[nylonhandle]

Have half an allotment here in Bath, decide to split it up into thirds to tackle first this year, second next and third the following year.

Had to clear some sods and the ground is fairly claylike but want to get some staples in, should I bung on some topsoil and got for it or just add FBB do the best we can and add loads of WRM in the autumn.

Any ideas?

[Stevens706]

Cover the areas you don’t intend to grow on to keep the weeds down, you still have time to add well rotted manure to the ground and dig it in, ready for spring, I would also concentrate on only growing things you really like and tend to be expensive / tasteless in the shops for this year.

[bigben]

Focus on clearing an area for growing and as Stevens suggested hack down the other areas and cover with cardboard, weed fabric etc.

You can actually plant thru this so if your pushed for time and unable to fully dig and clear you can plant spuds, sweedcorn, squash and lots of other stuff by cutting holes in the covering material and just preparing a hole to start of your stuff. In this way you get something from the ground and avoid anyone claiming you have not cultivated your allotment. On our site unless you grow a certain percentage you get your wrist slapped. I think it is two thirds in the first year.

[nylonhandle]

Yup got some 200 micron sileage poly and covered the 2/3 I'm leaving till next year.

Decided to grow onions, leeks, garlic, parsnips and some spuds this year.

Soil is not brill with some clay, should I try and improve it with solid matter (topsoil, compost etc), or just bung on a load of Fish blood and Bone and add well rotted manure in the autumn?

[mumofstig]

Add FB&B regularly though the season.............. it is what I did last year on my new plot, and I was surprised with just how well things grew.
Improve with home made compost or manure in the autumn

[nylonhandle]

Nice one MOS thought it may be a short-cut too far but I'll give it a go.