Thanks for reading.

Just bought some Growmore and it says on the box to "fork in well" to
prepare a veg plot.

I admit I'm not the sharpest, but does that mean the full depth of a fork
or just a couple of inches?

I dug loads of places in my new house last autumn to grow veg, and now I
can't wait to do the sowing etc.

Thanks

Marq

Marq writes:

Thanks for reading.

Just bought some Growmore and it says on the box to "fork in well" to
prepare a veg plot.

I admit I'm not the sharpest, but does that mean the full depth of a fork
or just a couple of inches?

"Yes"

Think of where the roots of whatever you're planting in a particular
spot will be, fertiliser needs to be distributed between the top of
the soil and there so the plants can feed continuously while they are
growing. Top dressing will wash through to a greater or lesser extent,
but judging how long it will take is very dependent on your soil and
how much rain happens. If it doesn't percolate down the surface roots
of the plants will develop more than the deep ones and the crops will
be prone to drying out.

Anthony

"Marq" wrote
Thanks for reading.

Just bought some Growmore and it says on the box to "fork in well" to
prepare a veg plot.

I admit I'm not the sharpest, but does that mean the full depth of a fork
or just a couple of inches?

I dug loads of places in my new house last autumn to grow veg, and now I
can't wait to do the sowing etc.

It means just allowing it to mix in the top layer of soil, where the roots
will be when the plants are growing.
I only use it once the plants are growing and usually just hoe it in or with
onions, which are shallow rooted, I don't bother.

Don't be too hasty in planting stuff, check the seed packets for dates and
better still ask here as it is dependant on where in the UK you are as to
when you plant.
IME late planting often catch up anyway, parsnips are a good example, and
early plantings can get destroyed by frost, or simply not germinate.

If you read a magazine, The Kitchen Garden, Gardeners World... and they say
"plant now" check the month of the magazine, they are often published up to
two months in advance.

--
Regards
Bob Hobden
W.of London. UK

"Bob Hobden" wrote in
:



"Marq" wrote
Thanks for reading.

Just bought some Growmore and it says on the box to "fork in well" to
prepare a veg plot.

I admit I'm not the sharpest, but does that mean the full depth of a
fork or just a couple of inches?

I dug loads of places in my new house last autumn to grow veg, and
now I can't wait to do the sowing etc.

It means just allowing it to mix in the top layer of soil, where the
roots will be when the plants are growing.
I only use it once the plants are growing and usually just hoe it in
or with onions, which are shallow rooted, I don't bother.

Don't be too hasty in planting stuff, check the seed packets for dates
and better still ask here as it is dependant on where in the UK you
are as to when you plant.
IME late planting often catch up anyway, parsnips are a good example,
and early plantings can get destroyed by frost, or simply not
germinate.

If you read a magazine, The Kitchen Garden, Gardeners World... and
they say "plant now" check the month of the magazine, they are often
published up to two months in advance.


Thankyou,Bob and Anthony

I know what you mean about not being too hasty when planting, that put me
off growing veg at my first attempt a few years ago, but I am older and
wiser(?) and more patient now.

I think I get the gist, so for my carrots, parsnips, brassicas etc. just
the top 2" and spuds maybe 4-6"?

Can I go onto bonemeal subject?
My Dad always sprinkled it in the "V" to sow carrots, and we never went
short of them.
On the box I have it says "only to be used where there is a recognised
need"
Can I use this as much as I want or will it restrict or kill?
Should I get a Ph kit (though the results may be too scientific for me)
I really want to make a success of this but maybe I am reading TOO much
about it?

Thanks for your patience
Marq

I just bought a Ph tester that you stick into the ground. It was about £5 from ebay, and seems to be doing the job nicely. Much easier than a kit, you just stick the probe into moist soil and read a dial on a gauge.

"Marq" wrote ((Snip))

I know what you mean about not being too hasty when planting, that put me
off growing veg at my first attempt a few years ago, but I am older and
wiser(?) and more patient now.

I think I get the gist, so for my carrots, parsnips, brassicas etc. just
the top 2" and spuds maybe 4-6"?

You will be banking the spuds so not worth forking it in.


Can I go onto bonemeal subject?
My Dad always sprinkled it in the "V" to sow carrots, and we never went
short of them.
On the box I have it says "only to be used where there is a recognised
need"
Can I use this as much as I want or will it restrict or kill?
Should I get a Ph kit (though the results may be too scientific for me)
I really want to make a success of this but maybe I am reading TOO much
about it?

A Ph kit or Probe is very useful, and whilst most veg are not too fussy, you
may find, as I did, that your Ph is way below neutral such that we can
actually grow Blueberries in the ground. So we use about 40Kg of Lime per
year on our Brassica bed which follow the spuds and loads of manure in our 4
year rotation.

Bonemeal, I've never used except when planting trees/shrubs.

--
Regards
Bob Hobden
W.of London. UK

tazmainiandevil wrote in
:


I just bought a Ph tester that you stick into the ground. It was about
£5 from ebay, and seems to be doing the job nicely. Much easier than a
kit, you just stick the probe into moist soil and read a dial on a
gauge.





Thanks,
I did a search and Aldi are having them instore from Sunday, and I am gonna
grab one at £3.99

Anyone interested see link below:
http://www.aldi.co.uk/uk/html/offers...10-03-05-11-02

I will also buy a conventional tester to see how closely they are to each
others results.
Am I right in thinking that Ph will differ year to year depending on how I
treat the soil with organic matter I add?

Or am I wasting money as I tend to go overboard with a new project to try
and learn everything at once -run before walking.

Another one he
On one of my plots where I am going to sow peas and a few brassicas, it was
at the edge of a lawn and I turned the grass upsideside down last autumn.

Should I remove the sods or just get a nice tilth on the upper 2-4" and
hope for the best.(brassicas will be plants peas will be seed)

Many questions,

Marq.

"Marq" wrote
Am I right in thinking that Ph will differ year to year depending on how I
treat the soil with organic matter I add?

That is correct and don't forget the acid rain.

Another one he
On one of my plots where I am going to sow peas and a few brassicas, it
was
at the edge of a lawn and I turned the grass upsideside down last autumn.

Should I remove the sods or just get a nice tilth on the upper 2-4" and
hope for the best.(brassicas will be plants peas will be seed)

I know all brassicas like firm ground but personally I've always properly
dug where brassicas and peas are to be planted, the brassicas will probably
need some lime added to the soil anyway to bring the pH slightly above 7
(neutral). Peas are not that fussy with the pH IME.
I would remove the sods and stack them for more rotting and dig your plot
properly, adding some good well rotted farmyard manure (no straw showing) if
you can get hold of some.
You may have a few ground pest problems the first year if the plot was
recently grass but it will go away after that.

--
Regards
Bob Hobden
W.of London. UK

"Bob Hobden" wrote in
:



"Marq" wrote
Am I right in thinking that Ph will differ year to year depending on
how I treat the soil with organic matter I add?

That is correct and don't forget the acid rain.

Another one he
On one of my plots where I am going to sow peas and a few brassicas,
it was
at the edge of a lawn and I turned the grass upsideside down last
autumn.

Should I remove the sods or just get a nice tilth on the upper 2-4"
and hope for the best.(brassicas will be plants peas will be seed)

I know all brassicas like firm ground but personally I've always
properly dug where brassicas and peas are to be planted, the brassicas
will probably need some lime added to the soil anyway to bring the pH
slightly above 7 (neutral). Peas are not that fussy with the pH IME.
I would remove the sods and stack them for more rotting and dig your
plot properly, adding some good well rotted farmyard manure (no straw
showing) if you can get hold of some.
You may have a few ground pest problems the first year if the plot was
recently grass but it will go away after that.


Thanks Bob.

I have planned my veg garden and did not even think about storing the sods,
much to my ignorance.
Would it be so bad of me to get rid of the sods into my "brown" bin or as
you suggest store them, I think I can find a corner if I HAD to.

With limited space it is getting a bit awkward.

I planned my veg plots in an "ideal world" and it is becomming less ideal
as I learn!. but I did not know that when it was on the drawing board!

When my daughter is old enough to eat solids she will have the best.

Best wishes
Marq

"Marq" wrote in message
...
Thanks for reading.

Just bought some Growmore and it says on the box to "fork in well" to
prepare a veg plot.

I admit I'm not the sharpest, but does that mean the full depth of a fork
or just a couple of inches?

I dug loads of places in my new house last autumn to grow veg, and now I
can't wait to do the sowing etc.


It means chuck it on top of the soil and use your fork to stir it in by
poking and stirring for a few inches down.
Don't worry too much.
Tina