Guide
How to prep a bed between seasons
Preparing a bed after clearing a finished crop sets it up for a productive next season. Takes an hour and pays off all season.
Clear the bed
Remove all plant material - stems, roots, spent fruit, and dead leaves. Healthy green material can go to the compost heap. Anything diseased or pest-affected should go in the bin, not the compost, to avoid carrying over problems.
Add organic matter
Spread a 5–7 cm layer of well-rotted compost or manure across the bed surface and work it lightly into the top 10 cm. This replenishes nutrients taken up by the last crop and improves soil structure. If your soil is heavy clay, a generous layer of compost will also improve drainage over time.
Test the soil pH
This is a good moment to take a soil pH reading before you plant anything new. Most edible crops prefer a pH of 6.0–7.0. Testing now gives you time to adjust before the next season. See the soil test guide for step-by-step instructions.
Rotate crops
Try to avoid planting the same crop family in the same bed two years running. This breaks pest and disease cycles that build up in the soil. The main rotation groups are brassicas (cabbage, kale, radish), legumes (beans, peas), roots (carrot, parsnip, beetroot), and alliums (garlic, onion, leek).
Let it rest if you can
If you have time before the next planting, leave the bed to settle for two to four weeks after adding compost. This gives soil organisms time to break down the organic matter and stabilise the structure. Cover with a sheet of cardboard or a layer of mulch to suppress weeds while it rests.