Late allotment acquisition

[Anwen]

Hello all,

I am new to allotments but for years I have worked my grandfather's veg plot in his garden. I have acquired an allotment in the past month. It is heavy clay soil!! I have forked over half of it, with the other half still to do this weekend. Due to shift work I cannot always spend weekends down there! I intend to fork it and spend time raking it now the weather is drier. I would like to plant reasonably soon. What should I put on the soil to improve it when the seedlings are starting off?
I can provide pics if necessary. It is a half allotment at approx 36ftx18ft.

Thanks in advance
Anwen

[alldigging]

Late? It's not late!

Andy (samurailord) got his allotment in July and 7 weeks later made this video to show what he'd done!
On the Allotment at the end of August 2012 - YouTube

[Anwen]

Ah phew that's ok! So in that case I have plenty of time to fork it this weekend without panicking about planting!

[veggiechicken]

Hi Anwen and welcome. The weather has been so peculiar that not many of us have been direct sowing outdoors yet. You've plenty of time!!
Could you put your location onto your profile please - as it helps us understand your local weather conditions when answering questions

[MarkHackwell]

Not late atall I have got my allotment up too scratch just about and am about to now get a family one and start that and hoping to get alot of stuff on that this year like cabbage and cauliflowers. You can sow anything at the moment and if you can't get everything done in may theres the whole summer yet for lots of things .

[redser]

Dont forget the seeds Anwen Use your evenings and start sowing some things in modules. You can transplant them out later when you have the site sorted out.

[DonSpillacy]

I got mine three weeks ago so am in a similar position to yourself, though mine's a full plot but it is also heavy clay. Someone suggested on another thread to plant potatoes as they help to break up the soil while they grow.

[zazen999]

Top tip - use cardboard and plant through. It keeps the moisture in and stops the cracking that we get in the summer, and decide on where you want paths and stick to them - otherwise you have to dig over the whole plot every single year.

However clay is the best soil to start off with; it holds nutrients and water. Mine was thick hard and had just been rotavated and so the couch grass was rampant; cardboard helped keep it under control as when you do come to dig it out, the lack of sunlight has weakened it somewhat.

Other things to put on the surface and plant through - shredded paper, newspaper, sawdust, chopped and dried weeds, coffee grounds - the list is pretty substantial.

[alldigging]

Someone suggested on another thread to plant potatoes as they help to break up the soil while they grow.

They are not miracle workers but the digging to plant them, the earthing up, mulching and then digging to harvest can really help improve the soil.


You can of course surface plant them http://www.planetepassion.eu/wildlif...nd-France.html

and
http://www.gardenorganic.org.uk/orga...g/nd_spuds.php

[Anwen]

Thanks for your wonderful replies. In that case I will stop panicking about being late planting. I will fork over the rest tomorrow and rake it over. I fancy trying the cardboard! What are your thoughts on raking through some bags of compost?

[Anwen]

Oh and I live in Bristol and my plot is in Little Stoke which is North Bristol

[rustylady]

Thanks for your wonderful replies. In that case I will stop panicking about being late planting. I will fork over the rest tomorrow and rake it over. I fancy trying the cardboard! What are your thoughts on raking through some bags of compost?

Don't buy compost, start making your own. Seriously, it would cost you a fortune to buy enough compost to make a difference.

[rustylady]

Oh and I live in Bristol and my plot is in Little Stoke which is North Bristol

Anwen, add your location to your profile, then it will show on your posts (I'm in Lowestoft as you can see). Bristol is fine as a location - I don't think any of us would know where Little Stoke is.

[Anwen]

I just added my location

[dandalady]

yes Anwen its not too late at all. what about putting some rhubarb in?