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Can anyone help!!????

• Message 1. 

  Posted by corinne (U14577775) on Friday, 6th August 2010

  Me and hubby have just got our first allotment. It is a clay soil. Has anyone got any tips on what to do before we start planting.
  

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• Message 2

  , in reply to message 1.

  Posted by daisymay2 (U7288760) on Friday, 6th August 2010

  hope you enjoy your allotment it is very hard work but also very enjoyable.clay soil needs lots of compost or manure dug in to it ..it help breaks up the clay.also if you grow potatoe that helps and it is a start

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• Message 3

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  Posted by punpun (U14553477) on Friday, 6th August 2010

  Hi,
  Thank you thank you thank you for asking before you start planting,
  
  Most first time gardeners plant heaven and hell and then come on the likes of these threads crying "oh what did i do wrong!
  
  At least you've asked, Now lets see if you take the advice and save yourself time /money and a heart attack "later"
  
  Clay soil?
  Clay soil retains water, keeps the cold in and has few nutrents worth talking about for a lot of plants.
  
  So you first task is to get the soil working for you and to do this you need to manure, and get the manure into the ground by turnng it over and digging the manure in.
  
  Once you've done this get and use as much of the manure you can get your hands on and lay it on the top of the soil and let the worms pull this manure into the ground over the winter.
  
  Its springtime your looking to really start your verious plots into production, by this i mean crop rotation, and the soil prep for verious crops, potatoes, salads, fruit, and the perennial plot for rhubarb/ asparagus etc
  All these plants need good humus in the soil to keep it healthy and the more manure you use in your clay soil the quicker the clay will break down,
  Dont be fooled into trying to grow anything until the soil has a good P.H. reading you can get soil testing kit from the garden centre (they are cheap fo what they'll tell you ref your type of soil)
  
  And spend time during the winter reading up about your future veg you'd like to grow ie their needs ref soil/ water/ light or shade .

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• Message 4

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  Posted by tattiebogle (U11728394) on Friday, 6th August 2010

  The biggest single thing you can do is talk to the other allotment holders. They can tell you what grows well in your area and what doesn't, and what you can put on the soil to improve it.
  
  Our clay soil has an unbelievable amount of slugs, which means there are very few veg that I can sow directly into the soil, most things have to be started off in pots and planted out when they are large enough to withstand slug attacks.
  
  On the other hand I have not watered anything except newly planted things, even in this dry summer.
  
  It's hard work, but worth it

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• Message 5

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  Posted by Kleftiwallah (U13700999) on Saturday, 7th August 2010

  ADD MUCK ! ! ! and don't go at it like a bull at a gate. Little and often.. Cheers, Tony.

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• Message 6

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  Posted by 4smilingcat6 (U14338727) on Saturday, 7th August 2010

  I had clay from 1977 until 1993 when we moved here(very light soil)
  
  Clay is a swine at first-ice cream in the winter and concrete in the summer) but keep adding the organic matter and one day it will be `tamed` and then it becomes wonderful.
  
  I still wish my soil here had a bit more `heart` to it-it`s dead easy to cultivate but can I grow the cauliflowers,sprouts and swedes I used to?

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• Message 7

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  Posted by Logissimo (U14020652) on Saturday, 7th August 2010

  Hello Corinne,
  
  Welcome to your clay soil! Usually clay is actually very fertile and holds lots of essential nutrients. Its problem is its workability, rock hard when dry and impossibly sticky when wet.
  
  What I would do is first check your soil's pH, is it acid, and if so how acid and how much lime does it need? Then get your lime as necessary.
  
  Also to make it more workable and,as everyone says, get lots of organic matter, farm yard manure (FYM), garden compost, spent mushroom compost, leafmould (mold?)and dig it in before the winter comes.
  
  Leave the surface as rough and cloddy as you can. The frost will get to work on it and make a surprisingly crumbly tilth. Don't try to work this tilth unless it is reasonably dry and don't walk on your ground when it is wet. Use planks of some kind so that you minimise compaction. If it is still really difficult to work next spring keep your cropping simple and avoid crops which are difficult in clay or which don't like clay much eg potatoes/carrots. Brassicas, peas, beans, salads etc should be OK.
  
  Look at your neighbours to see the ones who are successful and ask their advice and watch what they do and when they do it.
  
  Make lots of compost and gets your hands on more FYM
  
  It won't necessarily be easy at first but it will be a great challenge and very satisfying to succeed.
  
  Good luck and enjoy yourselves!

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