then cover that with compost/manure. The theory is that the worms take all the good stuff in to the ground over winter, leaving the soil lighter and easier to dig over winter. I'm trying this with one bed, on my clay soil I need all the help I can get with digging!
If you like cabbages, clear a bit of space for some. I have Tundra (winter) and advantage (spring) that are okay to sow now. Just make sure you protect from birds, catterpillars, and slugs.
Sow a green manure?
Apparently more goodness in the soil is washed out by winter rain than is taken up by crops. So it's a good idea to cover any bare soil.
This might be useful:
http://www.hdra.org.uk/organicgardening/grn_mans.htm
Thanks everybody (for the welcome as well) this is seriously useful stuff that I didn't believe was possible. ;D