Ah! So glad I read this thread! Now I have a few questions of my own. I am in a similar position, as in I have a plot that has had nothing grown on it, so here's what I intend doing:
a)Build my pallet compost bins in the corner.
b) Split the plot into four, and then start with one quarter.
c) Remove the grass turfs from that quarter and place them upside down in the compost bin.
d) Turn (with a spade/fork or rotovate) the remaining earth.
e) Spread fresh horse manure over the earth and leave until the spring.
f) Do the same with the other three quarters.
Questions:
Do you agree with my plan?
Do I need to cover the manure laden plot, or can it remain uncovered through until spring?
Answers/suggestions please?
No other replies for you so here is mine - whether its right or not it worked for me..
I was in the same boat in November with my new plot... It was an absolute tip and had all sorts of forests of hedging and weeds and grass etc...
I covered with horse fresh manure in March, a few inches thick and double dug it all. I planted and grew loads of veg.. I would cover with manure just incorporate the grass with your digging if it has no seeds and is not couch. I would remove roots as much as possible from all grass and weeds. Do this a bit at a time and it is amazing how much you get done each time you go down. Remember you cant do it all at once - a bit each day and it is soon all done. Then let the worms and weather do their job.
I don't see any point in having seperate beds like divide into 4 etc... I use a cottage garden style and just plan to plant all the same family together and rotate using a 3 or 4 year rotation... It is a guide only and is not 100% accurate..
One should only rotovate if the soil is nice and workable. - I would still double dig if it has been fallow for a while.. Do it right for the start.
an ex cricket pitch as in bobw1956 case would
definitely need double digging and loads of manure added to get it growing well. Also would be a wireworm ploblem after being a grass area for a few years so any spuds will get eaten so I would go for earlies only for a while.
Compost box in the corner sounds good.. I also love pallets and make all sorts from them!! What size is you plot allotment?
Due to rules of this site I can't point you directly to my website blog to see how I did what
etc.. but take a look at my profile anyway..
Hope this all helps.. it worked for me..