Hi, I have 2 small raised garden beds where I grow vegetables, the main constituent I use to grow in is home made compost, what do you recommend that I should add to this mixture to improve it for my next growing season, I mainly use them for summer crops. Thanks Rod

Hi Rod, if you aren't using your raised garden beds over the winter, consider planting a green crop now (autumn) to help replenish nutrients in the soil and improve your soil structure. Green crops or cover crops, include blue lupin, mustard, barley and oats to name a few. Sown in autumn, leave them to grow over winter and cut them down and dig into the soil in July/August. This adds organic matter to your soil, mustard is particularly good because it contains an element that deters soil nematodes. Apply lime and leave for a few weeks before planting your spring crops. Another thing you can do is add a layer of sheep pellets and then cover with a 5cm layer of pea straw, this will keep the weeds down over winter and increase earthworm activity, the pea straw can be dug into the soil and turned over in late winter, early spring, ready to plant. Lianne.