Winter Gardening and Fallow Grounds

[ThierryParticipant]

Hello,
I am sort-of new-ish in home gardening, having embraced for now 3 years after being more of a city man.

I was reading Charles Dowding’s book on “Winter Gardening”, including his advice on not worrying too much on crop rotation.

One question, I have is what happens if a piece of land has a summer crop and winter crops. Will it lose nutrients short term, or do you have to keep adding manure at the end of the 2 seasons crops? Or would it be good to keep the land fallow (ie – no crops on winter) eveyr other year?

Thank you for any ideas or experience.

Thierry – Cambridge

[bluebellParticipant]

Hi Thierry
Personally I get at least 2 crops per year off of each bed, topping up once a year with compost, either around standing plants (normally potatoes or brassica) or prior to planting out plants grown in plugs. I do try to rotate crops on as long a rotation as possible (but don’t always get the planning right!). I never plan to leave fallow, although there are short periods when beds may be empty – at the moment I have lifted all parsnips and carrots, so those beds are now ready to take new plantings as the weather warms up.

Hope that helps?
Bluebell

[charlesModerator]

Thierry you can crop continuously. As Bluebell suggests, one application of compost (1-2in) per year is enough for most soils to grow all year round. Although in fact there is little growth in winter (in N Europe at least) and soil takes a rest, even if leeks etc are standing there.
Its not only about nutrients, having roots in soil keeps microbes active and I think more healthy.

[ThierryParticipant]

Thank you very much Charles and Bluebell.

Will give it a try for coming winter !

Have a great (gardening) weekend

[Author]

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