[fidget]

Hi, I am new to the site and fairly new to growing my own.  I am planning on trying to rescue an unused corner of a field just the border that hasn't been cultivated ever. I have the farmers permission to do this but have no idea where to start any advice would be greatfully received. I also want to know about some tomatoes I planted as seeds they have grown outside beautifully and are currently flowering like crazy but nothing seems to be happening other than flowers (lots of them) are they too late to bear fruit? should I leave them to see what happens or throw them out? they are on my south facing patio and fairly sheltered. I live in West Yorkshire.

[Yorkie]

Welcome fidget 

I'll move this over to the Grow Your Own section so the people there can answer your questions.

In the meantime, have a look at this page from the main site, which is about clearing an allotment

[aelf]

Hi Mate

Your toms seem to be flowering a bit late, maybe because they were started off late? They may start to produce some fruit but your problem is that the days are shortening and any fruit won't have much time to swell or ripen, especially as they are outside. Might as well leave them to grow for now though, see what happens, unless you need the space?

[Goosegirl]

My OH and I bought an acre of field a few years ago and part of that is now my raised bed veg area. Raised beds as the soil is heavy and silty and the top soi is very shallow due to farming cultivation depth, then a hard "pan" where the cultivation depth ends (Google this for a proper explanation), then very compacted sub-soil that drains badly. It depends on what your soil is like, but I'd dig a hole and see how much top soil you have and if there is any compaction there beneath from tractor wheels etc, then you can plan what to do. Potatoes break up the soil great as do leeks, though you will find that wireworms abound on farmed grass fields.

[Pompey Spud]

Just note it's not actually the potatos that break the soil up but the cultivation work from planting/harvesting etc.

 :happy: