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Posted by TobysGayBoots (U14413239) on Monday, 11th April 2011
Hi there, I have an allotment which has been fully cleared of weeds etc, but not all of the plot has yet been dug over for planting. My question is are there any vegetables I can grow on the still-compacted bits of hard ground. A neighbour seems to think some vegetables will grow well in hard ground if you just poke a hole direct into the ground with a metal pole or spike, drop your seeds in and then just let them get on with it, but he was unsure which vegetables can manage in these conditions (leeks perhaps?)
Does anybody have any exoerience of sowing direct into hard compacted ground and having some success? Please advise what types of vegetables have prospered in these conditions.
Thanks in advance for any help.
Ian
Just cut a knife slit and poke some cabbage plants in. Normally seeds require a better tilth.
I don't any seeds will grow in hard compacted ground but brassicas like broccoli and cabbage do like a very firm ground when transplanted. There are seedlings in the garden centres now l
Caz
I would agree with your neighbours idea. Poke a hole in the ground with a spike and waggle it around to enlarge the hole, then fill with decent soil or compost and that will provide the root space for many crops. It will also ease the burden of digging when you finally get round to it as you'll have broken the hard crust.
, in reply to message 1.
Posted by Amazingrotavator (U14058080) on Tuesday, 12th April 2011
Why not dig a trench out, fill with compost and grow in that.
I'm wondering whether a green manure might be beneficial. Phacelia tanacetifolia can be used as a short term leafy crop to be dug in, but, according to Alys Fowler, also as a longer term crop as its fibrous root system can break up the soil and...and add nitrogen rich organic matter when dug in.
At least when you get round to doing the donkey work you'll get more reward for further crops. Shouldn't stop you growing some veg along with it either.
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