Roots on stoney soil

[Annpan]

I have spent all the spare time I have had in the last 3 days sifting through some of my beds. I have them in nice geometric lines up the garden... I have since discovered (and it has been corroborated by my neighbours) that the people that were in the house 15 years ago had various zig-zag paths up the garden... since then it had all gone to grass so when I started digging I had no idea. These paths were made of that grey jagged stone that I have seen farmers use to fill up muddy tractor routes... anyways it is EVERYWHERE.

Soooo... the bed that I had planned on having carrots in is particularly bad and I have been at it for hours... but as it is in my root break I was thinking...

What about beetroot? Do you think that would be OK?

I'll try to get more stones out, then work on it again in Autumn if I can, by next year it won't be so bad (and it'll be tatties in there anyway)

[marshlander]

Good idea. Most of my garden is a former farm yard so we have a similar prob with stones and masses of broken brick everywhere, presumably to stop the horses and later tractors sinking in the mud. (Cloddygate speaks for itself!)

You could also try stump rooted or round carrots or build a raised bed on top for std ones.

[Jandra]

Beetroot should be fine. Mine always grow partly above ground anyway.
Jandra

[Annpan]

Thanks guys, I had thought that. I'll plant them today

They are supposed to be raised beds anyway, but I don't have enough topsoil to raise them up above the stones (does that make sense)
The ground is even to stoney for round carrots in this bed, though I have 2 other beds with them in and hopefully I'll get at least one deep enough for normal carrots.