Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat

Growing => Grow Your Own => Topic started by: wiskerman on October 16, 2008, 13:09

Title: new veg plot
Post by: wiskerman on October 16, 2008, 13:09

hi i've just dug up a section of old lawn to extend my veg beds
 what fertilizer/compost  shall i incorparate so i can grow onions there next year
  thanks 8)

Title: new veg plot
Post by: paintedlady on October 16, 2008, 19:00

I wouldn't be bothering with fertilisers at this time of year - all the nutrients will leach out with the winter rains by spring.  If you want to enrich the soil, it would be better to get hold of well rotted manure (if you can't get hold of any locally, some big DIY stores sell it in 50L bags but runs out expensive)  General purpose compost is fine for digging in - personally I would wait until spring if that is when you are planting as you might need to dig more in by then.

Title: new veg plot
Post by: Bombers on October 16, 2008, 19:03

Personally, I just threw some Growmore down, a couple of weeks before the sets went in. Then gave 'em a bit of help in the spring. :)

Title: new veg plot
Post by: Ice on October 16, 2008, 19:05

I would investigate turning lawn into veg plots as I believe you can have trouble with wireworm when you do.  Someone more knowledgable than me will be along soon to help out.

Title: new veg plot
Post by: flowerlady on October 16, 2008, 19:25

If wireworm is the problem then this ...

 Foil-sis  (http://www.alanromans.com/p-1646-foil-sisbranstons.aspx)  is what you might consider using !!  :tongue2:

Title: new veg plot
Post by: woodburner on October 17, 2008, 01:32

Quote from: "Ice"

I would investigate turning lawn into veg plots as I believe you can have trouble with wireworm when you do.  Someone more knowledgable than me will be along soon to help out.

I've had a few on/in among my spuds, that were grown in well rotted manure on top of cardboard, that was on top of undug grass.
Carrots and onions a few feet away, but on cultivated ground, haven't had any.
The books say that wireworm decrease with cultivation and this certainly seems the case for me. :)

Title: new veg plot
Post by: GreenOwl on October 17, 2008, 12:02

Believe if you grow mustard (as a green manure) it accelerates the life-cycle of the wireworm so you get rid of them quicker.

Some veg are more susceptible to wireworm than others.