Old Red Sandstone - soil for growing veg in South West Wales

[Russel Sprout]

Hi all

I don't know much about soil types. In fact, having only moved to Wales a couple of years ago I foolishly presumed the reddish soil in my garden was clay. But I've since learnt it is most likely Old Red Sandstone.

Does anyone know about this soil type and its suitability for growing crops? I'd love to learn more about it both generally and with regard to growing.

Interestingly, I've noticed where I've had to dig some holes recently there there is no apparent top soil as such. One hole was around 90cm deep, and another 130cm. In both there was no change in colour or texture from the top to the bottom. I'm not sure how normal it is for a soil not to have a top soil!

Any thoughts or insights most appreciated.

Many thanks

[nickdub]

I live near Ross and there is a lot of this type of soil locally, unfortunately not in my garden.

Generally it is extremely rich and full of nutrients, occasionally too much so for plants which flower better on poorer soils. It does also vary quite a bit and some soils based on old red sandstone do also contain a lot of clay which typically 'puddles' down hard if worked too much in the wet and then sets like terracotta in the heat of the summer.

These soils can be extremely deep and if so are very good for tree fruit growing. I have seen large modern tractors get bogged in wet ground around Hereford. It took another large tractor with chains to pull the first out of a seemingly bottomless pit of clayey mud - having my wellies sucked off my feet trying to walk across my brothers wet vegetable garden was a pretty regular occurrence.