[rhubarb]

hello! being completely new to gardening we need advice. we have recently started our first plot and have finally cleared 5 years worth of weeds.  we have planted potatoes and now we would like to sow various vegetable seeds but are not sure if  we should dig in multi purpose compost or sow direct into the soil and then feed with gromore.  which would  be most beneficial?  thanks for any advice

[peapod]

Hi Rhubarb and welcome to our crazy place  (well sometimes  :blink: )

It really depends on your soil,for example if its heavy clay then a digging of MP will be good for now,and you can build up your soil with organic matter the longer you have it. It also depends on what went on before..my lotty hadnt been grown on for at least 5 years and probably more, so once I cleared the weeds and the rubbish it was in great condition.
Tell us more about your soil conditions and we can let you know better than that 

[Trillium]

First of all you need to decide whether you're comfortable with chemical fertilizers such as Growmore, or whether you'd prefer to be organic and not use Growmore but rather manures, compost and such.

If you're like me and want to be organic, then definitely find some affordable compost or composted manure and add it to the soil and mix in either with spade or rotovator. Some bonemeal would also help in the mix as its a slow release feed (so to speak).
Not all seeds directly seeded into outside soil will yield a crop or one that would mature in time such as tomatoes, sweet peppers and aubergines. You'd need to start them indoors now or simply buy them the first year until you're more sure of your abilities. Things such as peas and beans can be direct seeded when the soil warms more or you can rush as many others do and start them indoors now. Spinach and lettuce can be direct seeded now as they're cool weather crops. And you might want to check out the site owner's book, Growing Vegetables which you'll notice on the home page (and follow the links in). It's a very handy book to have. Whatever you do, be aware that pigeons are the gardener's scourge and crops must be tightly netted as protection from them.

[rhubarb]

wow that was quick!  we dug out various tall grasses (pampass?) that had one stem but a huge root system and a variety of small weeds with bigger root systems and a stubborn desire to stay.  we have been told that we have good soil, but wouldnt know any different although its not clay thankfully. 

 we want to be as organic as possible so bonemeal is the way to go for us.  we have started seeds off in a greenhouse and are pleasently surprised by the results, just waitingto plant them.  thanks for the help!