starting off

hello all i know to plant potatoes in order to condition the soil before planting anything else but any advice on what else to plant to do the same job would be appreciated also what would be the best things to plant straight after when the soil is at its best after the crop has grown. i will be planting in raised beds but i have clay soil. any advice greatly appreciated. ps i won a blackcurrant twig from ribena which should have grown six inches within the first year, i have had it six months and it is approx 3 1\2 feet tall
is this normal? thanks lee

 

Some good well rotted compost with some grit might help with the clay soil.

Ribena plant.. I won three and haven't received a single one of them. Lucky you. and yes, blackcurrants seem to have done really well this year judging from my neighbours crop. Might need a bit support with the coming winds.