A year away from the plot tips and suggestions please

[Two_Sheds]

trouble with anything in pots is that they need daily watering in the summer

[Mikey]

As far as I'm aware to keep a plot you need to have cultivated a 1/3 of it. Not sure if this is true of your area big D.

I'd go down the cover route and plant some things though it. Pumpkins are great as they are good ground covers as are potatoes. Plant anything that doesn't require watering or weeding.

[Veggielot]

I would. Go for corgette and the like, should pretty look after themselves. You could also plant some green compost but you woulds need someone to cut it down.

Good luck with the op

[marchogaeth]

If you're prone to blight, then spuds might be more trouble than they're worth. Imagine having to dig out a field of black slimy potatoes ....

I would like to put in a word for Sarpo Mira which is highly vigorous, low input and so blight resistant I had to chop it back to harvest my crop this year. The potatoes do taste different to others but their growing season is so long they could well be the answer to keeping your plot looking cultivated.

The people in Bangor Sarvari Research Trust | Home recommended Axona over Mira when I was in contact with them earlier this year.

[Aberdeenplotter]

The overwintering onions will most certainly need weeding in the spring/summer so if your wife can cope with that, I agree that is a good start. You could always plant the onions in holes cut through membrane which will keep the weeds down. Spuds are a great idea and if you are digging the ground over now, your wife should be able to plant them relatively easily in the spring time.

I agree with Chris, fruit bushes give a decent yield for minimum effort. Some bark over weed proof membrane will reduce any need for weeding.

On our site, we have in the past joined in to blitz plant a neighbour's plot who was recovering after a serious car accident. How are your neighbouring plotters in such circumstances? Just getting the crops in can be a major thing but if you are digging over now, the winter frosts should make the ground ready to plant in short order in the spring so any help needed should be minimal.

[Two_Sheds]

plant some green compost but you woulds need someone to cut it down.

You mean green manures? They don't need to be cut down, you can leave them to go to flower for the bees, then they will self-seed. The OP can start cutting them down the following year, when he's fit again

The overwintering onions will most certainly need weeding in the spring/summer

- Or mulching, with grass clippings. That will feed the onions & keep the weeds down

- or, not weeding. The year I moved house I neglected my onions and they were swallowed up by chickweed, totally smothered. I had the best crop of onions, ever (I think because the living mulch of chickweed kept moisture in the soil)

[darcyvuqua]

What would be the best green manure to use I have a gift voucher for T&M so might go down that path


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[Two_Sheds]

depends on your soil and your requirements:

https://www.greenmanure.co.uk/

[darcyvuqua]

Wow just had a call from my surgeons coordinator asking if I wanted surgery on the 25th of this month I was in shock as it was only 9 days ago I was approved for the op she then stated I was down as urgent and there had been a cancellation I declined as my wife has no time off work due to my dad's passing

However I'm impressed that it has happened so quickly


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[veggiechicken]

What a shame you can't take the cancellation darcy At least you know that you well up on the list. Hope its done soon for you