What can I add to clay soil now?

[CADS]

Hi

I have six 4x8 raised beds but my soil is clay. I dug them over in November when I took on the allotment and have since been digging and clearing them of weeds.

I am quite happy that I have the weeds (bindweed!) under control and would like to start planting now. However, everything it rains a crust form on the surface.

I don't have access to well rotted manure and as this is my first year with an allotment, I don't have anything in the compost bin, so will have to buy in something to had to the clay, now which will allow me to start planting.

What does everyone suggest, that won't break the bank?

Sorry, my posts seem to turn into essays!

Thanks
CADS

[rustylady]

See this thread http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...lot_48235.html

[poohpouri]

i used farm blended manure from garden centre and yes it has improved the soil greatly.by the way I added it last year think its on offer at moment 4 bags for £10

[Nicos]

Did you collect any leaves last Autumn to rot down?
They would be superb!

( if not- make a mental note to collect some this year!)

[zazen999]

We have a clay lottie and I've documented on here many times what we have added over the last 3 seasons.

However, the main thing is to utilize free stuff, rather than pay for it.

Scrape a layer of soil off, put cardboard down, and put the soil back over the top; water it [or let the rain do the work] and plant through the cardboard. If you grow your veg in modules, and plant each out individually; you don't need to worry about capping and the cardboard will rot down over the months and the worms will dig it in for you.

Coffee grounds, as a mulch on top also help to break up the soil.

Any old sand: dig out small sections, sieve the clay and the sand together and use this section for carrots and p*****ps.

Sawdust, free for us from a sawmill [try yellow pages] - I mulch everything in this and it is unbelievable in stopping slugs AND helping to break down the clay.

No access to WRM; have you any local farms or stables; they will possibly let you collect and bag it up for free, or deliver a pile to you for a small fee [depends on if you have somewhere to put it of course].

We haven't actually paid for any organic until earlier this year, when we got a truck of WRM from the farmer; we didn't NEED it we just thought the soil could do with a boost. Our topsoil was removed from the lottie a while back by the people across the road, so our soil is thick clay subsoil. It would solidify as soon as the sun came out but now after doing the above for 2 whole seasons, it is starting to get crumbly.

[di]

If you have bonfires add the ash.The areas where I've done this are really light this year.
Once you manage to improve the structure a bit clay soil is apparently excellent for growing in...retains moisture and nutrients better than others,so I'm told,so although it may be giving you a bit of an headache this year rest assured that with a little effort and patience,you'll have the best beds for growing

[jackyspratty]

Just to echo that Im following zaz's advise and its great. After chipping away at solidified clay and feeling like giving up, I now have beds marked out and covered in cardboard. We have been collecting a very large bag of used coffee from a local macdonalds, and have added some leafmould that we did last year.

I then used a bulb planter once the cardboard was wet through to plant through. It works a treat. Also where there are slight gaps in the carboard you can seea rash of weeds ubderneath coming through so its helping suppress them. All the other newly dug and planted plots are covered in weed seedlings everywhere.

It also means we can add stuff gradually as we get it. Initially I felt overwhemed , but Im seeinga big difference already, thanks to all the advise here.

[CADS]

Thank for the replies!

I have put in 4x8ft frames (5 inches high) at the bottom of the beds I have laid a layer of cardboard. Then I have broken and weeded the clay by hand so that is crumbly. Finally, I have added a 50L bag of 'New Horizon Soil Improver' and dug it into the 5 inchs of soil.

Next, I plan to cover the top surface with newspaper and buy in some farmyard manure from the garden centre and lay it on top (only about 1 inch, otherwise it will work out too expense).

Do I need to keep the shop brought manure away from the plants? (ie. make sure it doesn't touch the plant stem).

Also, other than carrots, are there any other veg that I shouldn't mulch with shop manure? And what veg would love to grow in just the manure? I was planning to build piles of it on weed fabric, on part of the ground I won't manage to dig over for several months.

Hope this all makes sense and thank you for your help!
CADS

[zazen999]

Can I just revise the 'Access to Well Rotted Manure advice'.

Just found out we have Aminopyralid in the stuff that we had delivered in January.

Gutted.

Wish I'd not bothered. Gonna lost half the spuds and 1/4 of the lottie for 2 years now whilst it works itself out of the system.

[robert0881]

find a local stable and get some horse muck. try get horses that been on chippings rather than straw. there sure to have a heap someplace that you can prob get a few bags for free