[rowlandwells]

  having decided to go for  raised beds on the allotment for those of you who  grow on raised beds after the summer harvest do you spread manure and  lime on your raised beds and winter dig or do you go with no dig 

[snowdrops]

Lime shouldn't be applied at the same time as manure, lime if you need to now then if needed add manure in the spring. My beds aren't raised but are approx 5ft wide & the length of the plot, bordered by paths. I don't walk on them (in theory) so I treat them like you would raised beds in essence. I don't winter dig I've been happy to go with the feeling that the potato bed gets enough digging through planting & harvesting. Next year  I'm going to try a  more no dig approach to try to combat the weeds.

[oldgrunge]

I cover my beds with cardboard. This kills weeds and helps to stop nutrients being leached from the soil by rain. By the spring it's going soggy and disintegrating, and I then dig it in.

[snowdrops]

I put cardboard under my manure or compost, helps to exclude light to stop weeds germinating

[Auntiemogs]

I spread manure on mine and then covered with cardboard. 

[ptarmigan]

Lots of manure of seaweed and cardboard if I have some. Even just the manure or seaweed really cuts down on the weeding. 

[rowlandwells]

seems like many of you leave cultivation of the raised beds till spring and by covering the beds with cardboard helps keep in the natural nutrients from leaching out

so I think I'm going to follow your advise and spread the manure or lime over the beds to overwinter and then cover the beds and manure in spring

thanks all for that good sound advise