Allotments 4 All

We are soon getting an allotment on a brand new site on a farmers field. The farmer is going to plough and cultivate the field before we get started. Will this be enough or should I still dig over the plot before I get planting/sowing?

Thanks,

It depends on his level of cultivation, if its ploughed,harrowed/power rotovated/disc harrowed, it might well be nice and fine.

Cant give an accurate answer as it will depend on the job done

Quote from: Kirkbyinfurnesslad on April 01, 2014, 10:02:34
It depends on his level of cultivation, if its ploughed,harrowed/power rotovated/disc harrowed, it might well be nice and fine.

Cant give an accurate answer as it will depend on the job done

As k'lad said.  also there is a difference between sowing fine seeds and planting out plants that have a good root on them.  For seed sowing you will definitely need to rake the soil over, unless it has been left exceptionally well cultivated, for planting out a coarser surface will do.

For potatoes all you need is to dig a trench (or individual planting holes, either method works), no special surface finish.  As you earth up, the soil gets worked to a degree doing that anyway.

Some soils come up finer than others.  With clay soil, you need to work quite hard to get a fine crumbly texture.

And it matters when you sow.  For example, by the time we are out of potential frosts sufficiently to sow French Beans or courgettes, the weeds will have made a return and you need to dig or hoe, then rake.

Wish you a good start on the new allotment and a productive season.

If he is going to plough and cultivate/harrow it will almost be ready just to plant.. But you will need to fork in your fertilizer before planting.

i ploughed mine, disced it and them went over it with my howard 350 rotovator left it a few days to settle them planted it up, never looked back, this was at the end of march and by the end of April it was all fully planted.