[Sir Lance-Allot]

We have this tremendous resource (the forum) and a few books as Christmas presents, all of which we will spend some time researching. But I am going to be really lazy here and simply ask, from a very basic  viewpoint, what should we be doing now and what 'basic' crops should we be looking at attempting?

Here is the plot. I have a small pile of muck and daleks on order, no shed, no greenhouse. By the end of next week it will have all been dug over. Most grass has been removed although there is some grass in the turned over area. I'll deal with that in time.

[Yorkie]

What you should be doing now??

Looking at seed catalogues in a warm house if the soil sticks to your boots  

Apart from that, if conditions permit, I would suggest you get all the grass and other weed roots out as far as you can before starting to plant.  It's a nightmare trying to remove it from among plants...

Also consider whether you want raised beds or not - start building them if so.  Before making this decision, you will need to decide on the layout of the plot itself - which direction the beds should run, how many, any permanent plants which will be going in this season, etc.  

NB if these are starter plots which you will definitely graduate from to a larger plot in a season or so, bear in mind whether you want to plant permanent stuff and put in structures now, or wait till you get a bigger plot.

Re crops, the most important thing is what you and your family like to eat!

It's a bit late to be putting anything in the ground from scratch now, I'd think about preparing for spuds - they are said to be good for new ground.  They traditionally go in around March - April so you've got plenty of time.  You'll need to get seed potatoes from somewhere about 6 weeks before planting, and chit them.

I'll stop now and let others contribute.

Also, look on the Information tab at the top of the screen, there's a mont-by-month guide as well as how to clear a plot etc.  Great info.

[Clampit]

What Yorkie says