@Allotment Boy that really helps, prefer advice from real world gardeners than from people writing books who have all the time in the world to do things just so. I had the seeds in a sealed bucket cool and dry but the packets don't look brilliant. I'll try the beetroot as that's in an unopened foil packet and the rest I'll bin and start again. I've ordered some already so will get on with the rest of things 👍
I used speedo carrot seeds for two years now, they grow well and taste good. French beans last for a few years I find. Tomato seed lasts for years, but find cucumber seed is better fresh.
@sjhocking4 great stuff, if you want to go no dig you'll need loads of compost and every bit you can make is a bit not having to be bought. Ask a question on here about compost and you'll be inundated with advice (mine is always the best and most accurate 😜😜😜😜😜), there's always someone who has a system very comparable to your own that can give you a good lead.
@sjhocking4 Cow muck is very good for beefing up very light soils but can be a bit heavy and sticky, the no dig method relies on spreading compost on the surface and planting directly into it after the worms have had a chance to pull it into the soil. I think planting directly into cow muck things might not do so well unless it is very well rotted and broken down, but if spread now and covered and not planted till spring it might be ok.
@Allotment Boy , hello , originally I only had half the plot , the other plot also had new people on it and they covered with a thick layer of manure , all that happened is they grew mega weeds and the root crops split , they gave up . So when we took it on with help of my brother in law we dug the weeds out section by section and it worked The large beds I now cover with a weed membrane when not in use , purchased from Lidl (nice and cheap ) and when removed just a light forking / racking and just a hand full of weeds from the edges I did try green manure but found digging it in hard work You have to try different things to see what suits you
@GWRS I do so agree, I have been Allotmenting since I was a young lad and have seen many trends come & go. I think you have to do what suits you and your situation best. I like the idea of no dig but you need huge quantities of compost to make it work properly. I have tried "beds" in the past but our clay soil always ends up compacted. Unfortunately some people think no dig means no work & nothing could be further from the truth, it's just different work.
Put up my polytunnel cover today - which for minute has my chicken coop and run in as still figuring out the layout where it was as the rain flooded the area where I planned after levelling and putting bricks down (pictures on anyone done any gardening) put on yesterday
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So when we took it on with help of my brother in law we dug the weeds out section by section and it worked
The large beds I now cover with a weed membrane when not in use , purchased from Lidl (nice and cheap ) and when removed just a light forking / racking and just a hand full of weeds from the edges
I did try green manure but found digging it in hard work
You have to try different things to see what suits you
Your plot looks a good one, great you have chicken muck to use that should help, where abouts are you? how many plots on your site?