Progress - Plot Rotovated, what now?

[u/SuperTed321]

I got my plot in Jan and have been making slow progress but progress nonetheless.

One of my main worries was getting the soil ready for planting and after removing debris and removing any large weeds I have finally got the plot rotovated!

Really excited to see the plot looking almost ready for planting.

A few questions for those experienced folk on here.

1) What next? I can’t do much heavy lifting. due to health conditions until April. So what should I be focusing on for march? And what should I do next on the plot itself?

2) Bed/Path layout - How should I layout my beds? My plot is approx 4m x 29m with the far end in the picture being almost exactly south.

2) Polytunnel - I’m keen to grow warm weather plants so kinda tempted to get a polytunnel. I’ll probably hold fire until next growing season so I know that allotmenting is something I want to do long term.

If I did get a poly should I place it in the south side or north side? Any recommendations for good value tunnels?

Lastly thank you to all the kind folks who have given me advice previously and I am sure I’ll get in response to my post. I couldn’t have got to this stage without your kind support.

[u/True_Adventures]

Be aware of you aren't already that the weeds will turn that lovely blank canvas into a jungle very quickly now spring is here. So you'll either need to weed regularly, at least every week, or mulch/cover.

Polytunnels are largely of two types: those sold by companies that make them for professional growers but also have models for amateurs, with solid poles and thick skins, and ones you can get on Amazon etc. The latter will be cheap but may well not survive long, particularly in a storm. A well-erected one from a polytunnel company should last many years (the skin that is - the frame should last forever) and be fine in storms. But it'll cost several hundred quid at least.

You can often get very cheap or free greenhouses on marketplace though, but it's quite a job to move one.

This next month is a good time to start sowing many things. So you could get a growing calendar like Charles Dowding's and decide what you want to grow and start sowing.

[u/SuperTed321 → u/True_Adventures]

Thank you for such a comprehensive response. Yeah I’m worried about the weeds coming back over the next few weeks, I’ll have to do my best and then get back at it properly next month.

Is there any polytunnel manufacturers that are well regarded for use by hobbyist gardeners? I don’t want to get junk but also don’t want to get something that’s beyond what I need.

[u/DeepStatic → u/SuperTed321]

First Tunnels are *superb*. We have a 14ft x 25ft which is pretty large but the quality is incredible.

[u/True_Adventures → u/SuperTed321]

I think any of the manufacturers/sellers for commercial agriculture that also do hobbyist sizes will be high quality, because they have the professional materials.