[Bluedave]

Hello Girls and boys and a Happy New year to everyone.

I'm a bit behind with digging my veg patch over due to all the rain (and then snow) we've had in the last couple of months. Can I dig it over in the next couple of months or will that cause me any problems (apart from the fact that it will be hard work!) - even if it's frozen and/or wet? If I don't start digging soon then come March i'll have a shed full of seeds and nowhere to plant them!.

[DD.]

In my opinion you shouldn't even contemplate it.

If it's frozen, you'll dig the frost in and it won't thaw, if it's wet you'll end up compacting the soil structure.

I've got 800 sq yards to do and I'm just going to have to do it as & when the weather permits, even if it's dig & sow as you go on.

[Bluedave]

thanks for the reply DD.

So wait til it warms up and dig when it's not raining then!

I've only got about 60 sq yards to do but it's taken me ages to dig about a third of it because of all the rubbish that is in there - it was basically used as a dumping ground before and i've had to dig three or four feet down in some instances to get stuff out (like old tables and chairs!) and I've had to break out a load of concrete that was about a foot under in parts of it  - hopefully i'm thorugh the worst of it and the rest won't take too long.

Digging as I sow is one option but the whole patch slopes and I want to try and level it first (assuming theres not something horrible lurking underneath the top of the slope!).

[DD.]

My first plot was awful when I took it on, full of couch grass, really compacted etc. etc., so for the first year I didn't sow any seed in it, just spuds & established plants (brassicas beans, sweet corn etc.). Not even any peas!

[JayG]

Digging as I sow is one option but the whole patch slopes and I want to try and level it first (assuming theres not something horrible lurking underneath the top of the slope!).

Hopefully not the rest of the WW2 concrete bunker!! 

[southwells farm]

Don't worry you're not on your own with this one. I for one am in the same situation!

[grinling]

Depending on the weather March might be early up at yours. You can also plant indoors and move out when site is ready. If doing brassicas they like firm soil anyway. I start alot indoors (parsnips,peas) so I can see how they are doing.

[PennyS]

Don't worry you're not on your own with this one. I for one am in the same situation!

Me too.  Still got loads of my plot to dig and there's no way it's going to be any time soon! I did what I could do before the weather turned but... well I'll just have to hope the weather clears early. Thankfully it doesnt' get waterlogged so I might get digging in February.

Penny 

[RichardA]

I think we are all in the same situation - all I do (or try to do) is get all other jobs out of the way first such as any DIY jobs, tidying up and cleaning greenhouses and tunnel etc and sharpening mowers and tools and even reluctantly getting all office jobs (I work from home) as far forward as I can. Then once the weather is fit I can spend longer days outside.
Be adaptable - plant as you go if you have to. Surprising what a good spell around Easter which is quite early this year will let you achieve.

[BADBACK]

Hi bluedave

i took on my lotti 2 years ago i got stuck in diging straight away
in 3 hours i had 1 car wheel, 1 sack with bones in it , and top of the shop
1 morrisons trolly,who the ###### would bury one of them

[PennyS]

Hi bluedave

i took on my lotti 2 years ago i got stuck in diging straight away
in 3 hours i had 1 car wheel, 1 sack with bones in it , and top of the shop
1 morrisons trolly,who the ###### would bury one of them

Blimey, and there was me worrying about a bit of couch grass!

[savbo]

 should have told the police about the bag with bones in and see if they'd dig over the rest of the plot for you...

M

[DavidT]

Hi bluedave


1 morrisons trolly,who the ###### would bury one of them

A Tescos customer, obviously.

[Aidy]

and top of the shop
1 morrisons trolly,who the ###### would bury one of them

Or a Hamster 

[bayleaf]

Got to be careful about hamsters. My daughter had three. All got buried (over time) in a flower bed after they passed on to hamster heaven or hell. Then it rained really badly for ages and the three little houses they were buried in reappeared. It was like return of the hamster zombies.

The hamster zombies? Weren't they a local punk band Aidy?