Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat

Growing => Grow Your Own => Topic started by: Jabba2006 on September 06, 2007, 23:42

Title: Preparing Plot For Next Year
Post by: Jabba2006 on September 06, 2007, 23:42

Hi Everyone,
                   As this has been my first year, I haven't had a lot of luck so have now decided to prepare for next year but need to know a couple of things first.


 Does manure actually do anything ? If so, are chicken manure pellets any good ?

 Do I dig in compost now or am I better waiting till closer the time of planting ?

 Are there any tricks or tips to keeping slugs & snails away ? I have been sprinkling slug & snail pellets but find they don't last that long & are quiet expensive.


Thanks for any help..

Title: Preparing Plot For Next Year
Post by: muntjac on September 07, 2007, 10:27

ok jabba .heres what i am doing .as your new to tye plot i am gonna suggest you start as it being  complete new ground . divide the plot into 3 for a rotation system

section 1 we will designate on your rotation plant as year 1 . now start at the top and get loads of manure compost etc  dig a trench like in the pictures below and folow it through right to the border line of plot section 2
(http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g119/Karl0101/trenchdig1.jpg)

(http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g119/Karl0101/trenchdig2.jpg)
(http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g119/Karl0101/trenchdig3.jpg)

now leave this ground till spring dont worry if the weeds come we can tackle them later ...this section will contain cabbage types ( brassica's ) or potatos  if you intend to put potaos on it .dont put lime on it .if you want only brassicas then lime it 1oz to sq yard



now section 2  we will designate this section as year 2 the middle section . you can get this ground ready for spring by digging it over in a single trench method .take the first spit of soil and take it to the other end of section 2 and just lay it there for now or .now dig the soil over taking each spit into the gap created from spit 1. do this all the way to section 1
.
section 3 we designate as year 3 in the rotation programme . you can use artificial fertilisers for both section 2  and 3  . dig this section over as for section 2 .now leave that rough as before . come spring you can plant cabbages etc or potatos on section 1 and roots etc on 2 and choose what other things such as salads you want on 3 .. the folowing winter you move the new manuring down to section 2 .then to section 3 the following year .moving the plants that like that particular enviroment each time .. hope this helps .now others may have other suggestions and iu would take a balanced choice of them

Title: Re: Preparing Plot For Next Year
Post by: WG. on September 07, 2007, 10:51

Quote from: "Jabba2006"

Does manure actually do anything ? If so, are chicken manure pellets any good ?

Good advice from munty there.

To answer your questions directly.  Chicken manure pellets add short-term fertility.  Manure is MUCH better since it also adds humus to improve soil structure, water retention and medium/long-term fertility.

Slugs & snails : I just keep at them with slug pubs.  Pellets certainly work if you prefer.

Title: Re: Preparing Plot For Next Year
Post by: muntjac on September 07, 2007, 10:53

Quote from: "whisky_golf"

Quote from: "Jabba2006"

Does manure actually do anything ? If so, are chicken manure pellets any good ?

Good advice from munty there.

To answer your questions directly.  Chicken manure pellets add short-term fertility.  Manure is MUCH better since it also adds humus to improve soil structure, water retention and medium/long-term fertility.

oooops fergot that bit .nice save WG :wink:

Title: Preparing Plot For Next Year
Post by: Jabba2006 on September 08, 2007, 01:14

Hi Muntjac,

                My plot is in my garden & is only about 15 foot by 20 foot.
 Would I have enough room to grow things if it split into 3 ?

Title: Preparing Plot For Next Year
Post by: muntjac on September 08, 2007, 10:29

ah ..ok dig the lot over n manure it all .grow tatties in tubs or bin bags etc ..grow carrots in tubs as well use it for growing cabbages n other top things this next year the following year you can plant a couple rows carrots or ? :wink:

Title: Preparing Plot For Next Year
Post by: cudders on September 09, 2007, 00:01

Hi,  At what stage would you add the fretilizers to 2 and 3? Now or next year?

Thanks,

Mark

Title: Preparing Plot For Next Year
Post by: muntjac on September 09, 2007, 00:42

when your planting out and during growing :wink: