Growing veg near traffic?

[drf]

We'll be moving into a new house soon. Unideally the garden is next to and below a road bridge which gets quite a bit of traffic. Is there anything to worry about here in regards to growing veg? Most of the traffic is cars, so I'm guessing there shouldn't be too many diesel particulates, and we're not talking London traffic loads here, and people have allotments in The Big Smoke!

Also, we'd be intending to plant in the ground for the first time, rather than the growbags of the past. I don't know what the soil's like - what would be the best thing to do to get some more nutrients in there? We'd probably be growing tomatoes, maybe courgettes, root veges, lettuce perhaps. Would just giving it a good turning over and forking in some manure or something do the business?

TIA

[Bigmallly]

Hi drf, it sounds as though you are worrying this before you have even moved. Take it slow, wait till you get in then you will have all the time you need to get it as you want it. As you say, you don't know what the soil is like so no need to worry just yet. As for the traffic, I don't think that will have any detrement to your produce as you are below the bridge. I would be more concerned if it was above a bridge as the fumes would rise.

[Alison]

My lottie is near a busy road which means I can access it easily but there will be fumes about. However, I know that I don't add any nasties to my soil / crops etc so it's far better than the stuff I can buy in the supermarkets. Don't worry about your soil, if it's a bit rubbish you can improve it over time, see it as a challenge.

[arknor]

some people in the centre of london have container gardens on balconys because they dont have a garden im sure they get much more polution than your plants and they are fine.

theres an alotment near me next to a really busy road (4 lanes) aswell

[ann-the-nan]

Growing veg near traffic?

The allotments near me are in a long strip by the side of a main road. The pollution can't be bothering folk as there is always a waiting list for them. Also, non of them need scarecrows.

[greengas]

My allotment runs close to M32 motorway but it has some of the most fertile soil in Bristol.

[Pumpkin Becki]

Our backgarden borders a very busy A-road, which is constantly used by big lorries, cars and motorbikes. Although we tend to grow most of our stuff at the lottie, we did grow some veg in the garden last year (and will do more this year). All did very well, and we haven't suffered any ill effects from consuming it. You should be absolutely fine.

[chris]

My side garden is next to a road that sees a bit of traffic..

I put a fence up around it more so for privacy, but thought it'd block a bit of the exhaust fumes