My Home-grown Journey

nodwah

skysky69 wrote: »

Sorry to hijack the thread but does anyone know how I can improve the soil quality of clay and anything that could help a garden that is really really wet. I was thinking of trying to perhaps plant a couple of trees that might draw quite a bit of water out of the ground around the flower beds, they are still completely waterlogged at the moment. I think i is a high water table anyway and really thick clay soil We actually have a lovely sized garden that we could grow a lot in, but due to crap soil quality and poor drainage, I did most of last year in pots or the greenhouse.

On the plus side, clay tend to be really fertile once it's broken up:beer:

SmlSave

Hi skysky

I've got 'orrible clay soil too. I'm improving it slowly with sand, compost and horse manure - digging in a little at a time. Its hard work but every little helps!

We've raised our beds to help drainage - hope this helps.

Not gotton round to planting any seeds yet but I will!

linni

I've just read all this thread and I am so inspired. I got lots of seeds from Lidl, Aldi and mum.. I gave up growing things last year because all my courgettes were eaten, I think by snails, but I am going to have another go. I am stocking up on toilet rolls too. Happy planting and hoping for a good summer.

skysky69

Forgive me for being a thicko when it comes to raised beds but - we have like shiplap fencing (vertical) and its not the best and would probably need replacing in the next couple of years. I can probably get hold of some railway sleepers to raise the front of the bed, but do I need to raise the back too or do I just fill with soil using the fence as the back?

How deep do you suggest I dig down?

I went into Aldi's today - I refrained from the seeds as we have loads left over from last year, but have bought a Red Haven Peach tree and a Fantasia Nectarine tree. Also a trio of soft fruits, I think it was Tayberry, blackcurrant and raspberry. All for the grand total of £10.73 :beer: Bargain :T The fruit trees were flying off the shelves like hotcakes and that was at 9.30am this morning!

scotsaver

Hi everyone, weather starting to turn milder, birds are singing earlier in the morning and Kids are back at School next week so guess where I will be.:j

Been to Homebase today and picked up 3 Bags of Westland 60 litre bags of Multi Purpose Compost, they are £5.99 a bag and on 3 for 2 at the moment so really pleased with that as I think that may be all I need for this year.

If it stays dry tomorrow I shall be tidying out the Greenhouse and making a start on some seeds - shall let you know how it goes.;)

jintyb

Can anyone help? Ive been chitting my tatties for about three weeks but no sign of any sprouts! Is this normal? Theyre in egg boxes, should I cover them up?

HariboJunkie

jintyb wrote: »

Can anyone help? Ive been chitting my tatties for about three weeks but no sign of any sprouts! Is this normal? Theyre in egg boxes, should I cover them up?

Are they warm enough? I began mine about 2 weeks ago in a temp of around 16 degrees and they are beginning to sprout now. From memory of previous years, they are slow to start but speed up fairly quickly.

jintyb

HariboJunkie: thanks for that, youre right, I had them in a storage box outside, but we've had it cold the last couple of weeks , Ive moved them to a warmer spot!

notenoughcash

Phew, I am finally home!! That was the most difficult and yet most rewarding week of my life and I've never know such an amusing bunch of kids, my ribs ache from laughing so much!!

I've come home to a garden full of life, dozens of irises and snowdrops have flowered whilst I've been away, my seedlings look about twenty million times bigger than they were and the new seeds in the window have germinated and are looking great.

Had a beautiful day here today but been bogged down with unpacking and washing so hoping we have a repeat tomorrow. If so the potatoes are going in pots and I may even plant some seedlings into the ground under cloches. All being well of course. There's every chance I will spend the whole day hoping my thigh muscles will stop aching!!

evie451

harib0uk wrote: »

I'm just a beginner my self but I would suggest digging up your veg patch and mixing half the clay with some sand/shingle to aid drainage then fill the patch back in. The other half of clay I'd mix with a compost sand mix and then also dig in some manure.

I'm sure someone with more experience will come along and point you in the right direction

my grandad told me best thing for clay is to actually grow stuff in it! it helps the soil structure apparently.....certainly true in my garden....its heavy clay, i tried digging over some of the large lawn areas for veggies as the two tiny beds were insufficient. It was unbelievably hard to shift, a lot harder than the still clay soil in the beds which regularly got stuff grown in them....

sorry about the hijacking welcome back notenoughcash