Is it just carrots & parsnips that would benefit from raised beds on heavy clay soil?

[Samuel1988]

Morning all,

Yesterday I made around 6 raised beds which I plan to use to grow carrots and parsnips as my soil is heavy clay in my plot and I plan to bring in some finer organic rich soil specifically for these vegetables. I do have some nice soil above the clay but it is not at a depth sufficient for nice long carrots/parsnips.

I was just wondering if there are any other vegetables which would greatly benefit from being grown in these raised beds? I want to prioritise the raise beds for those vegetables that 'need' it the most.

The raised beds are between 20-40cm in depth.

Thanks for your advice

Samuel

[rhonsal]

Hi Samuel

I have really poor clay soil in my garden so put in raised beds last year - found everything I planted grew really well as they all had chance to develop good root network in soil which was open free draining. The great summer we had also helped ;-)

[PyreneesPlot]

Interstingly, we had epic parsnips the first year here. The 'soil' was just clay subsoil backfill into which I made big dibbed holes filled with mpc. Carrots were pants, though!

[TrialAndError]

Garlic thrive in raised beds as do lettuce, Radish love the light soil.

[simon12]

I planted carrots and parsnips last year in my heavy clay soil with a small amount of compost mixed in and the carrots grew fine but the parsnips didn't germinate at all.

[jackinthegarden]

French beans, onions and garlic will all appreciate the drainage you've created by raising the bed. Rootcrops tend to fang and fork when grown in soil rich in organic matter - particularly manured beds. Remember to 'screen' your carrot beds to a height of about 2 foot, to avoid carrot root fly grubs riddling your roots. Parsnip germination is slow - and often haphazard; warm and dry the soil first by covering with a thick plastic sheet.

[Aberdeenplotter]

Remember to 'screen' your carrot beds to a height of about 2 foot, to avoid carrot root fly grubs riddling your roots.

Cover them completely with fleece or environmesh. It is a complete myth that carrot fly do not fly above 2ft

[binley100]

I either take out a plug and refill with compost or make a v shaped trench and fill with compost before sowing. Seems to work for me.

[Samuel1988]

I will also try making the plugs and filling with compost. I guess over time this will improve the soil for carrots to be sown there in the future.