[MalcW]

We have a couple of raised planters we were given earlier this year. Once tarted up we just filled them with multi compost and grew varying salads and carrots, and they did quite well. they have metal hoops and plastic covers, not fitted at the moment, so they can be kind of mini polytunnels.

Two questions: What, if anything, should we do to liven up the soil for next year? I'd like to do carrots again and am a bit worried about manure being a bit too rich, though I guess I could add just a bit, or manure one and leave the other?

Also, is it worth doing anything in them now, with the covers on?

Thanks,

Malc

[johnjsdb]

My local nursery sells loose soil conditioner, I plan to mix this with well rotted horse manure and some sharp sand (1-1-1) and fill a large container for carrots and parsnips next year, the containers will be the size of half a water butt and I will stand them on two pallets to lift them up high enough to avoid carrot fly.

[mumofstig]

Blood Fish and Bone is the soil friendly alternative to Growmore fertilizer.

Bit late to sow anything now, IMO but you might be able to get winter salad stuff from local nursery, or buy a pack of living salad from somewhere like Lidl or Aldi and plant the baby lettuces out separately to grow on.

[Yorkie]

It is generally advised to avoid manure for root crops such as carrots or parsnips because it seems to cause them to fork when growing.

I also don't know enough about the life cycle / incubation habits of the carrot root fly to know whether it is likely to overwinter in existing compost and be ready to attack new crops next year.

[Growster...]

You night be able to get some baby spinach going, but with the covers on.

I'm trying to get some away now, but may have left it too late - a few plants have germinated, but they're down on The Patch, and in the open, but, if it does work in a planter, a spinach salad in winter is a real treat!