Planting into very compacted soil

[self-contained]

Hello all,

My landlord has agreed that I can create a vegetable bed in the garden, rather than just relying on my containers. I was initially going to use a patch of lawn, and plant through sheets of cardboard. However, there is an area of mulch on top of plastic sheeting at the bottom of the garden. I think the easiest thing to do will be to peel back the plastic and create my bed there. That way, when I move out, I can just cut everything to ground level and replace the plastic sheeting/bark mulch.

But there's a problem. The ground seems very compacted, with quite a lot of grass and weed roots across the surface. If I were going to be staying here in the longer term, I could slowly improve it with a no dig approach, but I am all about short-term gains right now. I don't have enough compost to apply a decent layer to the surface. And I don't have a spade or fork to dig it over (not really key equipment for a container gardener!). I have a rake, and can break up the top few centimetres with that, but that's about as good as it's getting.

With that in mind, what kinds of things could I be planting? I was originally hoping to put potatoes in, but I don't know how that would work and earthing up would be a problem. I could put things like lettuces in, with shallow roots, but I do suspect that may result in a slug apocalypse!

Any thoughts?

I'll try to post a picture later. I'm expecting a parcel (nutritional yeast, with which I can make almost any savoury food feel like a proper meal) so can't go into the garden until that arrives.

[Containergardener]

I'm not sure as grow in containers . Hopefully some one will be along to help with your soil query though.
Could you order some tools online ?

[broadway]

Hello SC,

Taking a bit of a swerve what the story with "nutritional yeast" then, do you use it like a condiment?

[self-contained]

Some photos.

This is the lawn:



I have permission to dig a bed in it, but the quality of the soil isn't great and I would probably need to returf it when I move out:



So I thought that the lawn might not be the best place to create a bed.

[self-contained]

Here is the mulched area:



The bark mulch is actually rotting down quite nicely and full of worms. If I knew I could easily replace it, and knew where it came from/what it might have been treated with, I would definitely use it. However, I can't and I don't, so it will need to be piled up and re-spread when I'm moving out.

[self-contained]

This is what is under the plastic:



There are a surprising number of worms, but also a lot of debris (wood, roots, stones, plastic, cables, broken glass, etc):



And this random hole full of bricks:



Again, if this were a little plot that I could invest time in for pay off over the next few years, I would rather enjoy the challenge of getting it tidied up and productive. However, this is going to be my only growing season here, so it needs to be as productive as possible as quickly as possible.

Here's what it's looks like raked over a bit:



So it's not terrible, but the raking has hidden quite a bit of debris!

[self-contained]

Hello SC,

Taking a bit of a swerve what the story with "nutritional yeast" then, do you use it like a condiment?

Yes, it gives a nice cheesy umami taste. I've heard of people sprinkling it on salads or having it on toast, but I mostly cook with it. I like it sprinkled into the cooking water when I make one-pot pasta as it results in a nice cheesy sauce as the water absorbs and is thickened by the pasta starch. I'm vegetarian rather than vegan, so sometimes I use it along with cheese to dial the cheesiness up a level.

I could happily eat almost any grain with nutritional yeast, a dab of ketchup, a few drops of chili sauce and some peas or sweetcorn mixed in. It's also shelf stable and keeps for a very long time, so the perfect lockdown food! It's also lower calorie than cheese (for the amount needed), but surprisingly high in protein.

[broadway]

Yes, it gives a nice cheesy umami taste. I've heard of people sprinkling it on salads or having it on toast, but I mostly cook with it. I like it sprinkled into the cooking water when I make one-pot pasta as it results in a nice cheesy sauce as the water absorbs and is thickened by the pasta starch. I'm vegetarian rather than vegan, so sometimes I use it along with cheese to dial the cheesiness up a level.

I could happily eat almost any grain with nutritional yeast, a dab of ketchup, a few drops of chili sauce and some peas or sweetcorn mixed in. It's also shelf stable and keeps for a very long time, so the perfect lockdown food! It's also lower calorie than cheese (for the amount needed), but surprisingly high in protein.

OK sounds interesting will take a look although I'm not too concerned about the calories

[Martin H]

Back to the original question: I think I would just grow some easy salad crops. Lettuce, Mizuna, Rocket, Radish should all survive and give a return on that ground.

You could even try some summer cabbages if you can find some netting to protect them from the butterflies and pigeons.

I would stay away from root crops or anything delicate or fussy.

Good luck!

[muckdiva]

Do you have a local farmer who
Might deliver a couple of bales of straw (or hay) to you? If so this might be an option...
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/gardenin...-any-good.html

[SarrissUK]

I can get ya big grow bags that have really decent compost in them for £1.80 each from the farm shop - it's not far from the hospital either. If you haven't got a car, I'm happy to go get some for you. I bought some there just the other day.

I'd sow carrots, beetroot, salads, radishes, french beans - anything that is quite quick You don't need much compost to be able to sow into it. For that area, I reckon four grow bags would be enough to sow into

[rary]

I think I would invest in a hoe to loosen up the surface and go with what Martin H has recommended

[Dynamite]

Hi SC, if I were the landlord and my tenant asked that, I would be rubbing my hands as it will be a vast improvement on my property and add value. Being a keen gardener, you will take great care and pride in it. I would dig the lot over and plant the lot up. Potatoes might be a good start as they would break the soil up.

Kind Regards..........Rob

[Mark_Riga]

You could try beetroot in that and beans (broad/dwarf) If it is very hard be careful you don't break your rake (or damage your wrist digging with a trowel).

[ameno]

Personally, I would just buy a cheap fork or spade. You can get one for less than £10.
It's not like you'd need to make a trip out just to get one - large supermarkets sell them (or at least they normally do; not sure what stock levels might be like at the moment), so you could just pick one up at the same time as your weekly shop.