[mikehorne]

We are currently awaiting or allocated allotment with our local council, until then my Dad had given over his old growing area of the garden, he is getting old and cant put his heart into growing, we have taken it over so we may home our novice skills.

The area is around 6m x 2m, on a clay bed but over the years he has dug in the usual household compost from his composting bins each year potatoes have been grown on the same area with good results, broad beans & carrots have also been grown on the same plots over the years.

My question is : should an alternative compost/manure be dug into the soil and should i rotate? the growing area? sorry if i sound vague but we are complete amateurs at gardening this is our first year of growing from seeds in our greenhouse.

mike

[fatcat1955]

Keep piling on the compost but add a general purpose fertilizer like fish blood and bone. A lot is mentioned about rotation  and it is a good idea in general to stop a build up of soil dieseases and pests. Sometimes it is not practical due to space and type of crops you wish to grow. Only use certified diesease free seed potatoes in this case.

[Paul Plots]

Some good advice from fatcat.......

Keep adding the compost (from a compost bin... don't buy any). My father gave up his allotment (or rather let me take it over after helping for a while) but, at 96, he still takes a keen interest.

I'm sure your dad will have lots of useful tips and ideas so keep him involed. 

[compostqueen]

Get the composting facilities going so you always have fresh material to hand when planting or for providing a bit of a tilth for seed sowing and for such things as earthing over spuds etc if the soil is hard and clumpy has it has been during the hot, dry spell.  Manure will also be invaluable too

[Kleftiwallah]

I'm sure a few gardening questions will bring back a sparkle to the old chap's eyes.   Cheers,    Tony.