Hi,
I have not got round to digging much of my new plot (arthritis in the knee came on bad just as we took it over),but there is a largish part of it which obviously had stuff growing on it last year, and is relatively weed free and level.
Now, I have many of my onion sets already in pots, in a cold frame up at the plot. Would it be OK to just dig holes big enough to accomodate the plug/pot, and plant the onions in them (also garlic) before they outgrow the pots, and then worry about what weeds there are by attacking them with a hoe? I do have some pelleted manure I could scatter around them.
Also, could I get away for this year, with just digging narrow strips for things like carrots and beetroot, leaving the strips in between a little firmer? Would this help to reduce the ingress of weeds?
I think that given your circumstances I would take a chance and go for it. Scuffle or hoe of any visible weeds before planting the onions etc. Use a string line and make sure the rows are straight. This makes hoeing much easier. Also maybe leave a bit more room between rows if you are not so nimble.
As for digging small strips I'm afraid long term this is going to make you lots of extra work. weeds will be difficult to control and slugs will find it a perfect haven.
If you're going to do it this way, keep the strips in between your beds well mowed. You'll still have problems with weeds at first, but the mowing will deal with them in time.
Cover with permeable black plastic and cut holes in it, and plant through them - no digging, keeps weeds down... ;) My tomatoes loved it last year.
When I took over my plot, I wasn't able to dig much, so I used a bulb planter for my potatoes. I put a comfrey leaf in each hole and a handful of shredded paper, and dropped in a potato - worked a treat!
I like the theory Amazin but your soil must be much lighter than mine, I can't even plant bulbs with a bulb planter!!!!!!
::)
You're joking - heavy, sticky clay (also known as concrete, in the summer)!
The bulb planter was the lesser of two evils compared to trying to dig or even fork over a trench! I do most of my digging/ preparation by hand, sitting down, so a bulb planter and my hand-mattocky thing are a godsend - oh, and the garden claw for breaking up clumps.
Good luck!