Items in veg plot

[SMW]

I recently lifted a patio to use as a veg bed. When turning it over I came across all kinds of items such as screws, small bits of plastic piping (the type used with wires), plastic sheets. The soil consists of very thick clay and I have lifted all plastic I can see. Now this is mean being very risk adverse, but does any of this material pose a risk to the soil? I hope to dig some compost into it this week.

Thanks

S

[bario1]

There's plenty worse stuff than that buried on every allotment in Britain as far as I can tell - i'm sure it won't have done your soil any harm, but it does sound like you'll need to add a lot of organic matter to it to get it fully fertile again.

[fishpond]

Shouldn't pose a threat.
Instead of digging the compost in, just lay it on top.
1) This will enable you to plant virtually straight away, worms + others work at it 24 hours a day.
2) If you put 2-4" of compost on the ground (you can also lay cardboard down first), most weeds won't get through it, also, you will not be disturbing any weed seeds that may have laid dormant for years.

[burnie]

I placed my new greenhouse in a spot where part of the ground was under an old shed for decades, I've just dug it today and have a similar problem. Farmyard manure will go in first to help increase the sparse population of worms, then as has been said, layer of compost on top.

[SMW]

Thanks for the replies folks

[Jonnyt]

I found around 200 coins buried together dating from 1793 to 1967 unfortunately most are corroded and of the ones I've been able to check aren't worth anything

[Jimmy]

I keep digging up some strange thin bricks. I think there once was an old manor house around here (Penwortham) somewhere. Has the time team been disbanded ?
Jimmy

[Snadger]

I garden on a scrap heap so its pointless attacking it with my metal detector! The coins and the old manor house site would have me ferreting though!

[Greenleaves]

My most bizarre was half a set of dentures

[Snadger]

My most bizarre was half a set of dentures

That reminds me of the cricket players who complained about the bounce of the ball on the strip. It turned out the groundsman had rolled his false teeth into the surface!