SOIL
To create a successful garden, we select our favourite
plants, arrange where best to put them and give them the soil conditions best
suited to their needs. Some research is always handy to establish the best
plants for dry soil, damp soil, poor soil, shady areas, suntraps and even on
the allotment you need to know which plants need very fertile soil and those
that are best on land manured the previous year. Many problems start with the
new garden around new property once the builders have left the site. Poor soil,
consolidation, poor drainage and buried builders debris are normal.
Once you start to dig over the site, coupled with a visual
inspection you will quickly determine the state and nature of soil, and if
drainage is needed.
Anna starting the winter digging |
Adding bulky organic manures feed the soil increasing worm
activity and soil organisms which break down the manures into humus. This
creates a fertile crumb structure which opens up the soil, aerates it and
improves the drainage. Humus also darkens the soil which then warms up more
efficiently. On allotments where a four year rotation is practised it is usual
to lime one section each year where the brassicas are to be planted. On sandy
soils often deficient in minerals consider using rock dust to improve mineral
uptake.
Shredding branches at City Road Allotments |
Compost heap
This is where the fertility comes from. I compost everything
unless it is diseased , e.g. clubroot or rose black spot or has seed heads such
as poppies. Even domestic newspapers, utility bills, bank statements can be
shredded and woody material such as shrub prunings can be chipped and shredded
then added to the heap. Grass cuttings, leaves and annual weeds will all rot
down. However discard or dry out any perennial weeds such as couch grass, mares
tail, nettles, willow herb, dockens or dandelion.
Keep the heap for nine months and try to turn it over at
least once. Keep it moist to assist worms and organisms, but also keep it
covered to retain the moisture and warmth.
Green Manuring
This is an excellent method of improving soil fertility.
When the early crops such as broad beans, early potatoes, sweet corn, dwarf
french beans or even old strawberry plots are finished, dig or fork over the
ground, add some fertiliser then scatter some mustard, clover or tares. As soon
as the first flowers appear, trample down the stems and dig it in.
Wee jobs to do this week
Pruning Black Hamburg grape vine |
Prune grape vines in
the greenhouse as well as outdoors. Vines under glass are usually trained as
upright rods spaced about 18 inches apart with spurs established about ten
inches apart up these rods. Prune all young shoots right back to a couple of
buds from the main stem (rod). Grapes grown outdoors can also be grown as rods
or if covering trellis, fences or sheds left to form a framework of main stems
spaced about a foot apart. Again spurs are encouraged to form about ten inches
apart and in November to January all young shoots are cut back to a couple of
buds. Commercially outdoor grapes are trained in the single or double guyot
system to form well managed rows with plenty of light and growth restricted in
summer to encourage fruiting.
END