[Moif]

Hello all!

We started on our allotment today. We're discussing how we should progress with the beds. See the image below:



We were thinking of trying the transferring thing: move the first lot to the side then move the soil from the second bed into the first bed. Except we can't get down that deep in the first bed and it's quite chalky:



So we were thinking of half raised beds. That is, get some planks have them half submerged and the transfer the first lot of soil back in. Then compost the grass. So on and so forth.

Unless anyone can suggest any other routes we could take? I am an utter novice at this stuff Thoroughly enjoyed ourselves today though!

[paintedlady]

I've never had experience of chalky soil, so can't help you there.  But I do raised beds and I find them much more manageable than whole plot - it's a personal thing and everyone has their own reasons for preference.  There's no need to submerge the wood unless you wanted to level it off so that it looks neat and tidy especially if the ground is uneven, and that way you can add compost and manure to the bed without it falling off the sides and it will also allow an increase of the depth for good soil to grow root veg (I imagine the chalky layer might be a problem?)

Personally (probably because I'm lazy  ), I wouldn't bother moving soil from one bed to another - sounds like a lot of hard work   :blink:  I just dig over once in situ (and remove grass & weeds), then add compost/manure and dig that in.  Be careful of what you put aside for composting - couch grass and perennial weeds don't die BTW

[mumofstig]

Hello........ lots of work to do then Lots of things to think of eh!
I wouldn't think all the moving of soil from bed to bed would be worth the effort involved to be honest. Just dig as deeply as you can and remove weedy topgrowth.
I think that if the chalk is that near the surface you will need to add as much manure or compost as you can find/afford. (does your local council sell cheap green waste compost, or does your allotment get a delivery now and again?) Local stables often let you take their old manure cheaply maybe you can pick some up locally.
So boards round your beds would  be a good idea, as you raise the surface over time by digging and adding all the goodies

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