what can i grow in really sodden soil?

[littlejaffa]

I've been happily ignoring a chunk of my monster plot for some years now and have decided this is the summer to tackle it. Problem is, its on the side of a hill and there's a lot of underground/near the surface water sludging down it.
This problem area is about 6ft wide, if not wider all down one side of my plot so quite a big space.

A soil pipe hasn't made much of a difference at all and it's to wide an area to safely dig a channel..the smallest hole fills with standing water.
In the past i've lost plants grown near it because the soil i just to wet - if you step in it you sink to your knees and even in the height of a dry summer it's boggy to walk in.

So in short what edibles can i grow? I've tried most of the usual culprits with no joy, the water seems to attract flies and that combo has killed of beans, peas, fruit bushes, even spinach. I considered wasabi couldn't find any - then saw the reviews on here about it needed fresh water and so didn't bother.

I can't walk on it easily to weed but it is a big space so i'm happy to try a few different suggestions if anyone can help?

[dave_norm_smith]

Celery and celeriac would be good. They are both bog plants apparently so appreciate the damp. Unlike mine last year which were planted in an area of near sand, in a draught without regular watering! Basically your polar opposite.

Dave

[Jeanied]

How about watercress?

[littlejaffa]

Celery and celeriac would be good. They are both bog plants apparently so appreciate the damp. Dave

Thanks so much - great start - have done some reading and ordered some seeds, now....what else!?

[smc999]

How about watercress?

I was going to say that too. Watercress would be excellent as would celery and celeriac as mentioned earlier. You could also try ridging the area (make long, high piles of soil, like when you earth up potatoes) or get some cheap grow bags and puncture them on the base so plant roots can get into the boggy soil beneath, then you should be able to grow pretty much anything in the bags/ridges.

[VirginVegGrower]

Comfrey? What do others think?

[BigShot]

I dunno if comfrey likes that wet (though I imagine VVG wouldn't have suggested it otherwise) but if putting that in I'd put it at the bottom of the slope as a catch for some of the nutrients that'll be washing down with the water.

[binley100]

Rice............?

[littlejaffa]

Rice............?

Haha you may joke but i seriously considered this! Minimum temperature 10°c meant i'd no chance though! I heard Quinoa was the uk friendly version of rice, but needs well drained soil so i'm stuffed!

The watercress info is saying it needs freshwater - and mine is def not that!

I'd also considered comfrey to use the plant as a fertiliser if nothing else but the weed like quality worried me, it won't be in a bed (it's to wet/squishy to have any posts/wood) so i'd be worried it took over everywhere.

[Glutton4...]

Yup! Bins has hit the nail on the head. Rice!

[SarzWix]

Dig a deep channel, fill it with BIG size gravel/hardcore, then set raised beds on top of it, and fill them with the soil you dug out, plus sand & compost? The water will be directed down the channel as the line of least resistance, and the veggies will grow in moist rather than waterlogged soil? I know it means a lot of work, but it does work - my dad has patches of bog on his land where springs come up, and it's now criss-crossed with those channels. Trees are growing well now though

[snohare]

Try willows. Get some pencil thickness and above cuttings of new growth, stick them in and watch them grow. Then you'd have withies to use for all sorts of things, and the ground would be that little bit better drained...particularly clean water not needed !
(Mark you, you need to get the right sort of willow for making wattle screens/bed edgings, etc.)
If you are REALLY keen to drain it, stick in a poplar or two - but you might find that buildings nearby as their foundations subside, and you may find a lot of people won't like the sight of a poplar...
Alternatively read up on how reed beds can decontaminate all sorts of effluent-ridden soil, and think about a wildlife bog ?

[littlejaffa]

Thanks for all your thoughts - i'm not really keen to drain, it's why i'd asked for ideas of what to plan - draining, especially the talk of gravel and raised beds etc is just to costly.
The principle of my plot is free and organic.

I've ordered celeriac, and am trying (and currently failing) to find willow & watercress - thanks so much again for your ideas xx

[BigShot]

I'd also considered comfrey to use the plant as a fertiliser if nothing else but the weed like quality worried me, it won't be in a bed (it's to wet/squishy to have any posts/wood) so i'd be worried it took over everywhere.

Plan A - Get Comfrey "Bocking 14" which doesn't spread like that.
Plan B - Get ANY comfrey (I'm on the "as free as possible" method too so scavanged some growing on the allotment tip) and plant it - then just keep a close eye on it and keep it in check if it starts spreading.

[mrbadexample]

and think about a wildlife bog ?

I'd do that, with some sarracenia, drosera & dionaea.