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#1
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Clay and new allotments
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.com http://www.voucherfreebies.co.uk http://www.holidayunder100.co.uk |
#2
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Clay and new allotments
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. :-) |
#3
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Clay and new allotments
On Mon, 31 Jan 2011 02:56:24 -0800 (PST), harry
wrote: 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 Our site is about 1 acre - how much would we need? I suspect it's tons and tons.. 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. :-) -- http://www.bra-and-pants.com http://www.voucherfreebies.co.uk http://www.holidayunder100.co.uk |
#4
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Clay and new allotments
On Jan 31, 11:21*am, mogga wrote:
On Mon, 31 Jan 2011 02:56:24 -0800 (PST), harry wrote: 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://ww... 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 Our site is about 1 acre - how much would we need? I suspect it's tons and tons.. 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. * :-) --http://www.bra-and-pants.comhttp://www.voucherfreebies.co.ukhttp://www.holidayunder100.co.uk- Hide quoted text - - Show quoted text - An acre is big for an allotment, certainly more than you can dig by hand unless superfit & lots of time/helpers. If you are just starting out why not fence part off and have pigs? They dig it up wonderful, eat all the weeds and crap everywhere. You need a good fence with barbed wire along the bottom to keep them in. A couple of years of pigs fixes most of your problems & provides a wonderful soil.. If you can stand the stench. :-) |
#5
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Clay and new allotments
On Jan 31, 4:03*pm, harry wrote:
On Jan 31, 11:21*am, mogga wrote: On Mon, 31 Jan 2011 02:56:24 -0800 (PST), harry wrote: 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://ww... 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 Our site is about 1 acre - how much would we need? I suspect it's tons and tons.. 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. * :-) --http://www.bra-and-pants.comhttp://www.voucherfreebies.co.ukhttp://ww....Hide quoted text - - Show quoted text - An acre is big for an allotment, certainly more than you can dig by hand unless superfit & lots of time/helpers. If you are just starting out why not fence part off and have pigs? They dig it up wonderful, eat all the weeds and crap everywhere. *You need a good fence with barbed wire along the bottom to keep them in. A couple of years of pigs fixes most of your problems & provides a wonderful soil.. *If you can stand the stench. * :-)- Hide quoted text - - Show quoted text - I should think that the OP is talking about the alotment site, not just his alotment |
#6
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Clay and new allotments
"Dave Hill" wrote in message ... On Jan 31, 4:03 pm, harry wrote: On Jan 31, 11:21 am, mogga wrote: On Mon, 31 Jan 2011 02:56:24 -0800 (PST), harry wrote: 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://ww... 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 Our site is about 1 acre - how much would we need? I suspect it's tons and tons.. 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. :-) --http://www.bra-and-pants.comhttp://www.voucherfreebies.co.ukhttp://ww...Hide quoted text - - Show quoted text - An acre is big for an allotment, certainly more than you can dig by hand unless superfit & lots of time/helpers. If you are just starting out why not fence part off and have pigs? They dig it up wonderful, eat all the weeds and crap everywhere. You need a good fence with barbed wire along the bottom to keep them in. A couple of years of pigs fixes most of your problems & provides a wonderful soil.. If you can stand the stench. :-)- Hide quoted text - - Show quoted text - I should think that the OP is talking about the alotment site, not just his alotment .................................................. ...................................... But don't you think he might be asking questions for the benefit of others? Not everyone is of the 'I'm all right Jack' nature. I know that from what I do in life :-)) Mike -- .................................... Don't take life too seriously, you'll never get out alive .................................... |
#7
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#8
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Clay and new allotments
On 31/01/2011 10:13, 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? Improve a small area at a time and take your chances growing stuff that will tolerate a clay soil in the rest for a few years. People seem to forget that clay soils are *fertile* it is just that they waterlog in winter and set like rock in mid summer droughts. Spuds, beans and most other veg will grow on clay but they would just grow better with a mulch of something on top. Even bark chippings would do at a pinch. Eventually when you have a compost heap you can add that back. Some spent mushroom compost is a quick way to condition some of it. 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. Plant spuds and whatever else you want to grow. But ask around locally as to what is worth it on the original soil. Expect to ahve to make improvements if you want to grow things that detest wet feet like asparagus for instance. (And there's no water to the site at the moment) Not even when it rains? Regards, Martin Brown |
#9
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Clay and new allotments
On Mon, 31 Jan 2011 11:52:07 +0000, Martin Brown
wrote: On 31/01/2011 10:13, 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? Improve a small area at a time and take your chances growing stuff that will tolerate a clay soil in the rest for a few years. People seem to forget that clay soils are *fertile* it is just that they waterlog in winter and set like rock in mid summer droughts. Spuds, beans and most other veg will grow on clay but they would just grow better with a mulch of something on top. Even bark chippings would do at a pinch. thanks Eventually when you have a compost heap you can add that back. Some spent mushroom compost is a quick way to condition some of it. 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. Plant spuds and whatever else you want to grow. But ask around locally as to what is worth it on the original soil. Expect to ahve to make improvements if you want to grow things that detest wet feet like asparagus for instance. (And there's no water to the site at the moment) Not even when it rains? Regards, Martin Brown LOL we had a deep layer of it when it rained... all gone now... -- http://www.bra-and-pants.com http://www.voucherfreebies.co.uk http://www.holidayunder100.co.uk |
#10
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Clay and new allotments
On Mon, 31 Jan 2011 10:13:20 +0000, 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? To read a newsgroup's FAQs before posting? |
#11
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Clay and new allotments
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 If you don't like pigs, the other way is to get someone in with a tractor and spray equipment & spray the whole area off. This however needs to be done in Summertime in non-drought conditions (ie weeds growing actively). Then it could be ploughed and rotovated with tractor equipment. The walk behind rotovators are toytown stuff. If you don't spray it, stuff like brambles, thistles and docks grows up more strongly than before. The other problem you will experience is wireworm and other underground pastureland pests. They don't like being dug up. This is why the pigs are so good, all of the above costs money. There are people here who will be outraged, but this is the only way to get rapidly established. Otherwise it will take years. Time and money are interchangeable in nearly everything. |
#12
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Clay and new allotments
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 How wet is it ATM? How weedy? If yes to either of the above I'd not be in too much of a hurry. When the weeds are growing well spray them off with Roundup or one of it's clones. At least a week after spraying (if it's not terribly wet) I'd hire a micro digger, you can get them small enough to fit through an 80cm gate. Use the machine like a big spade to dig over the whole plot, leaving it rough. Take a smallish area for sowing/planting soon and cover it with as much well rotted manure and compost as you can afford - let it dry a bit if neccessary and then get it rotavated. The rest if poss I'd leave fallow for the rest of the summer (still rough and lumpy) and repeat the spraying as required. Then grit your teeth and buy lots more muck. Areas you want for planting overwintering crops can be rotavated, otherwise leave the rest and hope we have another winter like this. Come next spring you'll be able to do anything you like with it with very little effort, you won't believe the change in the nature of the soil. Now you can go organic if you're of that persuasion. To save costs and you can do deep but not raised beds, ie no sides are needed. Just mark out your beds and prepare as above so all the work and muck goes into to actual cropped areas rather than the paths. These beds should be narrow enough to be worked without walking on once they are prepared and will hardly need any digging ever again apart from a light forking between successive crops. The only muck you'll need after this can be concentrated on things like your potatoes. It is well worthwhile to give the time and money to get this right from the start and thereafter weeding and digging will be so easy as to be a pleasure. Rod |
#13
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Clay and new allotments
On Jan 31, 5:13*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 Mulching seems like the way to go. Clay is no bueno. Water is essential. I say go with the desert theme. |
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