How to improve chalky dusty soil for veg

[Ricardo]

I've only just got around to digging over my veg plot and the soil (which is chalky) seems dead and dusty.
I've left it very late but is there anything I could do to improve the soil for growing veg this summer?
I live not a million miles from Epsom so theres a likelihood of getting hold of some stable manure, or Croydon Council do their own "Croypost" soil improver.
Or ordinary multi-purpose compost perhaps?
Any suggestions gladly received

[Penellype]

I would be looking to add as much compost and well rotted manure as I could get my hands on. I think if it is as bad as it sounds I would be thinking of making raised beds to grow my veg in. Anything I was not going to plant up straight away would get a good mulch of fresh manure - but do make sure you ask if the horses have been eating hay that has been treated with weedkiller, and if you don't get a definite "no", take a small amount and test it by growing some beans in it. If they come up distorted and sick looking there is weedkiller in the manure.

[muddled]

Yep, mulch mulch and more mulch.

[Snadger]

Chalky soil could be indicative of high alkalinity. Brassicas can tolerate alkaline soils best of all methinks.
Organic matter of any description, (apart from spent mushroom compost which is also full of chalk) should help improve your soil structure.

[Ricardo]

Thanks everybody, I really appreciate your comments. Regarding the stable manure, my guess (and it is just a guess) is that the stables cater for thorougbred racehorses worth £££££ so I wouldn't think they'd feed them with hay that had weedkiller - they probably get it from Fortnum & Masons LOL

[maverick451]

Im in coulsdon so you cant be that far away from me?

The natural soil in my garden sounds the same, its a few inches of light clay over solid chalk, its horrible

Over the years ive just put on bag fulls of compost and actually its a pretty good loam now.

B&Q verve compost 125l seems about the best for the money imo, if you are ale too make a small investment on a good few bags of that and it will save you alot of pain and heartache trying to grow stuff on such poor soil.

Ive never had much with croypost, they always seem out of it when I go to the Purley oaks site.

[Penellype]

Thanks everybody, I really appreciate your comments. Regarding the stable manure, my guess (and it is just a guess) is that the stables cater for thorougbred racehorses worth £££££ so I wouldn't think they'd feed them with hay that had weedkiller - they probably get it from Fortnum & Masons LOL

I'd be wary - racehorses are unlikely to be fed hay that is full of thistles and docks, so it could well have been treated with weedkiller. The dangerous stuff is aminopyralid, which passes straight through the horse unchanged and therefore kills any plants that are grown in the manure (except grass).