[BabyStar]

We have just dug up part of our garden to create an additional plot for veg. Two questions regarding this:

1) As this has been turfed for x amount of time what would be the best thing to dig into the earth to create a suitable growing environment?

2) Can we grow anything there over the winter?

And a combination of the two...

3) If I can grow root veg will it still be okay if I've dug manure or compost or such into the earth?


Thank you!

[tlm1965]

Hello, you can dig in good quality compost or manure to add nutrients to the soil. Let the soil rest if you decide to add manure. Plant carrots, potatoes and broad beans. Cover new plants or young seedlings with a cloche, this will help to keep the soil warm and protect from winter weather.

[sunshineband]

Hi babystar

As the ground has only had grass on it, strip off the turf and stack it somewhere out of the way for a year or two and it will turn into lovely loam for you 

If you add manure you would not be able to grow root veg, and it is a bit late for broad beans and potatoes I'm sorry to say, Tim.

You could add some blood fish & bone just for good measure and then there is time to sow carrots,beetroot, khol rabi, winter radish, turnips, pak choi and other salad leaves. There are still young plants of winter cabbage etc in garden centres too  .

Plenty to do                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 

[BabyStar]

Manure has been dug in now but hubby didn't know not to do this for root veg plots, we are beginners so I have forgiven him but does this mean no root veg on this plot ever now? Is there an amount of time it can be left and then put stuff in?
What's the reason you don't manure root veg plots?

[mumofstig]

manure tend to make root veg fork, so making them hard/impossible to peel but only for the year after it's been applied.
Swede, although thought of as a root crop, is in fact a brassica so that will be ok 

[sunshineband]

As MUumofstig says, manure makes the roots fork, but don't worry, the effect of the mnaure wears off over the season, so you will be able to grow carrots and parsnips the following spring without any trouble.

In addition to swede, turnips are also brassicas, and beetroot should be fine as well 

[TerryB]

Hi Babystar
If you really do want to try some carrots next year you could dig out a trench one spade wide and about one & half spades deep and fill this with a mix of sieved multi compost & sharp sand.

[ferreter51]

You might try some autumn-planting onion sets and/or garlic.

[BabyStar]

Would the beetroot go in over winter or next year now? Definitely something I'd like to grow and pickle!

[mumofstig]

You could add some blood fish & bone just for good measure and then there is time to sow carrots,beetroot, khol rabi, winter radish, turnips, pak choi and other salad leaves.

All the plants that Sunny suggested are for sowing now, and for eating before the weather gets too cold 

[BabyStar]

Excellent. thank you!