Old Geezer the Gardening Guru: Preparing your vegetable plot
Thursday, 13 October 2011 9:39 AM
By Old Geezer
The next few weeks are arguably the most important in the gardening year, particularly for vegetable plots.
Whether your plot is already up and running or overrun with pesky weeds and rubbish this is the perfect time to start your preparation for next year's crops.
First thing to do is to select a spot for your compost heap. There is no need to spend a fortune; you just need a few sturdy posts and something to keep it tidy. Old pallets, even a couple of sheets of old tin roofing will do fine. Leave one end open for access.
If something will rot, then it can go on the compost heap. Brambles, nettles and old crops are all fine as long as you chop them up so nothing is more than about six inches long. Even woody stuff or hedge trimmings (the dreaded Leylandii) will make excellent compost.
Now is the perfect time to dig as much of your plot as you can, breaking it up for the winter.
Digging is a bit of an art form in itself. The object is to leave the ground fairly level, with any rubbish or compost totally buried. To achieve this always dig left to right, then any surface rubbish falls into the trench and is buried by the next spade full. Of course if you are left handed then you will find it easier right to left.
It is important to get some organic matter dug in at this time of the year, especially if it is a new plot. Now with a new plot you may not have access to compost, in which case a shaken out bale of straw (preferably wet) will help. Failing that leaves are useful. Alternatively it might be worth trying the local council as many sell a form of compost quite cheaply.
Two important things to remember: digging is not an Olympic sport to see who can lift the biggest lump. Don't do it. Instead take even and 'bite sized' spits (spade lengths) of four to six inches.
If you have a new spade, don't be afraid to sharpen it a bit. You don't need it razor sharp but the leading edge should be about half the thickness of the main blade; it's best to sharpen the back of the blade, not the face. Always clean your spade when you finish, wiping it over with an oily rag if you can.
One other little tip: if there is any part of your plot you can't dig because there are crops growing, it is still worth keeping it hoed. You should do this even if you can't see any weeds. Not only will this allow rain to soak in, it will also encourage weed seeds to germinate, so when you hoe next week you will kill them.
A cheery note to end on!
All the best, Old Geezer.
Next week – sowing and growing early peas.
Old Geezer (Paul Rix) is the author of 'Beyond the Potting Shed' a comprehensive guide to growing your own. Available from all good book shops or Amazon.
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