Allotments 4 All

hi this is my second year with my allotment dug it over last year and grew a few cabbages,brussels,beetroot and carrots.dont know when it was last used before i took it over and was wondering if it needed some compost or manure putting on yet thanks for any help

I would say 'every year' if you can. Whatever it had on before. Nice old stuff.

The only plants that "object " to compost or manure are root veg (less potatoes) that tend to fork if they meet something different in the soil. So very well rooted manure or good compost that is well worked in to the soil doesn't cause that problem.

One of the advantages of rotation is to put the compost/manure down for the spuds. then the peas/beans, then the greens and then leave it without for the roots. Then start all over again

Phil

thanks for the info  been new every little helps

And when do you bung on the compost - garden and allotment please.  ;D

Emma - with that smiley, that's not a question??

If it were, I would say 'as soon as a plot is cleared of its produce'.

EJ

I would say, it depends

For runner beans I put it in a trench just before planting them out (I never have enough kitchen waste over the winter to fill the trench as is often suggested)

For spuds it goes under and over them at planting time

Curcubits, in the hole just prior to planting.

Then there is mulching when the plants are growing for crops such as onions, garlic, fruit bushes

For most other things it goes on, as Tim says, when the ground is clear but is covered with carpet to stop the nutrients being leeched away overwinter.

If you don't use carpet I would leave it as late as possible to prevent leeching

Phil

Okay, couple of questions....

Could I use my compost in the autumn to earth up my leeks to give me a lovely long blanched leek?

Could I use some when I am earthing up my spuds?  I am also using my grass cuttings from the garden.

I already have sackfulls of 3 month old manure which I am using when planting my squashes, etc.

And in the garden.....I have 2 heaps, and I want to remove them for a year - trying to tackle the 'wildlife' problem - when is best to empty them and put the compost on the garden??

Ej - I'm mulching my ornamentals now. Unfortunately not right now! ;D April is probably the best time, but I didn't have time then! I've read you can do it in the autumn too.

Wait until it's rained so the soil is wet and then spread it. (if it ever rains enough to wet the soil - it seems to rain enough to make it cloudy, but I still have cracks in my clay!)

I always cover 1/4 of the allotment with manure in early winter for the worms to work in before spring. This is then just turned over before planting. In my garden I use compost/manure in the spring as a mulch after a bit of rain to keep the moisture in. The worms then go to work on this. I also add a sprinkling of worm casts from the wormery as and when it is ready. I use this very sparingly as it is very strong.
Regards
Chriszog