Raised Bed- What To Do Now ?

[derekpara]

I've cleared my raised bed of runner beans and forked it over. At thi stime of year year I add a couple of bags of peat free compostand fork it in before sowing /planting next year. I have never added lime, fish meal etc. and I suspect that the soil could do with a little nourishment ready for the Spring when I will probably grow potatoes and a few lettuce or spinach.

What do you recommend I do ?

Cheers.

D

[alavahalf]

What I usually do is turn it partialy over and leave it a bit broken and lumpy.
The birds can then help themselves to any grubs, pests etc that will be exposed. Leave it until November/December time and then cover the whole bed in horse manure or compost, whatever you have kicking around. The worms will do their work.
This can be left until the spring when it will get rotavated into a fine soil.
Personally I will use the same bed to grow the beans in again. A month before I am ready to plant again, I will dig two parallel trenches about a foot apart. Then add any kitchen waste, shredded paper and more manure to the trench's. Beans are hungry feeders and the more waste you have the better. Cover the trenches with the soil you previously removed and you will be good to go again !

The best bit of soil on my allotment is where the beans grow !

[melv16]

Don't add lime if you're going to grow potatoes, they don't like it.
I do pretty much as alavarf dors when I prepare my bean row. The only difference is I put spent hops in the bottom of the trench, they are very good at holding moisture and they're free from my local micro brewery :-)

[derekpara]

Great advice.

Thanks to you both.

D