digging deep

[raine]

Hi all,
not sure how to put this question cos it sounds so daft but how do you dig your patch? We've been digging with fork and spade for months now and today, after getting home early from work I decided to go down and do some planting. One look showed me that it would be no good! My soil is still stubbornly 'lumpy' I thought frost would break it down but it's still as hard as rock. I tried raking it but resorted in the end to trying to beat it into submission! I don't think we have clay soil but any suggestions would be most welcome as i toddle off to get some pain killers for this aching neck that is all I've got to show for a couple of hours grumpy work...aaaah
raine

[Snadger]

To make a seed bed, flatten the clods with the rake used vertically and thumping it down hard, then raking. If the area is for planting brassicas which like a firm soil, tread the soil (soft shoe shuffle it!) and then rake. It may take a few times treading and raking to get desired results. A little bit of compost from an old growbag or peat/coir can also be worked into the soil surface.
The more upright you use the rake when raking, the finer the seedbed will be!

[bubblewrap]

I usually use a push hoe after digging it works quite well but my soil may be different? maybe a good dose of manure would help?

[Mrs Dobby]

See if you can borrow or buy a Wolf Garten Push / Pull Rotovator, as per the one in the piccy below! Breaks up all the large lumps and clods down to a fine tilth quickly and easily, I did 5 beds (5' by 15') in about an hour and a half, the tool isnt cheap, but it is oh so good, deffo a worthwhile investment!

[Flummery]

My soil is gorgeous (just want to make you all jealous!) but my old garden had soil like this. I found from experience that it was better not to hope the weather would break it down, but as soon as it was dug, I raked and raked and raked. It broke down finer when it was still damp but set like bricks when it dried out. Try a good raking after the next bit of rain. It's hard work but good for the stomach muscles!

[raine]

Thanks for the advice! Flummery your old soil sounds like mine,it definitely dries as hard as rock so I'll try your advice about the raking. I'll also try everyone else's idea of incorporating old compost. I also like the sound of your push pull rotovater, mrs Dobby! Is it the one on the left or the right of your pic and do you have a rough idea of how much one would cost?
Thanks all

[Lesley Jay]

The prices are on this thread Raine.

http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...ead.php?t=5585

[JennieAtkinson]

The more upright you use the rake when raking, the finer the seedbed will be!

I didn't know that! So thanks Snadger.

I just normally beat the clods with the back of the fork, but its hard work on the back.

[Peter]

Muscle solution, buy a Chillington or Azada hoe. don't hack with a rake or you'll find the handle breaks.

Machinery solution, buy a small highspeed rotovator. e.g. Mantis.

Another angle, water an area, lots and lots, in the evening and cultivate it the next morning.

[raine]

I can't say how grateful i am for this forum and your help. I think next pay day might see the wolf cultivator coming to east london but the rest of your help has been invauable
many thanks, raine

[mrskp]

i was out there breaking up clay/concrete balls yesterday and could hardly move last night (seem ok this morning).

"bashing and raking" doesn't seem to work for me, i just end up with a tonne of the same size balls in one place !

so i use a spade with the curve facing towards me, start at the back of the bed and in a pneumatic drill type fashion work towards the front of the bed. that breaks up the surface, then (now the soil has dried out a bit) go back over the whole thing turning it over and repeating the exercise. then i cheated and dumped two huge bags of multipurpose compost on top.

what worries me though (apart from it being damn hard work) is wrecking the soil structure. I've never understood how you're supposed to get lovely rakable soil without pulverising it to death. can someone explain please ?

next year is definitely going to be a "no-dig" year and let the worms do the work.

[nick the grief]

What you need to do is use the back of the fork as if you were trying to beat a carpet and spread butter all in one A bit like the diagram below. It's not easy to explain I'm afaid . The ground is incredible dry at the moment ( well it is here) but it will break them down eventually

[mrskp]

the lengths we go to eh ? lol

if any aliens landed while you were beating your carpet with a butter knife and i was pneumatic drilling with my spade, what would they make of it lol

[Snadger]

the lengths we go to eh ? lol

if any aliens landed while you were beating your carpet with a butter knife and i was pneumatic drilling with my spade, what would they make of it lol

I don't know, I bet they've got the same problems on Mars or Venus, both planets look a bit barren to me!

[mrskp]

bet bl**dy Thames water have got a hosepipe ban up there as well.