Fallow year in Vegetable garden

Surrey Hartshorn

I am giving my usual Veg patch a year off... any suggestions what to do with it, i.e. green manure / cover in manure (I have access to loads)?

bertrand-mabel

Apart from asking why are you having a year off?

StephenSouthwest

I'd be tempted to cover it in manure and grow a green manure cover crop.

Fairygirl

I'd just use the manure if you have a lot of it. No need for anything else really, unless you're worried about weeds, in which case, the green manure is useful.

Dovefromabove

The thing about green manure is that it has to be cut down and incorporated into the soil before it produces seeds.  If you’re going to be away or incapacitated and unable to do this, and it seeds into the veg patch, you’ll have it regrowing next year … and the next … 

I’d just use a good thick layer of manure, as @Fairygirl suggests. 

Fairygirl

Absolutely - the green manure crop is only of use if used correctly. Otherwise, you may need to cover it in some other way.
It depends on the reasons for not managing it in your normal way @Surrey Hartshorn

philippasmith2

The other option is to let a neighbour/friend/keen local veg grower use it for the oncoming year.
That way the ground will be used and with any luck, you could benefit from fresh veg without the work

wild edges

If in doubt plant borage, which is a great crop for the bees. It'll drop some seed but they're easy enough to weed out when you go back to growing veg.

nick615

I feel philippasmith2 has probably the best idea, especially as there's a load of manure in the equation but, if that doesn't suit, apply the manure and any other biodegradable material before covering the plot in builders' membrane (sheet plastic), so that the next attempt at re-using it for growing is weed free and ready for use.