How 'good' do I need to get the soil before planting?

[68lbs]

I've been digging, weeding, forking, weeding... And more forking digging... But my soil is still quite 'lumpy'. The big chunks from when I first dug it have dried out and are now rock hard so it looks like this...



There are loads of chunks like this all over each bed. Is this ok for me to plant in, or do I need to break it down more? What's the best method?

I was thinking I'd plant stuff the same as in the garden... Dig a hole, mix in some general purpose compost, then plant.

[Mumbles]

My soil was a bit like that and stuff seems ok so far, although is first year I've grown in it so well see how 'fine' they end up...


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[Two_Sheds]

my soil is still quite 'lumpy'.

it's fine. The lumps will naturally get broken down by wind & rain, over time. Don't waste your time trying to create "a fine tilth".
Start your seedlings in modules, and plant out when they're doing well.

[alldigging]

Lumpy soil is fine. Mulch it and the worms will improve it for only the effort it takes to spread a mulch. It'll also cut down on weeding.

Seeds are tiny so if you're sowing direct just make a little line for them and make sure that's got fine soil in.

[Two_Sheds]

you'll have more success if you sow into modules and plant the seedlings out, but if you have to sow direct, eg carrots & parsnips, cover the drill with MPC which won't cap or get lumpy


Also avoid watering your soil surface, try watering into flower pots or inverted pop bottles, so the water goes straight to the roots

[68lbs]

Cheers all... Most of my stuff has been started in cells, so I'm looking forward to starting to plant out now.

[dim]

I turn the soil as best I can, but then dig a trench and add good compost into the trench such as jacks magic .... I then plant directly into the trench/compost

If what I am planting is a root crop such as carrots or beet, I dig the trench deeper ... for others, I dig the trench approx 8 inches deep

at the end of the year, I turn all the soil again and this years compost gets worked into the soil

[BertieFox]

Quite a few people, me included sometimes, don't dig at all but just cover the soil with a deep mulch. When you want to plant, you just pull back the mulch, plant from modules, water, and then pull the mulch back as the plants grow. Works for most things, but to sow fine seed like carrots and onions you are better off digging, raking and working the soil very fine. This year I am planting quite a few things straight through holes in black polythene, including potatoes and courgettes/squashes. I've already used the plastic sheet to cover and 'de-weed' ground over ten years so finally cutting holes in it is ok now.

[Bill HH]

You have to work with the soil you are given and strive to improve it year on year. If you have done all you can (and it certainly sounds like it) then thats it get planting. Make your own compost and use it as a mulch every year and you will find great improvements over the years.

[Veggielot]

In an ideal world you want for soil to be lump free along with a few other things. However most of us aren't that lucky, Bill is right it is a case of working with what you have got and work on improving it.

[Kristen]

If you need a fine tilth then the lumps will break down nicely after rain - but you have to catch them at just the right time, usually a day or two after rain, when they are drying out and just the right amount of "wetness" to crumble with a rake or somesuch.