gentlegreen
I hummus, therefore I am ...
A trench worthy of Time Team.
That's a big hole!And a dirty great 'ole!
It's about 9" at the near end, and 14" at the far end. The soil got a bit easier.
That's a big hole!
Id definitely want to loosen the soil to twice that depth. Roots will have nay chance of getting through that compacted clay otherwise! Unless you are going the raised bed route?
I think I'll be able to loosen deeper at the far end, but no chance at the near end without a pneumatic drill!
What if I stick to certain plants at the near end? Based on nothing more than a hunch, I'd guess that things like salad leaves, strawberries, other low growing plants don't sink roots to a great depth?
That should be fine. Im sure you should also be able to get away with leafy greens, dwarf bean varieties, short rooted, stumpier varieties of root crops- like chantenay carrots, beetroots, or Avonresister parsnip.I think I'll be able to loosen deeper at the far end, but no chance at the near end without a pneumatic drill!
What if I stick to certain plants at the near end? Based on nothing more than a hunch, I'd guess that things like salad leaves, strawberries, other low growing plants don't sink roots to a great depth?
That should be fine. Im sure you should also be able to get away with leafy greens, dwarf bean varieties, short rooted, stumpier varieties of root crops- like chantenay carrots, beetroots, or Avonresister parsnip.
Just to add - I'll probably build it up to a raised bed later on, but I want to get some stuff in whilst I've got the chance before the end of July, and just don't have time (or funds) to get hold of planks etc before then.
Stuff'll still grow won't it? I'm not after winning any prizes at the local fair, just having something tasty with no food miles for the family and I to eat from our own backyard.
Make some holes with an iron bar and plant leek seedlings
I'm done!
Finished about 21:15, and had a much needed shower.
So, last time, I had a big hole in the garden and a heap of soil.
I ran the hose into it until it was completely sodden gave it as good a dig as I could, then put the turf back in, upside down and cut into small squares (thought that would be better for drainage):
Three bags of compost:
Half of the topsoil replaced, edging put round, then some more compost:
Loads more compost, then most of the rest of the topsoil replaced and pushed in around the edging.
One more bag of compost for luck, the rest of the topsoil, hoed level, and tada - one vegetable patch!
The benefits of googling "making a vegetable patch"!Great move to put the turves in upside down as they will rot down and provide some good compost in the soil.
Noted - thanks.You will need to water this patch like mad as bagged compost is very fine and dries out.
Unfortunately neither of us are too keen on them. I think 5 rows should fit okay across the short dimension. I've bought some packs that all say they're okay to plant between now and September - carrots, spring onions, rocket, spinach and runner beans. Will be filling up my seed trays tonight!What about chinese vegetables ? They will grow right into the frosts as will endive.
I gently walked all over it and then lightly hoed it after putting each layer down, and once when it was finished. Hopefully I struck the right balance between making it firm and compacting it!Just the ticket corax.
How firm is the bed ?
This time of the year, with dry soil, I'll walk all over it - almost as if I was laying a lawn - you want aerated soil, but not actual voids.
I dunno about the quality. It's dark when wet and clumps together, but without getting sticky and muddy. I'll see if I can find some chuck pellets. Not sure if Wilkinsons will have them...!I can't judge the quality of the soil from here, but I would invest in some chicken poo pellets too to give a boost to those hungry crops.
So er yeah, the above turned into these! Is it the opium variety?
Doesn't look like it I'm afraid. It's the big bulbs underneath that give them away. There are loads growing outside my local church..... Or there were last year anyway. Pruning's not an offence officer!
I've got 5 packs of seeds to (propagate first and then) plant:
Going from shallow to deep (names quoted from the seed packet), would this be right?
Rocket - mixed
Spinach - picasso f1
Broad Bean - 'dwarf' the sutton
Onion - 'spring' white lisbon winterhardy
Carrot - early nantes 5 - 'early variety to harvest as baby or full size carrots'
My beans are now a foot taller than their frame. So far Ive left them to continue twisting around themselves, but will it adversely affect leaf and bean development? I dont want to pinch the tops out.
I've been wondering about this too.
I was looking at my runners last night and thinking should I do anything to them, or just let them carry on.
Where's Sheo?