[SalB]

I'm brand new to this allotment lark and have a brand new plot. The earth is terrible. So far I have managed to dig over approx a quarter of the plot.

It has been suggested to me by several people that I should plant a load of spuds to help break the earth up.... it's very clayie.

Can I plant spuds at any time of the year?

I do have a few onion and garlic sets to put in , just to get me going with something growing to start me off.  Thought I may put them in the bit that I have already cleared (the packs say plant by mid November)

For the rest I was hoping to clear it , dig it over and chuck spuds in , but that will probably be sometime mid November before it's ready for that

Will this be OK?

Any help or suggestions most appreciated

Thanks Sal  :?

[DD.]

Can I plant spuds at any time of the year?

Wait until spring, you need to avoid the frosts.

[SalB]

Thanks for that DD. I'll just continue practising my digging technique until spring then.

Hubby put the shed up today so painting and digging over the next 2 days whilst I'm on restdays.

Will get those garlic and onion sets in by the weekend , if its the last thing I do!

Cheers Sal

[Rampant_Weasel]

digging it over now is the best thing to break it up, by the time potato planting times comes the frost will have made the soil like sand

[SalB]

Digging it is then .... Good job I've discovered that I love digging!

Sal

[gregmcalister]

I would try to add some sharp sand and as much compost and manure as I could get my hands on and dig that in. That should turn the clay into a nice dark loam - eventually.