Sinking into my allotment.

[snack a jack]

I have recently taken over an allotment. This is my first attempt to grow veg. My problem is that when I stand on my newly rotovated plot I sink in the mud !! It's so bad the mud comes half way up my wellies. I'm guessing I have drainage problems but can anyone give me any ideas on how I can solve this problem. Many thanks.

[PAULW]

Keep off it until it drys out a bit, you have not said from which part of the country you are from but even down here in tropical Dorset it is to wet to do anything at the moment

[Two_Sheds]

Yes, agree with PaulW ...
if your soil sticks to your wellies, it's too wet ... keep off. Assess the situation again when it dries up a bit (June?)

[vicky]

Get some planks too and ONLY walk on those and as above, don't try to cultivate it till it dries out a bit.
Is it on a slope? Are there any blocked ditches? Or alternatively dig a deep trench on the lowest part, fill with gravel/hardcore/other debris to create a soakaway
And welcome to the vine!

[BrideXIII]

bit like my back garden then, was out there trying to do remedial work this morning

soil is ok-ish, but after 6 inches its all flint and builders rubble, under that is solid clay.

I have turned it over again, but it is very 'claggy' , have spread some rabbit cleanings over it, droppings , hay and shavings, and am going to put the cardboard back down over it and let the worms take over.
my worry is there is not enough depth of decent soil there to grow much, nothing rooty anyway.
how about peas, beans, brassicas? would they be ok do you think.

[snack a jack]

Thanks for the advice everyone. I live in Reading PAULW and my plot is fairly flat. I guess i'm just gonna have to be patient and wait for it to dry out. Ill spend my time on the hunt for old planks!!

[kernowyon]

Reading is not that far from me (other side of Bracknell) and the ground is very very wet at my plot so give it a bit of time, the plus side is that the ground doesn't freeze solid that often down here so it is still workable (when a bit dryer) for most of the winter.

[Seahorse]

I second the advice to 'wait and see' but if your plot is genuinely prone to waterlogging, digging soakaways is good advice. Best of luck

[Snadger]

If the soil is newly rotavated it will have 'fluffed' the soil up. If it has rained incessantly (as it has here) on the newly rotavated fluffiness it will push all the air out and fill the space with water.
You don't necesarily have poor drainage, but stay off it until it drys up a bit.
Don't know whether you want o cultivate it traditionally or use a bed system. If the latter, It's an ideal time to string out the positions of the beds and only walk on what will be the paths inbetween. This will compact this area and give you instant raised beds...........just keep off em!

[Nicos]

Raised beds!!!!!
No question!!!

[ann-the-nan]

Sinking into my allotment.

Our garden's a bit like that. He who thinks he must be obeyed always says that we don't do any gardenning - only liquid engineering.
Annhttp://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/grapevine/images/smilies/smile.gif

[Suechooks]

Thanks for the advice everyone. I live in Reading PAULW and my plot is fairly flat. I guess i'm just gonna have to be patient and wait for it to dry out. Ill spend my time on the hunt for old planks!!

Try having a word with other allotment holders and see if it's often waterlogged. If so I'd find how how they have dealt with it. People who've had the plots for years can be an invaluable source of info.

[D23dur]

hi snack a jack. my plot is Reading as well at Waterloo Meadows. where are you? a lot of sites in Reading are quite close to the river or canal so if it rains the water level can be quite high. also there is a lot of clay ground in reading, you well just have to wait for a few dry days!!!!!!!!!!