Another soil question

[andy_j]

I'm turning my small flower beds into a veg patch approx 6 foot x 12 foot. Over the past few years, we've always tipped our spent potting compost from summer bedding tubs onto this area and will indeed do so this year.

This has raised the soil level by about 10" and it is nearly all spent compost. Underneath, when you finally get down there is chalky loam...quite nice stuff with a slightly alkaline pH.

But the soil looks tired and needs a damn good boost structurally as well as nutritionally. I'm not a great lover of adding just slow release stuff but want to improve it all round.

I suppose double (bastard ?) digging would be the way to go and add some FYM or mushroom compost to the trench or would you just mulch it with FYM, roughly dig it with a fork and leave it for the winter ?

I want to grow some sprouts in here next year and really can't see me getting a good firm soil without improving it. I'll probably add leaks, beetroot, parsnips, lettuce and onions to the plot too if that's any use

Any suggestions welcome

Andy

[Capsid]

I'd be digging in the spent compost as you add it and dig in any compost you can get hold of, if this is possible.

What is recommended for the first year on a virgin bed is to grow spuds. You have to dig a trench which starts to break the soil up and then add a good layer of compost to the bottom of the trench which helps the soil structure. Then more digging is done when you earth the spuds up and finally another dig is done when you harvest them. I also add grass cuttings between the rows which all adds to the humus content of the soil eventually.

I'm digging more compost into this year's spud bed now and am finding that I can just use a spade to turn over the soil rather than having to loosen it with a fork.

Not sure if that helps.

[Pumpkin Becki]

Alternatively, FYM or Spent Mushroom Compost can simply be forked into the top of your beds, and the worms should do the digging for you or, you could sow a green manure over winter, something like winter tares, mustard or red clover. This will stop any nutrients being washed away, the leafy top growth will suppress weeds, and you can dig in the whole plant in the spring which will help improve the structure and add nutrients back to the soil.

[Nicos]

I'd do it the hard way too....double digging!..at least it's all been and done..just make sure you add all your soil improvers at the same time.
I'd add some sand too- it depends on what type of compost you used- is it peat based or stoney??...that'd make a difference.
Do you know anyone with a clay garden who could donate a few bucket fulls?- there are often clay seams here and there.
(I reckon with all that digging the soil won't be very firm for brassicas- so lots of supports and jumping around to compress it once you're ready to plant out!)

Have fun- it'll certainly be worth the effort in the long run!