[Nevthedigger]

Hi all, glad I found this site, looks like it's going to be useful to me in the coming year.... hopefully years! I have a small back garden which I am planning on digging up this winter and planting with vegetables. Basically it's a rough grassed area at the moment. I simply plan to dig it over roughly before the frosts arrive, and let them do the work in breaking down the soil to make it easier to dig in the late winter. I plan to use no chemicals of any kind, and keep things as organic as possible. Any tips or hints for a beginner's first winter? (Nev stands back and hopes for a deluge................)

[Spon]

Welcome, Nev.
Munty will be along soon with plenty of tips!

[GrannieAnnie]

Yeah, if you don't listen to anyone else, you've GOT to listen to Munty!!!!

[Aidy]

exactly what you have planned, Munty is no use when it comes organic    Let nature do the work over the winter, get as much of the roots up as possible, the problem is now the colder wetter weather is here it will take a lot longer to rot down. What is the soil like, is it clay or sandy???

[Nevthedigger]

The soil can be quite damp, but not too bad. I read somewhere that growing artichokes in the first year is a good thing... I have no idea what they taste like!  
When I was a kid my dad used to grow potatoes here with good success so spuds in one area might be an option.... Not too sure when I can start the digging as I have the builders in the house for the next 2 or 3 weeks and they are using the ground for storing things there. Looking forward to wearing the rust off the spade by the end of November.

[gobs]

Hi Nev,

All you have is getting ready for the spring, turn and tidy and weed, etc.
Plan and order seeds.
You say it's grassy, it probably will  have a lot of worms and grubs in the soil, which will affect your first crops, especially roots,but they decrease with cultivation.

 

[shaun]

hi nev you can start digging when ever you like,if the ground hasnt been used for veg then it might be a good idea to add some well rotted manure,
and it would be best to remove the grass 1st and stack it up in a corner of the garden cover it with a tarp and leave for 1- 2 years to rot down,once it has broken down you can return it to you veg patch.