Adding sand to a root vegetable patch

[newgardengirl]

Okay, here's my first more specific question as a complete beginner!

I have that common problem of having a heavy clay soil. I did mix in a load of compost a while back, but I'm still thinking it might be too heavy for the carrots and parsnips.

Is it ever the done thing to mix in some kind of sand, to make it less sticky? If so, is there are a particular type of sand I should be looking for in the shop?

Also, this may be an odd question but is it ever the done thing to plant toilet rolls directly into the soil and then put the carrot/parsnip seed in each one, to hopefully help them grow a bit better or is that a bad idea?

[buttercup]

hi newgardengirl!

hello and welcome to the vine!
im quite new to all this too, never be worried about asking questions, we've all got to learn somewhere!
ive got clay soil too and aswell as adding compost or organic matter to the soil you can use sand to improve the drainage and manageability.
i think most sand will do but i heard that sharp sand is good i got a massive bag from wickes for a couple of quid!
and yes you can use cardboard toilet tubes ect to sow carrots and parsnips, i think they are good because they are long and the root (which will be the carrot or parsnip) has more room for the to grow!
the root needs a long clear growing space so it doesnt deform and give you mutant veg!
hope that helps a little,
cheers buttercup

[nick the grief]

I wouldn't use ordinary sand. SHarp Sand or Grit is better as it has irregular partical size & helps no end. You can get a clay breaker compound that may help but just keep persivering with the compost or well rotted muck.

If you want to grow carrots in a particulat area why not make a raised bed and dig out the soil then fill with compost that will give you a good root run then or grow the stump rooted carrots.

[Snadger]

You could open up vee's with a spade and fill them with sandy potting compost, sow your carrots in the compost!

[LostthePlot]

I got a long stout pole and pushed it deep into the soil, then filled this hole up with multi-purpose compost, planted the seed/seedling and covered them, then tiddled a little bit of Growmore on the top of each one? I am now hoping for the best.
Oh and I have also been using a gigantic bag of sawdust (free) from my local joiner to put into my soil as it is sticky and it has made a great big difference in the texture.

[rustylady]

Clay is a b****r, it is really fertile when tamed but the drainage is awful. Dig in as much sharp sand and organic material (stable manure or garden compost) as you possibly can.

[rednotdead]

Hi LostthePlot

I have access to sawdust also - buit was warned off using it directly in soil .

I checked it out via Google - (sawgust gardening) - and on the first website ("MiMi.hu") I found the following quotes amongst many others

"Sawdust is often readily available, but is the least desirable source of organic matter"

"Good mulch if composted before it is applied.
If applied fresh, it will cause nitrogen deficiency in the soil, which can affect plant growth. Adding excessive nitrogen to compensate may burn plants"

"Slow to decompose, can negatively affect aeration. Work into pile in thin sprinklings, mix with nitrogen rich material."

Consequently I put mine in ther bottom of the compost heap to see how it works out in the fullness of time

hope this helps

[JennieAtkinson]

Oh and I have also been using a gigantic bag of sawdust (free) from my local joiner to put into my soil as it is sticky and it has made a great big difference in the texture.

Would be interested to know what people think about sawdust. My OH is a woodturner and we supply a local compost firm with our sawdust, but they will only take sawdust and turnings from untreated wood. But we feel consideration also needs to be given to the type of wood, e.g. any of the hardwoods survive a "25 year graveyard test" (hammered in to the ground and left to rot), so it won't rot down as quickly as softwood, even though it is not treated. Still with me?
So what wood shavings/sawdust do you use to be safe.

[LostthePlot]

I have also put manure and leafmould with the sawdust so hopefully the sawdust wont have too much of a detrimental affect on the soil. I hear what you are saying about it not being the best as a soil conditioner, but for me to get a half decent workable soil quality, I am giving it a go and will up the nutrients with growmore/chicken pellets.