[paul2004]

Required plot 2 weeks ago been thinking how to start when weather improves.Would it be ok to dig half the plot which is coverd with weed control material and start planting straight away.The other half i was going to cover with cardboard and covering until weeds die down.Would i need to put any feed or anything down on the half am thinking of diging over. Am going to grow.     :?

Potatoes (earlys and lates)
Broccoli.
Cabbage.
Brussels.
sweet pea.
Broad beans.
french beans.
sweetcorn.
Variety of summer veg.

[muntjac]

yes you can dig it and just clean any weeds out and start when the time is right .as for the cardboard forget it it turns into a mess  which you cant burn takes ages to rot down  contains chemicals in its glue and its just a waste of time . cover it with plastic ( dark ) as best you can and werk it through at your own pace . plant the sweet peas on an end so they dont scatter seed onto the plot  . and you can cut them when you feel like it without walking on wet muddy soil . hope that helps  

[paul2004]

Thanks alot mj much appreciated for the advice.

[noshed]

I would go for fixed beds myself - decide where the paths are going to  be, saves digging those bits. 1.2m wide - means you can dig one bed at atime and feel a sense of achievement. But it's up to you

[MisterPlough]

Hi Paul

Dig in some soil improvers. Have a look at the soil and decide if it needs some sharp sand and/ or some well rotted manure. You can buy it from your garden centre. Quite cheap.

I was where you were last year and only this year have I got the rest of the plot going. I grew on about half of not a lot. In a couple of years, I'll try raised, fixed beds.

Best of luck

[little sweetpeas]

Hi Paul,

I also only got my plot at the start of the month. I did what noshed suggested.  My first half didn't need much work but the second half has couch grass I've dug a bed at a time and in just two days I had dug 1/3 of the area.

It really didn't take long and now i reckon that i'll be able to use the whole plot this year.