[lucylike]

Hi,

I have a few areas on my plot where the produce has been harvested and I'm not planning on planting anything new. Can I already dig those areas in preparation for next year or is it too early?

[pushrod]

Don't know what the purists will tell you but i will be starting my onion trenches in a week or so.  I dig the trench and then just pile up anything green for the next two months before covering them up about november.

[Lee G]

Don't know what the purists will tell you but i will be starting my onion trenches in a week or so.  I dig the trench and then just pile up anything green for the next two months before covering them up about november.

Interesting, not heard of this before.  How deep do you dig your trench, and what green material do you use - would you use just grass clippings if you had loads like me?

[TTG]

Too early to dig? Why?  As a newbie taking on a new plot should I not dig until later in the year? What is wrong with turning it over to get a head start? Does digging at the wrong time damage the soil?

[Lardman]

My understanding is that people turn the soil late in the year to allow the weather to break it down. If you turn the soil at the moment there are lots of weeds growing and seeds flying around Your nice patch of clean soil will soon be covered with weeds and you'll have to do it all again.

... but what do I know 

[Nikkithefoot]

I would say if you have the time to dig now then do it! You can then cover what you are not planting with tarpaulin or similar to suppress weeds, which as pointed out will readily germinate now. If you can't or don't want to cover then hoe regularly.

Broadly speaking heavy soils need to be dug over before it gets to wet and before the frosts as it helps break down the clods, but sandy soil can be left until spring.

At the end of the day it is YOUR plot for you to work as it fits in best with your particular lifestyle. There are 'optimum' times to do particular jobs, but my life never seems to work around the gardening calendar as I would like (I work full time and have three kids and a disabled husband, not that I would change any of it)

I always find the retired on the plots come out with the advice.................I wouldn't do it now / that way, but they have all day to potter not whirlwind allotmenteering like me!

[Kristen]

How about sowing a green manure crop, and digging later?

[diggerjoe]

I got a couple of areas dug already  and covered with a thick layer of horse manure - I have to dig when I can like others a full time job and half a dozen other commitments means the plot gets attention only at weekends. I would say same as Nikklithefoot do it now while you can.

[lucylike]

Thanks for all the useful comments. I'll probably try the green manure in the areas where the needy plants will go next year and start digging the other bits - always an eye on the weeds of course 

[strangerachael]

You can dig whenever you like but like Kristen I would also recommend sowing a green manure on your bare soil, it will germinate very quickly at the moment and help to suppress weeds. If you use a leguminous one it will provide nitrogen and humus when you dig it in.

[pushrod]

Interesting, not heard of this before.  How deep do you dig your trench, and what green material do you use - would you use just grass clippings if you had loads like me?

As deep as my back can manage, but usually about a foot, then you just put anything you can find in - tops of potatoes, finished tomatoes, hedge cuttings (not conifer) and yes grass cuttings but best to mix them up with other things. Usually put some slow release fertiliser in as well like dried bonemeal or some such thing. It always ends up, by the time i cover it, being nearly a foot above soil level but by the following spring it is back to normal level.
Works for me and you can see the results Here

[galen]

A bit of a hijack here I'm afraid...

Do the leguminous green manures have to be taken into account with your crop rotation ?

eg My spuds are out, can I put field beans etc here even though next year (spring) it will be my legumes patch ?

[Pompey Spud]

Get the green Manures sown most defo.

I've nearly dug all my spuds up and have been sowing Mustard/digging it in since the start of July as each row is cleared.

Than limed.

Grazing rye has than been sown after the lime has settled.

Worked a treat as the Legumes plot has done great.

Legumes are following my Pots as well Galen

[strangerachael]

Strictly speaking you should observe crop rotation rules with green manure, however, I don't think it's so crucial with legumes as with brassicas for example. I tend to avoid mustard because technically it's a brassica and I have had a bit of club root in the past. If in doubt, use something like phacelia which fits anywhere in your crop rotation.

[Pompey Spud]

I only sow mustard where the spuds were and don't grow Brassicas.

However, the small scale size of an allotment, strict rotation plans don't need to be adhered to so much?

IMO Green manures can only improve the soil rather than rain leeching nutrients away. All plants love humus?

Works for me plus I hate looking at bare soil.