Soil

[Charleyrogue]

Not sure if this is the right place to post this but here goes anyway.

I'm new to gardening and growing my own things but my stepdad has very kindly offered me a large portion of our garden to grow things in. However I'm not sure what kind of soil we have and that seems to be a big factor in what I can grow. Also, the garden is on a bit of a slope. Nothing very noticeable but it means that alot of water seems to collect at the bottom after a rainfall and takes a bit of time to drain away or, if it's a bit cold, it becomes a bit bog like.

Any help or tips would be greatly appreciated!!!!!

[Stacey Steve]

Try looking on

http://www.eais.net/soil/

This may give you some basic info

[Kristen]

When you create your "vegetable beds" it might be an idea to lay them out so that there is a bit of a trench across the slope. That way as the water trickles down the slope it will get into the trench and then soak away into the soil - rather than just running off.

The farmers in areas with poor soil in America plough along the contours of the land so that the soil does not get washed away. If you dig trenches down the slope the water will treat them like rivers!

I am a big fan of Raised Beds - see http://users.ncable.net.au/%7Eurbanf...H_DESIGN_2.htm for an explanation

[vegnut]

Also, grow moisture loving plants at the bottom of the slope, like runner beans etc.

[Charleyrogue]

ooooh didn't think of that! Found out yesterday the soil has never had anything grown in it apart from grass. Is that a plus in my corner?

[thyme]

If the area you are going to use is at present a lawn or grassed dig it out in slabs like turf and make a stack of it somewhere out of the way. As you build the stack of grass turves: stack it so that grass is to grass and soil is to soil as you build up the layers of the stack. When it rots down you should have a useful loam type soil to use in raised beds or on the vegetable beds.

[Tam]

Rhubarb drinks a great deal of water.