growing on clay soil

[fairynuff]

Hi folks, just joined but have been lurking for a while. I am about to venture into a new area of growing and hoped some people here might have some advise for me! (I'm a bit of a rambler, bear with me)

My parents knocked down a shed at the bottom of their garden a couple of years ago, and the plot (about 2m by 4m) has remained empty since. They are planning to put up a new shed in the future, but have agreed to let me use the plot for vegetables in the mean time.

I currently grow peas, broad beans, carrots, rocket, tomatoes, courgettes and herbs veg wise, and strawberries, blueberries and raspberries, all in planters on my patio. Moving into a ground plot seems like a big step!

Here's the thing though...the plot is currently solid clay (not too stony though). The way I see it I have two options:

- hack it to pieces, rotivate and add lots of leaf litter/manure etc
- build some raised beds (there are lots of breeze blocks nearby I can use)

Are these my only options? If so, which is best, and how should I go about setting it up?

Plant wise I am still choosing - the plot gets sun all day, slightly shaded by a nearby apple tree, and backs onto fences for running support netting against, so I am thinking of expanding my pea/bean selection, and adding beetroot to the repertoire - any other suggestions for this kind of plot?

(sorry, lots of questions...did I mention I'm new? thanks for your help!)

[veggiechicken]

Hi fairynuff and welcome!
My only thought is how long will it be before the new shed comes. If its soon you may not want to put too much effort into building raised beds and acquiring soil to fill them.
Someone knowledgeable will be along soon to help you.

[Feral007]

I'm not more knowledgable (more's the pity) but if it's going to be in a season or two then I'd prob just do the no dig thing with compost and hay. If you wanted to do a few corners in breezeblock to make it look a bit tidier then that would just be extra. The hay would mean it got raised more than it woud with just compost. So a higher bed for less money and less effort. And then just rake it all away into the garden afterwards.

[Nicos]

A solid clay base is perfect for rebuilding a shed on. I'd be reluctant to dig it all up ( thinking of shed here).
I'd go with creating something raised on top of it all and not disturbing the pan.
I'd grow something with shallow roots too.

[Two_Sheds]

They haven't had a shed for a couple of years. They aren't going to put a new one up, or they'd already have done so (where's all the stuff from the old shed? All the bikes, tools etc?)

Dig and plant the area, shower them with lovely fresh veggies and they'll forget all about having another shed

[zazen999]

The way I see it I have two options:

- hack it to pieces, rotivate and add lots of leaf litter/manure etc
- build some raised beds (there are lots of breeze blocks nearby I can use)

Are these my only options?

No they aren't!

You can plant and grow anything in clay, including parsnips and carrots. Although if it is stoney you can grow carrots and snoops in planters or remove the stones from that area only.

I'd mulch with some compost and move some of the fruit into the bed and use the rest in a Square Foot Garden - just mulch with compost around each plant you put in and in a year or two you it will be much more loamy than clayey. Also, don't leave any square empty, always have something ready to go in. You could use the compost from each of those pots from your patio to go onto the bed, dig it in and there you go.

[PyreneesPlot]

Clay is wonderful - eventually!

I have a mix of solid blue (potters) clay and gooey yellow (think sickly cat poo) clay. This is my third year on it - it was a field/building site before - and it is finally starting to look like soil.

The first year everything was bunged in with manure or compost according to taste and we had a good general harvest, although the carrots hated it, and still do. I have three this year... Parsnips are awesome!

Be wary of waterlogging if you build on top. I'm on a slope and the bottom of the beds can be underwater for a day or two after a deluge, because they fill up against the clay sides.

It all depends on how much time you think you will be usung it for and therefore how much you want to invest.

[soladragon]

I have clay soil and have grown plants in it and also used raised beds. Out of the two raised beds work best however you need to get the wood :P

Potatoes do well in breaking up the soil, very well.

[fairynuff]

Thanks everyone for the quick answers, lots of food for thought (ugh, bad pun, sorry)

veggiechicken - they've said it won't be for at least two years, as they are busy decorating inside the house at the moment, but sadly it won't be a long term arrangement (back to planters again!)

Feral007 - I like the idea of building it up with hay, I'll have to look into that one, thanks

Nicos - I think that is my dad's thoughts as well - he'll be the one building the shed, I don't think he is as keen as my mum for me to dig it all up!

Two Sheds - haha, that made me laugh. I think my mum would agree - my dad only wants a shed so he can pretend to mend all the things he needs to do! The vegetables might win him over though, he is a gardener at heart.

Zazen99 - good to know parsnips do well in clay, I've been hoping to try those for a while - I love them roasted - fortunately it is not really stony, so that sounds like a good option! There's not likely to be a spare patch in my veg garden mind, I fill every spot!

PyreneesPlot - I am glad to hear you have had success with a clay plot - shame about the carrots but I can always keep mine in their planter. Thanks for mentioning the waterlogging issue - I hope that won't be a problem as their house is on top of a hill, but I will check there next time it rains (which, this summer, will probably be tomorrow).

Soladragon - thanks for sharing your experiences. I think short term raised beds does seem the best option - good tip about potatoes too, I've never had room before, maybe this is a good opportunity.

[Feral007]

You're very organised with your replies............Your garden should be immaculate and in line!

[kathycam]

If using hay/ straw do make sure there are no seeds in it. If you use containers will be easier to move if need be. Don't put perrenial stuff in, where the shed will eventually go.

[fairynuff]

Hehe thanks Feral007, that's me!

Good point Kathycam - thanks!