[andyw]

This may be a bit of a general question but the garden that i know own was basically one large allotment.  Since clearing out most of the own plants and veg I need to rotavate.  While doing this should I be putting down new compost for the new crops this year.  Other than that is there anything else that I can be doing prior to planting.

[DD.]

Have a poke around John's articles on the main forum, you'll find lots to do.

Have a start here:

http://www.allotment-garden.org/garden_month.php

[Kleftiwallah]

Why do you feel you need to rotavate?   Just rough digging to a spit depth will break up the soil, allow air in and give the birds access to the bugs.  I know it seems a big job but little and often is the key.   The frosts yet to come will break down the clods gradually.

A rotavated site looks good, but you may set up a hard pan.  This is a slick layer of soil at the maximum depth of the tines through which the roots of plants have trouble bridging.  The rotavator froths up the soil, looks good but settles back down after the first rain shower and forming a cap blocks out the air.

That's my sixpennorth.        Cheers,     Tony.

[loobs61]

found johns month by month articles very helpful, recommend you take a look . Happy Gardening !

[potatogrower]

check the texture of the soil. if it crumbles then you may not need to rotivate. just dig juge clumps and bash it with a fork and roughly even it out. only time i used a rotivator was when it was hard clay. added sand, compost and manure and used a rotivator and never used it since. soil is nice, soft and workable.