Plants to grow in shallow soil

[Kirsty_84]

I've just been gifted a patch of earth in my mum's garden (somewhat reluctantly) but the soil is shallow, not sure how shallow yet but I'd guess less than a foot until it runs into rock, so I'd like some suggestions on what to plant there (if anything).

Flowers, veg, herbs ... anything which can be changed quite often as I'd like to be able to grow many things but have only about 6ft by 2ft.

The soil is heavily made up of clay.

[HeyWayne]

Garlic and onions seem to do well in my clay - but they're there for a while. Beetroot doesn't go that deep, chard is another that seems quite shallow rooted.

[oldie]

Lettuce and any of the oriental veg should be O.K.- mizuna, mibuna, pak choi etc.

[ann-the-nan]

Plants to grow in shallow soil

Your soil sounds like mine. Over the past couple of years I have been trying to improve it with my "own grown" compost. I have also used clay breaker. I HAVE managed to grow beetroot; not enormous, but there's only me to grow for on that front. Another veg. that OH doesn't like is carrots, so I concentrate on the round ones. I have had them grow up to golf ball size. Come September, I shall be digging a trench - not big because it is impossible - and filling it with uncooked kitchen waste. eg., peelings, apple cores, banana skins, and similar items. Before planting time, I cover the trench with some of the dugout soil and it will be just right for runner beans.
Hopefully other grapes will have other ideas to help you.

[ginger ninger]

Why not set a small area to one side and grow some herbs, you could dig a small bag of sharp sand in to help with drainage an a small bag of compost to help brake the clay down a little. Try thyme, rosemary, a small bay tree...mine started out as a 6" high plant and now it's a 4 foot beauty...took about 10 years, but your not in a hurry are ya.

[Kirsty_84]

Thanks for all the suggestions.
I loathe beetroot so that wouldn't be something I'd grow, swiss chard seems like a good idea though.

I do get through a lot of salad so wouldn't mind growing some oriental salady stuff.

Round carrots! Great, hadn't thought of those. Will definitely be trying that. Also anything that grows upwards I guess I could try.
There was a courgette on RHS Tatton (Gardener's World) Last night which grew upwards. Did anyone catch the name?

Love herbs but I've found that in other parts of the garden they spread rapidly - thyme especially - can the be trained to grow upwards?

[El Greeno]

Any thoughts on a variation of square foot gardening?

Raised bed with soil mixed through with compost and/or sand, thats 12 'plots' ripe for growing!

[Kirsty_84]

Any thoughts on a variation of square foot gardening?

Raised bed with soil mixed through with compost and/or sand, thats 12 'plots' ripe for growing!

Great idea. I will definitely read up on it

[taff]

here's an idea for your thyme...
first post, last picture
http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...den_48922.html

[Kirsty_84]

Wow, that's ambitious