Now the real work begins!

Now that I have taken out all the onions, beetroot and carrots from this part of my plot, it is time to add some manure, then compost, and dig it all in. (There are still some parsnips in this area, covered at the moment against carrot root fly, but this will also be treated and dug when they come out.)
This should prepare the ground for next year's crop of potatoes and sweetcorn. The neighbouring mini-plot will also be manured/composted and dug, ready for beans (broad, runner, French) and peas next year. Where they are at the moment will be dug, then limed for cabbages and other brassicas.
The fourth mini-plot will be dug over winter, fertilised in the spring and planted with onions and root crops.
So over the course of a 4 year rotation, each plot will be manured twice, fertilised once and limed once. Hopefully, in a few years time, the soil structure will be a bit lighter than it is now....

Autumn has now arrived with a vengeance. From temperatures of 17 - 20 °C and light breezes with the occasional shower earlier in the week, it is now 10°C with a strong northerly wind and heavy rain - positively nasty! However, I am still picking courgettes, beetroot and a few beans, with parsnips, swedes, cabbages, Brussels sprouts and kale standing over the winter. The sweetcorn have been quite splendid, and many other crops have also done well - let's hope for the same next year!