Next Year Veg Plot Prep?

mardatha

After fabulous potatoes and onions this year, the husband has finally agreed to enlarge the veg growing section of the back garden. Is there anything we should or could do now to prep the ground, to make it easier next Spring? The weather up here in springtime is usually dire

Linda32

Depending on how cold it is where you are you could sow green manure. Have a Google.

Or spread manure on your beds, no need to dig it in, just leave.

You could also turn over the soil, roughly dug, if it stays in clods and let the frost do it's work.

mardatha

Don't think green manure will do up here, but think maybe turn it over and try and break it up a wee bit, then maybe put some manure on it later on. TY Linda!

Linda32

I did wonder whether it would take. Up on the hill in Scotland, I'm guessing is a little late in the year to be sowing

However, certainly turning over will certainly work and let the frost do the work.

mardatha

Meant to do this today but it was very windy and only 12c so we left it for a better day.

Apodemus

mardatha wrote: »

... only 12c so we left it for a better day.

So that will be next June, then?

mardatha

:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl: if not July!

-taff

Have you thought about no dig? Works very well if you can find enough stuff to put on the soil every year...Google charles dowding

mardatha

Husband doesnt like it - says it looks terrible, like a land-fill. He's the one who digs so I'm not fussy taff

Primrose

The other thing you can be doing is perhaps consider building a bigger compost heap somewhere. With a bigger growing area you will probably find you can never provide enough compost to dig in.

And sign up for some seed catalogues. When the rain is lashing down the windows in winter there,s nothing more pleasant than browsing through them looking for new varieties of vegetables to grow. But if you're expanding your growing range, use this opportunity to search out hardier varieties that may be better suited to your local climate.

Leeks and kale are pretty hardy.....if you like them !

mardatha

I hate kale lol but I do grow some for soup. Have grown leeks yes, and onions. We still haven't tackled that section yet, waiting for a nice still bright autumn day.