How to prepare soil for growing veg?

Lotus-eater

What I would do, is to dig it now, find out a place you can get a whole load of rotted manure locally and dump as much as you can onto it, ASAP.
And I mean alot, up to 6" deep, isn't too much at all. Then dig it in, when you have time. Because the initial dig will be VERY hard work.
This year you will be able to plant most stuff into it, although your carrots and parsnips will fork like crazy, from the manure and clay.
Next year however, you will have lovely soil to plant in.

Kneel down on something and see how far you can easily reach to the soil, make them that wide.

ellebee1986

There are a few places near me I could get free manure from thats no prob Ill enquire into getting some.

What I have noticed is that the hole I dug to check the soil type a couple of days ago is not draining. It has rained the last couple of days except for last night and today and there is a pool of water in the hole so what can I do to improve this? Should I take it that I wont be growing anything in this soil this year?

I was hoping to make it a raised border so would that be a possible solution? Would you used compost for a raised bed with a weedproof membrane or just incorporate it into the soil already there? Maybe if I raised it and used compost and manure etc I could start growing this year? Just me thinking out loud do please correct me if Im on the wrong path because I am a complete garden novice!! lol

Lotus-eater

Any organic material will help. Especially if you keep digging it in deeply. But a couple of days not draining, is very bad, it has rained in most places?

I think S Nigra would know better than me. But something like sharp sand might help alot. But is going to cost, unless you find some.

grannyjo

you could use grow bags for some of your plants this year. they work very well- then put a lot of manure if you can get it cheap- on other areas for later. where you clear the grass, stack it upside down either in a planting hole- or in a poly bag - compost bon or whatever- it will rot down to make good soil in a few months. If it was me, I'd use grow bags and then gradually work on the veg bed. Stack the bags on the veg bed and they will kill the turf under it. Digging in manure will grasdually increase waterlogging. some gravel or sharp sand will help.

Leif

In terms of improving drainage for herbs, assuming a slightly clay soil, is sharp sand as mentioned earlier the best solution? If so how much? My soil is mostly not too bad, but it could do with being a lit looser. I'll dig in organic matter once the compost pile has fermented.

NinjaB

I have just got an allotment and literally am starting on preparing tomorrow. The allotment is having a ton of manure delivered and lots of people getting it including me. I have sandy feeling soil where the veg is going and it is pale. At the top it is richer and more "normal". I have been told the plot hasnt been worked much before. I havent had a garden before and starting seeing not to plant root veg, peas and salad (do you include tomatoes and cucumber in that?) so now I am getting a huge pile of horse manure and worried I shouldnt be putting it down. I was going to put it in a big pile as I havent even dug the beds over yet but have I made a big mistake buying it? Would rather just stick it in a compost bit or forget it if it shouldnt be used on gardens that need to be used straight away. I have no idea if it is fresh or rotted, didnt think it was something to ask at the time. I would really appreciate the help before the boyfriend just digs it all over as he is insisting to do even though he has never had any gardening experience at all. Feels like a steep mountain right now

Sambucus_Nigra

Ninja - you might want to start your own thread because the advice will differ completely.

It's at times like this that I can only recommend a good allotment course.

http://www.gardenorganic.org.uk/events/courses/course_details.php?id=779

Anyway OP - if you have drainage issues then you need to add sand and organic matter. When you say a pool of water - how deep is the hole and how deep is the water and how long did it stay there? It could be just that you have hit the water table [not knowing anything about where you live it's hard to say].

My advice would be - to those that have never grown before [unless you have a mentor to assist you] stick to a few crops in your first year, space them out around your plot to give them space to grow and spend a little time looking at how to grow each type. Research each one well and look into the types of soil each likes, the types of nutrient each needs, the seasons that each can be grown in and any other characteristics that need to be learnt about each type of veg that you are growing.

Ninja -
Your manure [if well rotted, which means it won't smell bad] can be put on your ground now, and left on the surface. If it isn't well rotted, pile it up and use it next year.

My first bit of advice to any new allotmenteer is to cover all your plot as soon as you can with cardboard and weight it down [that manure would be ideal for that]. Then, clear and prepare a small area at a time. If you don't cover your plot whilst you are preparing your areas, then the weeds grow back and you are on a hiding to nothing. Putting cardboard down means you are in control. Then, for half of the plot, grow potatoes under the cardboard [use a bulb planter to remove plug of soil and plant the potatoes straight in, putting the soil back over the top]. In the other half, using the same method, grow your toms, cucumbers, squashes etc. In your prepared areas, that's the place to grow your peas, lettuces and root veg [onions, leeks, beetroot, lettuces etc]. As you prep each area [stick to a square metre or two at a time] - plant it up then keep it weed free as you go. For heavy feeders dig a little manure in as you go.

And don't put any permanent beds or paths in until you have used the plot for at least one full year. You are more than likely to change your mind and its best to let a plot evolve as you go.