new plot where do i start?

My View:

1)Pull out what you can – you may have to focus on part of the plot first as the weeds will come back now the ground has been turned and they see their opportunity for freedom (i.e. Light).

2) You will probably need to work with the fork to break up the big clods then rake the surface over afterwards – some crops are more fussy than others, so the amount of effort varies.

3) Forking will get rid of most air spaces. Only Brassicas need firm soil, while for other crops walking on the soil will just make it compact and that is not such a good idea!

4) Controversial I guess, but for me the best is weed suppressant covering with bark chips over it, the cheapest is grass. All have advantages and disadvantages such as ‘chips’ stick to your boots, while grass is a haven for slugs and weeds to spread from. (Actually, cheapest is probably trodden earth!)

5) Don’t put it anywhere near your roots (carrots particularly), beans could be a bit of a waste as they add nitrogen anyway, but would help for moisture, elsewhere depends on the crop and how well rotted it is – not rotted enough and it will take nitrogen out of the soil and can also cause rot in some veg.

Could add more on this but looking like war and peace already and sure others will add!

thankyou both for your advice it  is much appreciated.

…forgot to add, a ‘furrow’ is just the mark left in the ground from the plough i.e. a channel in the turned soil. (Hence where the expression having a ‘furrowed’/ wrinkled brow comes from).