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New allotment and planting potatoes

• Message 1. 

  Posted by andledore (U15148125) on Wednesday, 15th February 2012

  I am starting to dig over a newly acquired allotment. From what I've read, I am too late to manure for this season's spuds. Is this true? If so, what preparation should I do?
  Also, the other three rotations follow on naturally from a manured potato patch. How do I prepare them?
  In my first year, should I just put seeds in the soil and see what happens?

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• Message 2

  , in reply to message 1.

  Posted by Kleftiwallah (U13700999) on Thursday, 16th February 2012

  
  If the manure you have is completely rotted down you can nestle your spudlets on a base of manure in the bottom of the trench. ONLY IF it is well rotted. Then cover with soil.
  
  If the allotment hasn't been well tended, you will have wireworm problems until the patch has been dug a few times.
  
  On your other points, I think a general search of vegetable growing information would help as you are asking a heck of a lot of different advice for a quick reply. Cheers, Tony.

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• Message 3

  , in reply to message 1.

  Posted by Palaisglide (U3102587) on Thursday, 16th February 2012

  The gest thing you can do is look around the plots and see what they grow, the gardeners are usually keen to advise newcomers so ask.
  A lot depends on your soil, does it hold water or is it free draining heavy or light, with heavy soil it is best to sow seed into modules then plant out later.
  Rotations mean differing soil preparation most greens need some lime and it is best to check there is no club root in the ground first.
  We always put well rotted manure in the trench with the seed potato's on top then earth up, Potatos will also help break up the soil for your next crop.
  Rotation is to stop a build up of crop disease and usually goes:-
  Peas beans, then onions leeks garlic, followed by roots carrots potato's celery beetroot parsnip etc and then come cabbage sprouts Cauliflower swede turnip radish.
  If you can afford to leave some land to rest then put in five plots and do the rotation so one plot will rest or grow green manure allowing the soil to recover.
  Frank.

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• Message 4

  , in reply to message 3.

  Posted by andledore (U15148125) on Thursday, 16th February 2012

  Thank you for your replies. There is a huge amount of information, maybe too much to take in, available on what to do under ideal conditions. A one off bit of advice is good. Cheers.

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• Message 5

  , in reply to message 4.

  Posted by hereisabee (U2342191) on Friday, 17th February 2012

  Why not substitute farmyard manure for a fertilizer like pelleted chicken manure and a bulky compost made from recycled material (garden waste). This okay for planting seed potatoes into and then you can continue your crop rotation as normal?

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