TheScullster wrote:

Rather long history but please bear with it

I am trying to start a veg plot close to my kitchen approx size of plot 5m x
3m
Until last weekend the area was covered in:
2-4" pea gravel on
1-2" weak concrete on
plastic membrane on
levelling sand

Having removed all the above I have found the following:

One end of the plot is dry clay with all the goodness leached out by
adjacent blue lawson firs
Towards the middle the clay is grey/blue and wet
At the other end the clay is wet and sticky

I have dug this over as thoroughly as possible, but need a program to try to
establish a bed that I can work with next spring.

Will this clay actually break down given the right treatment?
My intention is to hit the area with plenty of mushroom compost and
pelletted chicken manure.
The area is at something of a low point in the garden, so I'm not surprised
that it is damp particularly considering how well it has been covered (my
guess is that this arrangement has been in place for at least 10 years).

If I use the mushroom method (and it works) and then add 4-6" topsoil and
more compost, I reckon I can get a workable bed depth of around 12". Will
this be satisfactory for most vegetables?
Can I add fresh (non-rotted) horse manure at this time of year and expect it
to break down and do some good by the spring? This would be additional to
the miushroom compost.

Finally any further suggestions for improving this area (I am reluctant to
excavate any more as it is back breaking and a difficult area to access with
serious machinary)

The plot is in a north-east corner and gets sun from about mid day to 6pm

Thanks in anticipation from a mega newbie would be gardener

Congratulations,.. You have clay soil..

Clay is extremly resiliant..

You will need to observe the following.. Try to avaoid compacting it
(eg walking on it) esp when wet.. Work from boards if you can and
create beds that you can reach to the middle from each side (4ft)..

Double digging is a good initial technique to start with,.. if you can
work in a load of good manure/compost this will make an initial
difference.

If not then heavy sheet composting and mulching (search for sheet
mulching on google) is the way to go, along with deep rooted cover crops
that will breach any 'panning' of the clay.. Comfrey/Lupins etc are
good ways to do this..

Surface muslches round your crops will also help.. The more organic
matter you can add to the soil, the better.

To avoid that 'dry brick' effect you mention it is better to keep
something growing on the soil at all times if poss.. Use short covers
such as mustard/phacelia in the summer. Even a cover of unseeding
annual weeds is better than bare soil.


Claybreaker or Seawead Meal both have an effect on clay soil, and may be
added in small amounts to compost.. Over the years they will reduce the
'sticky effect' of the clay and help it to gel into a crumb..

Good luck, and don't tackle too large an area at once.. You will wreck
yourself if you do this;-)
/
Jim