On Jan 31, 10:13*am, mogga wrote:
We've been told we can't go on until after contractors have been back
in February. We've already got a good idea that the soil is clay so
what's the best plan of action?

I've read that digging clay in spring is a waste of time as it'll dry
out and turn to bricks on the surface ... and that mulching is the way
to go...

So what would you do with a clay allotment for the first year assuming
we get on in March.

(And there's no water to the site at the moment)

--http://www.bra-and-pants.comhttp://www.voucherfreebies.co.ukhttp://www.holidayunder100.co.uk


I had the same problem. You need to get lots of organic material dug
in. I f you can get something like a few tons of horse/cow shit,
rotted down if possible or maybe mushroom compost, if locally
available.

I had ten tons of sharp sand delivered. You need to throw it about and
rotovate it in, Most rotovators don't really go deep enough but it's
a start.

Even so, it takes years of compost and digging to make the soil really
good.

A major problrm can be drainage, you get water puddling on the
surface. The only way round this id deep digging ie two spade depths
in the effectd areas.

Regular digging needs to be done in Autumn, the frost breaks up the
lumps.
I also chuck any worms I find in there, it all helps. :-)