So, in the final push now on the 1st full year on the allotment, and what a year it's been. Some great successes (cabbages, potatoes), some epic failures (courgettes, cucumbers) and some suprise hits (kholrabi, borlotti beans). We've stuck to the plan, close planting loads of different veg to see what we use and what grows well and what doesnt and now have a much clearer idea what we want to achieve.
In the middle of all this we've managed to buy a new house which has sapped our time hugely and with two young children and full time jobs its been a mission at times but we've persevered and its been well worth it.
Next year, we're going to take a different approach and use half of the growing area instead for fruit bushes and trees and veg wise grow just what we use a lot of with a few treats.
Also, and this is the big one, we're going no-dig as despite several full scale dig overs and regular weeding over the last 18 months, the weeds just keep coming and coming and seem to grow really quickly. One missed weekend and its back to square 1. Ive heard enough about the reduced weeds no dig brings to have to at least give it a go..
We will have 4 11x9ft beds for veg and an 11 x 40ft area for the fruit. Im not doing raised beds but will edge the beds to ground level with buried scaffolding planks to keep the edges neat (grass borders see). I've started harvesting stong cardboard to lay so once this is done how thick do the layers of compost/manure need to be? One of the beds will be carrots/parsnips etc so that will be compost only. How thick for this?
I dont want raised 'pillow' beds so if anyone could also give me an idea of how much the extra height will settle, that would also be grand.
Thanks for reading, looking forward to hearing your advice & tips!