[dorsetmills]

We have just taken over an allotment that is relatively new - it was pasture a couple of years ago. Nice sunny spot. The soil is either and sandy clay or a clayey sand. We have divided the plot into three for the conventional three crop rotation but didn't get the plot in time to dig in any manure. Should we be a bit heavy handed this season with fertiliser ?

[savbo]

guess you could use plenty of pelleted chicken manure on the spud beds, but wouldn't on the other 2? one could get a bit of BFB as the season goes, and leave the other one

[safetrade]

I have the same problem,I think blood fish and bone is the way I am gonna go this year and get plenty ov manure in now so it rots down for next year.

[noshed]

Get some comfrey in for future years if you can.

[Kleftiwallah]

Blood, fish and bone is a good slow release fertilizer.  Chicken pooh pellets are a quicker acting fertilizer.     Cheers,     Tony.

[JayG]

BFB seems irresistible to foxes who will make a mess of your plot if you have them in the area.

Dried pelleted chicken manure seems a bit less attractive to them (once they've tasted it!) and Growmore, being inorganic, not at all.

My soil is sandy sand  and nothing gets planted without lightly forking in some PCM and also compost to help with moisture and food retention.

I usually feed at least once more during the summer with PCM, Growmore, or a liquid feed for a quick boost - a good indication is how well your crops are doing compared to others around you - your soil may well be more fertile than mine and it takes a while to get to know it and work out how much feed it needs.