help

[bigal123_123]

How bad can the start of this year get ,Already 2inch under water what can i do,
It allways gets worst to end of march, But its the worst i have known it , i took my allotment on 3 years ago ,But tripled my allotment this year to around 500sm what was i thinking i work full time.

[Tracey]

Hi

Your not alone, lots of people are going through the same as you. 50% of my garden was under water last week. Last summer I spiked a row of spade depth holes with my garden fork (unfortunately I got bored after one row). This row was dry amongst the wet area, so I will try and do more this summer.

If you find you can't manage all your allotment this year you could lay some of the area that you've been using for the last 3 years to fallow, allowing it to recuperate, for a season (covered with a mulch or cover). This will stop you feeling guilty as its a postive action for your plot.

Kind regards
Tracey

[SarzWix]

Hire a "hollow tine aerator" and use it over all the paths etc, filling holes with sand or grit. Makes a big difference in drainage on the compacted areas of site. Add lots of organic matter to your beds, possibly some sand or grit if drainage is very bad, hopefully eventually you will raise the beds above the water! Also if you have a slope at all, investigate digging a drainage ditch, these work really well in drawing water away in the right place. Any work like this done now, will continue to benefit you in the future, so worth spending the time now.
Good luck

[coffee time]

i'm the same as you.live in goole and thinking of making my lottie into a pond instead of trying to grow things

[bigal123_123]

Been down this morning water seems to be draining away, But i only have about 2 feet of soil then there is a hard thick layer of sand which i thought would help drainage but just seems to hold it.I have inproved soil with compost and chicken manure but i think i put chicken manure on a little fresh ,Last year ended up with a layer of moss on my bed were id put the manure or i thought it was moss not sure.

[SarzWix]

The sand could do with being under the soil really...or mixed in with it. And it does depend what type of sand you've used too, for instance builder's sand wouldn't be very good. Also, the moss is probably down to drainage problems rather than the chicken poo! I get it in places on my plot too, and it's usually where the soil isn't being disturbed.

[bigal123_123]

sorry didnt make my self understood the sand is a natural feature and it is under the soil but still slow to drain very wet in winter very dry in summer

[SarzWix]

Hmmmm, I'm a bit stumped then BigAl...
Does your local council sell compost in big loads? I know some do (alas, not mine..), and can bring a lorry load of lovely stuff for about £50 (you could share that cost with other plotholders?). Spread thickly on the beds that would help with drainage in winter & water retention in summer? Can't think what else to suggest as a quick remedy

[bigal123_123]

No they dont even though we all recycle makes you wonder were it all gos, Ive just orded 3 ton of very well rotted farm yard manure,We also have a large leef mould bed at work, I work for council as a gardener but totaly diffrent to veg though,dug a hole 5 inch deep and it filled up right away with water so have to wait to get on with the hard work getting realy bord now,NEED TO GET ON WITH SOMETHING ONLY SO MANY TIMES YOU CAN CLEAN GREENHOUSES AND SHEDS.

[Hans Mum]

think you're just gonna have to sit it out & wait like the rest of us, the long range forecast is more rain ..................its very frustrating

[bigal123_123]

sorry sounds like i was moaning not realy known for that i know theres alot worse off than me will be more up beat in future, by the way ive set my tomato seeds peppers and cucumbers.