Fertilising/feedling part way through the growing season

Hi!

Had a look, but this seems to be an odd (!) question, I can't find an answer...

Anyway, we got our allotment in December, and I had a baby in January. We managed to dig everything over and rid it of perennial weeds, but didn't have time to dig in manure as I wanted.

We went ahead with planting anyway, and have a good selection of fruit bushes, brassicas, gourds, legumes and potatoes growing.

My question is, can I improve the soil quality after planting, or is it too late for me to do it this year?

Any suggestions are welcomed, I'm new to this and  have no clue!

Thank you!

Snipsnip, congratulations on the birth of your baby.

Congratulations too on getting your allotment and getting some stuff in.

If it were me I'd try and have a good growing year this year and use blood fish and bone and Crowmore to keep the crops fed.  If I had some materials for mulching I'd use that, otherwise I'd not worry too much this year.  Improving the soil is a long term process manuring, green manure, compost, rotation all the things you read about.  So starting immediately is not really so urgent.  When you have some bare ground in the autumn and winter then you'll have a clear run to enact a plan.

Enjoy

I agree with Snowdrops.  If the plot has not been cultivated for a bit you will find that the fertility of the soil in the first year will be fine, but you will need to feed the soil for subsequent years.   It is a good idea to see if you can source a free supply of manure.  We get ours from a local stables who are only too happy for us to take it away for free, provided we supply our own bags.    Do check though that their grass has not been treated with anything containing aminopyralid as this could damage crops.  There are threads on this site which explain the problems this has caused in the past. 

I don't use chicken manure pellets or blood, fish and bone where I have plants in the ground as there is a fox on our site.  It thinks it can smell something to eat and will try and dig it up and takes the plants with it.  So if I am going to use those I do so when the bed is empty.   It's a pity as they can give things a boost.  If you don't have foxes about, should not be a problem.