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revamping a veg plot

ninnin Posts: 216
in Fruit & veg
I have not been well the last couple of years and not been able to love my veg plot . It has become over run with weeds which are now being cleared luckily most roots are not running too deep. I had raised beds which are in need of a bit of tlc , some rotten wood. I am making the beds narrower so easier to reach and with boards to perch on at sides.most of the beds were filled with predominantly well rotted horse muck and some fresh muck at the base especially on old tree stumps. My budget is not large and most will go on plants and making the garden wobbly me friendly. I just wanted to ask how much compost. Mulch, topsoil people thought should be added to this sort of area. I do have quite a few worms but not loads one in every fork or so. Many thanks for any tips you can give . Nin

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  • ninnin Posts: 216
    I just re read this if I can clarifi it was the old beds that were filed with muck the year before I became ill. And not been touched in two years.
  • IgrowfromseedIgrowfromseed Posts: 284
    Glad to hear you have managed to get back into to veg gardening. I've got raised beds which makes management so much more relaxing and enjoyable. Sounds like you are already making good progress with clearing the beds. I would incorporate more organic matter which will enrich the soil and encourage more worms. Do you have a compost 'heap', if not then I would start one for all the kitchen/garden organic matters. I've got 4 composters which produce lovely sweet compost that is used for potting on or going onto my raised beds. I grow all my veg from seed and my favourite is our lettuce which we treat as pick-and-come-again. 
  • Nanny BeachNanny Beach Posts: 8,719
    How big are the beds, (could we have a pic)  it amazing how a garden can run away with you, even if you are ill for a short time,my Hubby made our raised beds with gravel boards which are tough and cheap as chips, yes deffo compost heap (he made our last ones with palletts, which you can often get free) we inherited 2 green plastic ones this time, he has made doors in them, because it was ridiculous you had to lift up the bottom to get the compost ou! See if you can find a stable near you, often free manure.  I keep salad containers (round ones) to use as propogator lids on pots, yogurt pos for sowing seeds, (I dont bother with drainage holes just water less often)My oldest son takes protein shakes, I use the containers for growing salad,courgettes,strawberries, I have bought some lovelly stuff on e-bay, a big mediterean looking terracotta pot for £2.50, freecycle always worth a look.   Thats the economy tips over with!! Amount, depends on the size of the beds, really how long is a piece of string! We chuck some home made compost on ours, the old compost from hanging baskets, etc, a few inches of manure, (I am afraid bought in bags this time, probably abou 3 inches deep, some is lightly turned on, then extra for the sweet peas, and rhubarb.  Council often do cheap composters, or again freecycle or Friday ads free stuff, I have often seen water butts.
  • ninnin Posts: 216
    Hi all . Thanks for the advice. I am not sure about adding more manure as the original beds were 10 inches deep in fresh manure at base as I had a very cheap( 4 cubic yards for fourty quid) delivery supply and wanted to rot tree roots. Then topped with twenty to thirty year old manure and some compost. So base of beds has now been rotting for two years and muck is only now 3 years old.its basically been rotting In the beds. With older muck and a little top soil on top another 10 inches. And just growing weeds which are fairly shallow rooted. I think maybe weeds have not had to go down for nutrients. Would love opinions on this. I am very unsure if soil is going to be super fertile well rotted poop 💩 pile or tired from weeds. My Las year growing I did have a bumper crop cabbages I couldn't lift. I am just very unsure how many inches of top soil or potting compost to top of with. I will to belt and braces fill any areas for squash with a bag of muck from the farm.
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    You've got lots of lovely organic stuff there already ... TBH I would simply apply some Fish, Blood and Bone and get on with planting and sowing this year. 
    Enjoy your garden ... I'm glad you're able to get out there and do stuff  :)

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • ninnin Posts: 216
    Dovefromabove said:
    You've got lots of lovely organic stuff there already ... TBH I would simply apply some Fish, Blood and Bone and get on with planting and sowing this year. 
    Enjoy your garden ... I'm glad you're able to get out there and do stuff  :)
    Thanks dove I am just so unsure of myself after a couple of years off. I need experienced reassurance. To deal with my self doubt. And a lot of nematoades slugs gone mad😈
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