[simon_wright91]

Hiya all

sorry if this is in the wrong thread,


if you have not seen my welcome post, we have just received an allotment. when we went to look at it the guys said that the last owner grew potatoes and then turned them into the soil. he also has spread manure for the last 2 years and not really grown anything else, they said it was perfect to start tbh.

now on sunday we are going to turn the soil over and get rid of water spots and try to level it as good as we can,

we are wanting to grow as organic as possible so what is the best stuff to use to feed the veg?

i have read a little and found blood fish and bone and organic chicken manure?

should we turn some into the soil when we dig it over or should the soil be ok and then just put some fertilizer in when we plant items?

si

[3759allen]

i've started rotting down and mulching with rabbit muck. i put an add on gumtree and freecycle for old pet bedding / manure, surprising how many people replied. and best of all it's free and organic.

[compostqueen]

If it's been manured it should be fine already without adding anything else. 

If you want to be organic then get your compost bins started now. You can never make too much compost. At home get another compost bin(s) set up for your kitchen waste (not cooked food though).   A leaf bin is also a good plan and can be made very simply with chicken wire around three or four posts

Have fun!

[Hampshire Hog]

As per compost queen get the compost bins going. One point if you are going to turn the ground over look out for small potatoes from previous owner if the spuds were "turned in" . These little potatoes can carry diseases into your new crop.

Cheers HH

[simon_wright91]

Nice one. I have a rabbit! Is it just the poo I can use or the whole lot sawdust and all?

Si

[compostqueen]

You can chuck the lot in but I am a bit of a compost anorak and kept my hen poo with bedding separate from the garden and kitchen compost.  I used to empty all the muck and bedding into builders rubble sacks and then when full you have a bed in which to grow veg.  It takes ages to fill but by that time it's had chance to lose its  capacity to burn the veg.  Animal poos, especially poultry muck is a bit strong so it needs to be able to age a bit.  Your pet bedding can take an age to compost, if ever, but it will provide bulk for growing veg

[Eightball]

You can also try making your own plant feed, that way it's free! I use stinging nettles to make a feed high in nitrogen for my leafy greens and anything that needs a boost in green growth. I use Comfrey to make a feed high in potassium for stuff that has fruits (tom's,chilli's,squash, cucumber etc).

Seaweed is also really good for adding trace elements into the soil; wish I lived closer to the coast!! so I could collect and make my own feed but I buy that.

I don't have a car so getting hold of animal manure is pretty much impossible for me so I use green manures. Much easier to carry a packet of seeds! They are essentially a cover crop that you grow to chop down and dig into the soil adding nutrients. Depending on what type of green manure you choose they have a whole host of other benefits. For instance grazing rye has an extensive root system that helps break up heavy clay soil. Mustard is quick growing so suppresses weeds and is a bio-fumigant (great word!), which basically means that when it breaks down it releases natural substances that help clean up the soil of pests and make the soil generally healthier. There are plenty of other green manures but those were a couple of examples that I personally use.

[Totty]

Although your intentions are good, digging over sodden ground that still has puddles on it will do nothing but damage the ground. Just wait a while

Totty

[fatcat1955]

If you have water on the surface, i would keep off the soil until it has dried out and the soil does not stick to your boot's.

[Yorkie]

I agree with the above two posts.

Walking on ground which sticks to your boots just damages the soil structure.

[casper]

My son who is12 who has pku would be thrilled if we grew them. I think 11 quid is fine and worth ago