[Stratts]

I went to my plot earlier to do a bit of weeding and tidying of the rows where I have pulled some beetroot and carrots and when I stood back I realised I'm a bit stuck as to what to do next?!

I have loads of jobs to do like build cold frames, cloches, leaf mould bin, etc, but I am unsure now how to make the most of the growing space I have prepared and what to sow that I can scoff in a few weeks?   

Anyone else ever sort of get 'stuck' this time of year?  We don't have that much to harvest yet as I never got the plot til June?

Cheers

[mumofstig]

I'd start on that list of jobs, there's not much to be sowing now..look at the sowing chart
http://www.allotment-garden.org/vegetable/general/sowing-harvest-vegetable-chart.php


You could get some overwintering onions and garlic to plant soon, but they won't be ready till midsummer.

[Benandbill]

Radish might do alright for you now if you're desperate to grow something?  Otherwise, probably best to get a load of manure delivered and cover all your beds with it ready for spring.  That's what everyone's telling me I need to do but I still haven't found a supplier.  I need to get my skates on.

[sunshineband]

Don't forget to avoid manuring the beds where you will be growing roots next year as they will grow funny shapes otherwise 

and manure will also come up with a forest of weeds if it has not been composted down in a really hot heap to kill them off ... weed seeds survive that old digestive process 

It can come as a bit of  ashock if you are unprepared 

[Stratts]

Cheers guys I forgot I'd bought some winter spinach greens that can go in as well.

I think I'll be getting my building head on soon and I have a good supply of years old manure as I shoot the rabbits at a stables.  Just gotta do the bean test 1st to check for that dodgy stuff that begins with A!!

[Michael D]

Chicken poo   seams  to be the best to use if you are looking for weed free mature.

[aelf]

I stack up a list of 'projects' to do at this time of year, whilst the weather and daylight hours are still ok. Things like rearranging layouts, building stuff, and also, it's a good time to start cleaning everything down and plan your planting for next year, whilst this year is still fresh in your mind.

My project list this year includes:

build a new cold frame (done)
make some portable netted frames for next year's cabbages
build a frost proof potato store
fix the greenhouse
etc etc

[shokkyy]

How do you build a frostproof potato store? I've always been puzzled about storing spud sacks over winter. I can't keep them in the house because it's too hot but if I put them in the shed or garage the frost gets them. I've even tried putting them in an old fridge in the garage, with door slightly ajar, but that didn't work well either.

[aelf]

How do you build a frostproof potato store? I've always been puzzled about storing spud sacks over winter. I can't keep them in the house because it's too hot but if I put them in the shed or garage the frost gets them. I've even tried putting them in an old fridge in the garage, with door slightly ajar, but that didn't work well either.

Yes, I've had the same problems and lost all my stored spuds in last year's vicious winter. I'm not sure I have the answer, but it is a project on my list. My plan (experiment, really), is to put a shelf up in my shed, the whole width of the shed, 4 ft high about 3 ft deep. That will creat a space under the shelf that I can line with some spare loft insulation that I have, held in place with chipboard. The lining will be on all sides, top and bootom. Then I will make a door to go on the front, also lined with loft insulation to make a store cupboard. My spuds can go in there in canvas sacks.

I reckon that will do for most overnight frosts. If we have a longer deep freeze, I have a small parrafin greenhouse frost heater that lasts for 2 days on one fill of parrafin so I'll put that in the store cupboard and keep it topped up for as long as needed.

Don't know if it will work, but it's worth a go 

[min200]

Im in limbo as well.  Its too early to start digging all of the grass and weeds out yet. BUT I am have a total rearrnge this winter of the plot so I know I will be busy soon!

[teasmade!]

i'm not stuck in limbo but my lotty bug seems to have disappeared 

i think it could be the darker evenings as when i get there in the evening its not long and i have to go home 

just hoping for a little good weather at the weekend, fingers crossed, perhaps its lack of light and some time down there in daylight will help

[gowing238]

i have been planting some green manure as i pull things up now.  Grows quick too so you dont feel like your not growing anything!!

[sunshineband]

How do you build a frostproof potato store? I've always been puzzled about storing spud sacks over winter. I can't keep them in the house because it's too hot but if I put them in the shed or garage the frost gets them. I've even tried putting them in an old fridge in the garage, with door slightly ajar, but that didn't work well either.

Store mine in an unheated garage. Keep them in hessian or paper sacks, standing on pallets, which have a layer of polystyrene wall insulation on them (so they are not on the concrete floor), and wrap around the block of sacks with a layer of old fabric, then bubble plastic (keeps the inside dry from condensation). Have a similar insulation over the top.

Werks fer me 

PS Not rat proof, as I fund to my cost, so this year rat bait will be on the shelf above, just in case