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Clay soil allotment

• Message 1. 

  Posted by LindseyL1 (U15027964) on Monday, 7th November 2011

  Can anyone help. I have a brand new allotment that has had a spade deep of top soil put on it (not by me). Went on it today and I sank into my allotment, its a bog. Can anyone help on what I should do.

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• Message 2

  , in reply to message 1.

  Posted by horththit (U13862695) on Tuesday, 8th November 2011

  Hi
  Either your plot is on clay or you've had anawful lot of rain. Is it a communal allotment site? If so ask the other gardeners. Sounds like you need to move the topsoil aside and dig over what is underneath, incorporating a load of grit, sand and well rotted manure for good drainage, and then replace the topsoil. Getting it right from the start will save you a lot of trouble and strife in the long run. Make enquiries about the lay of the land.

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• Message 3

  , in reply to message 1.

  Posted by Jasmin (U14270220) on Tuesday, 8th November 2011

  Hi Lindsey
  
  I agree with horththit.
  
  My allotment is clay & only had about a foot of soil when I started, four years ago. Every 6 months (spring before planting & autumn, getting it ready), I've dug it other things to improve it & provide aeration holes, which are also needed with clay so that everything can breathe underneath & water can get to the roots in the summer, when the clay will dry out.
  
  Start by digging down as deeply as you can - to at least 3 feet - & turning over all the soil, which will also dig in the top soil you have. Do it in stages so that you don't kill yourself! At the moment, it will be easier to work because it's wet & you need to be doing this first preparation now, before the ground freezes.
  
  When the plot is completely dug over, get some organic matter, sand (not builders!) & the smallest pea gravel from your GC & work that in, too. Once that's done, get some manure & completely cover your plot - just lay it on the top of the turned over soil. Then leave it till spring.
  
  When you go back in the spring, after the last cold weather has gone, test whether the ground is still frozen by sticking your spade in & seeing whether it's easy to pull out. If it is easy, work the manure left on top into your soil & you're then ready for your crops.
  
  The following autumn (year 2), do the same digging in process with organic matter only & then lay manure on top. Same the next spring.
  
  In year 3, same again, though you can move to soil improver, instead of organic matter, if you want. Etc.
  
  This process will keep nutrients in the soil & keep it aerated & turn it into nice, decent soil.

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• Message 4

  , in reply to message 1.

  Posted by Tee Gee (U10012255) on Tuesday, 8th November 2011

  Sounds as if you have a drainage problem and there is no easy way to fix this, certainly not without a lot of hard work.
  
  This link and its related links will give you my thoughts on how to overcome the situation.
  
  

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• Message 5

  , in reply to message 4.

  Posted by Papa Nopsis (U14479902) on Tuesday, 8th November 2011

  Lindsey says brand new so presumably the lessors gave some thought to what the conditions would be like?
  
  The advice above is all good! dig! Dig! and dig again! is some more,
  Mix! Mix! and mix again is some more.
  
  Do an hour a day when it has dried out a bit.
  
  Healthy gardener! Argghh!
  
  Are there any other allotments around and about?

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