Eek! Wrong sand...

[WeeGarden]

Hi all, I'm new here so please be gentle...

I have moved into a house with the typical new build rubble garden, and last month, went forth with my great veggie growing plan. I put in some wooden raised beds and dug out the rubble. Because I'd read that sand was good for drainage in clay soils, I bought a few bags of sharp sand from the builder's yard in B&Q.

I've since read that builder's sand is salty, and I should have bought horticultural sand instead. I can't get rid of it now, as it's all mixed in with the manure, soil, compost, etc.

Are my plants and vegetables doomed?

[zazen999]

http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...oil_29799.html

No, all is fine.

Welcome to the Vine by the way.

[oldie]

Welcome. You're o.k. as zazem said sharp sand is fine.

[zazen999]

I've got loads of building sand left over from my wall fiasco and that's all going up the lottie....any salt in builders sand soon washes out.

[Peter]

BTW Salt and Cement do not get along.

[terrier]

So don't put cement into your raised bed Welcome to the forum WeeGarden.

[snohare]

But it would mean there was something concrete to show for all that effort !
(Sorry, couldn't resist folks.)
Welcome Wee Garden ! And did you know (duh, of course you didn't, silly me) that salt in moderate quantities acts as a fertiliser in the soil ? Too much ruins the ground by taking out all the nutrients, but just a wee touch will free up nutrients not otherwise available. So you might well have struck lucky there.

please be gentle...

Of course, we all know why you said that, you have read other posts and expected to be insalted....
(I've got my coat.)

[Nicos]

WeeGarden- welcome to the vine!!!!

Bet you feel better knowing you've not messed up all your hard work!!!

Urmmm....snohare, Peter et al......

[WeeGarden]

Thanks for all the advice folks! *breathes a sigh of relief*

...and LOL!

Mange tout plants have popped up to say hello, so I guess there wasn't anything to worry about!

...apart from that maybe I shouldn't have put them in so early of course. D'oh!

[lynda66]

and beetroot likes a bit of salt cos it used to be a seaside plant

[maytreefrannie]

Just been reading about adding sand - I thought horticultural sand was the one to go for?

Could someone tell me, what's the difference, and what is horticultural sand for?

[zazen999]

What are you using the sand for?

If it is to condition clay....then it really doesn't matter. Seriously....