veg garden help, complete and utter novice

[spark_28]

got a wee area id like to do a wee garden with. got beetroot, carrots and cauliflower.

nned to rake up the plot, get rid of stones. Surroinded by cattle and was wondering if i mix in cow crap is it worthwhile? and alos can i plant the seeds straight away or wait a week or two

thanks for any help

 

[Still Farming]

Weeds(crop other than you want to grow), pests,birds,rabbits ,diseases etc.etc.all after you.
Are you starting from grassland,turned over?
Cow muck is good and can be dug in.
Potatoes need more.
If you can get the book above it will help you tremendously.
Others available.

 

[Blaithin]

I don’t like tilling and I don’t like bare soil that I have to fight weeds for.

So I do a covered garden.

Big sheet of plastic from a grain bag - silage tarp works as well - laid it over a piece of grass, waited a couple weeks and voila! All grass beneath is dead but all microorganisms in the soil are still there plus you still have the micropores from the roots to help with water infiltration. Once everything was dead I laid some irrigation hose underneath the tarp and then started cutting holes where I wanted plants. You can do long slits for things you want to grow in rows as well. Worked well for me last year even though I stuck to my trend of abandoning it midway through the year and didn’t weed or water it.

This year I’ve got a handful of wheelbarrow loads of cow manure spread on top so that in can feed the little soil bugs.

 

[2YardOfLard]

got a wee area id like to do a wee garden with. got beetroot, carrots and cauliflower.

nned to rake up the plot, get rid of stones. Surroinded by cattle and was wondering if i mix in cow crap is it worthwhile? and alos can i plant the seeds straight away or wait a week or two

thanks for any help

Sorry - only just saw this. Don't know if you're still around but we grow a big area of veg; have done for many years. Happy to answer any questions but don't want to write a huge post that's unreadable, so just this but ask away..
Main thing to bear in mind is most gardening books will tell you to do things that only apply in south of England. Ask your neighbours (or me!!) or if you're serious get "Horticulture. A Handbook for Crofters" that's written for here.
Don't put cow muck on fresh - it needs composted 1st.
If planting through plastic it must be the woven, breathable sort otherwise you'll knacker your soil.
I put my carrots & beetroot in late April or early May, depending on the weather, so go for it! Get the soil raked as fine as you can, use your finger or a stick to draw a straight line about 1/2 inch deep, if the soil's dry, water the line first then put the seeds along & cover them with dry soil.
I grow cauliflowers in cell trays & then plant out later. They do better that way for me. But that said, seed is cheap & if you do things a bit off for the 1st time , a smaller crop is the worst that can happen to you! Put the caulis in a few at a time otherwise they'll all be ready to eat at once & they don't store well.

 

[Still Farming]

We grow a big area of veg; have done for many years. Happy to answer any questions but don't want to write a huge post that's unreadable, so just this but ask away..
Main thing to bear in mind is most gardening books will tell you to do things that only apply in south of England. Ask your neighbours (or me!!) or if you're serious get "Horticulture. A Handbook for Crofters" that's written for here.
Don't put cow muck on fresh - it needs composted 1st.
If planting through plastic it must be the woven, breathable sort otherwise you'll knacker your soil.
I just put my carrots & beetroot in this week, so go for it! Get the soil raked as fine as you can, use your finger or a stick to draw a straight line about 1/2 inch deep, if the soil's dry water the line first then put the seeds along & cover them with dry soil.
I grow cauliflowers in pots & then plant out later. They do better that way here. But that said seed is cheap & if you do things a bit off for the 1st time , a smaller crop is the worst that can happen to you! Put the caulis in a few at a time otherwise they'll all be ready to eat at once & they don't store well.

How do to manage weeds,pest, soil bugs, etc etc.
Always something in ,under or on ground after you??

 

[2YardOfLard]

How do to manage weeds,pest, soil bugs, etc etc.
Always something in ,under or on ground after you??

It's a constant war of attrition, doing all the small things that add up to I win!!
In short - Weeds," sterile seed bed" method followed by a month of hoeing then mulch once the plants are big enough.
Pests & diseases- use resistant varieties, crop rotation, barriers, invite in something that eats the pest, feed well so the plants can survive a bit of nibbling, plant more than needed so I can shrug & walk away from the odd disaster.