Got started....
Managed to make a start on the plot today, cleared away all the rubbish, and made a token start with the digging.
Not going to be much chance to do much over the next couple of days due to the weather (again), the ground is rather damp due to recent weather and the ground is a little on the sticky side and heavy going, but glad I have got started on it.
Hope to make further progress in the coming week........
Hello ? (let's have a name)
Don't be too eager with the digging. If the soil sticks to your boots and your spade don't do it. At this time of year if I was winter digging I would use a fork with flat tines and only take small spits, about 2 or 3 inches at a time that way you won't chop into any perennial roots lurking under ground.
Depending on your finances if you GOOGLE back saver garden tools you will find a tool which I wouldn't be without. The original version was called WOLF TEREX JUMP SPADE.
Sometimes they come available on E Bay but because of their popularity they are becoming quite pricey. Mine cost me 7quid but that's another story
Anyway back to the digging. If you must do your digging while its damp keep an old blunt knife in your pocket so that you can keep the whatever tool you are using clean It's amazing how soon you will work up a shine. When you are finished for the day, clean your tools and just rub with an oily rag and they will last forever.
I've got a wilkinson sword stainless fork and spade which I had for my 21st birthday and its in constant use 53 years later.
Happy gardening
Lottyman
Thanks Lottyman,
The ground is quite heavy at the mo, (due to the weather) so I am having to dig in small cuts, otherwise I can see me putting my back out........lol
Thank you for the info on the Terex Jump spade, I will keep an eye out for it.
The one fork I am using at the mo is also a Wilkinson which was bought at least 2 decades ago and is still going strong.
As for perrenial roots, I don't think there any in the section that I have started in, but the ground appears much lower than the rest of the plot. I thinks that the previous plot occupant had taken the top foot or so of soil and put in the raised bed that also occupies the plot.
I have checked the consistency of the raised bed, but that also seems rather heavy, I am wondering if it will be to hard for the carrots, so I may have to take the top foot or so out of raised bed and mix in some sand peat and fertilizer with what is left? your thoughts on this would be appreciated........???
Oh and the name is Alan.............
Hello again Alan
My name is Alan as well, anyway back to the plot. Where the plot is lower than the rest just try turning over a few spits and see if you turn up any subsoil that means your topsoil is shallow so keep that part for salad crops and beetroot etc but in the meantime get as much rotted manure, old compost etc asyou can lay your hands on.
It's sometimes possible to get a load of NIGHT SOIL from your local sewage works, It might sound a bit grotesque but believe me it can be fantastic and it definitely does not smell. Another method is to go to your local builders merchant and have a bag of sand delivered (preferably washed river sand) but any will do. Take out the heavy soil from the raised bed and replace with the sand it needs to be at least 12inches deep, more if possible when the sand has settled and is wet have a bag or two of good quality compost on hand ready to be put through a riddle.Use a piece of pipe or a long dibber to make holes the full depth of the sand filling each one with the riddled compost before moving on to the next The holes can be about 3inches apart
When it comes round to planting time put just 2 or 3 seed in each hole and when they germinate leave the strongest seedlig to grow and cut the weaker ones off with scissors. When buying your seed make sure you get a stump rooted variety.Make sure to put a barrier round to protect from the dreaded carrot fly. It's all hard work I know but I think you will find it worthwhile
Happy gardening
Lottyman
PS Jam jars over the top of the seeds help them to germinate quicker
Hi there Alan,
Sadly old manure is difficult to get old of in our area, there is plenty of fresh stuff supplied free of charge by the allotment committee, so I will be looking to bank a fair amount of that stuff in the corner of the plot some where and let it rot down till next year.
Also sadly no local sewage works in the area, will have to shop around on GOOGLE maps and search the nearest out.
It definitely looks like the option with the raised bed is to change the top 10-12in, (looking to seed Chantenay), as for the lower level ground, there still appears to be at least a fork+ depth of good soil.
Have some good black rubber sheeting available to help warm the ground up a bit, as it is supposedly dropping below zero for most of this week which can only slow progress down...........
Hope to see a good change in weather soon.............(fingers crossed)
Looks a fab tool Mick, but rather costly just to dig the garden.....lol
I do have a cheaper method however..........?
I invite the whole family to my garden party, but they must bring a garden fork with them...........lol
Had some really cold weather lately, and it was good to get out on the plot for a couple of hours today and dig a little..........
I was up their yesterday got my polly tunnel up and recycled bench made :-)
Hello Mick
As Surrey is such a large built up area there must be a sewage treatment works somewhere in the vacinity If farm yard manure is not available night soil is a good substitute. The stuff I have dealt with over the years is both pleasant to use and does not stink so it might be worth a try if you can get some.
Happy gardening
Lottyman