david taylor wrote:
Do the standard thing-add calcium. Lime for vegetables, chalk if you've got
growing plants or fresh fertiliser in the ground or gypsum if you need to
maintain acidity.
2ozs/square yard of lime a little more chalk-I reckon about 4ozs for gypsum
although I've never used it.
Calcium ions cause edge to edge flocculation in the clay and make it form a
crumb rather than a slimy plastic structure.
David T

"Nick Maclaren" wrote in message
...

In article ,
bruce writes:
|
| I have an allotment with a very clay soil. Plenty of muck and compost
| helps but I believe that I need to add some coarse grit or sand to
help
| break it up. Horticultural sand is quite expensive so can I use
builders
| sand or is it treated with chemicals that would harm my soil and
| vegetables? Or has anyone got any other suggestions?

Don't use builder's sand! But do use sharp sand from a builder's
merchant. No, it's not treated with chemicals.


Regards,
Nick Maclaren.



That was an excellently rapid response...
I do use lime - should have said. But I don't want to overdo it and make
my soil too alkaline, so I usually reserve it for when I'm planting
brassica. Where do I get gypsum from - I don't recall seeing it anywhere?
I didn't appreciate builders sand and sharp sand were different products
- will a builder's merchant know the difference?