Clay Soil

[the.fee.fairy]

I have extremely heavy thick clay soil.

I have a veg patch, and i planted 2 rows of potatoes, hoping that thye'd break down the soil. I planted them in about a foot of topsoil and compost...they didn't even venture near the clay!

So what's going to be my best chance of breaking it down? I've got one of those spially thingies that you turn to break up soil, and i like to chuck the spade as hard as possible into it and then lift it. the only problem is that after a month or two the soil's back to how it started!

Help!!

[Luath]

Dig in plenty of grit, leaf mould, compost, green manures, humus to open up the soil and imrpove drainage. Hard work, but will be worth it.

[Chickpea]

I know how you feel. We have really heavy clay soil here too. Look on the bright side. It tends to be very fertile because it hangs on to nutrients instead of letting them all wash away like sandy soils. And you'll do well in a drought, because it retains the moisture so you don't need to water as often.

But, it can be a pain and you will want to dig in as much organic matter as you possibly can. Compost, manure, leaf mould, if was alive and now it's dead add it to your soil. Get really obsessive about it. In a year or two you'll thank me.

[wulf]

Clay soil definitely improves over time as you work it for crops. In Lewisham, the soil is also heavy clay and, each year as I prepare my planting areas with more from my compost bin, it gets easier to turn them over.

Wulf

[the.fee.fairy]

Cool...thanks

I put two bags of manure on it last year, left it to overwinter, adn then added the contents of one compost bin and a couple of bags of cmpost to make an area for growing veg this year, so hopefully, going by what you're all suggesting, if i dig it all in really well, then the veg patch should get in better shape every year...in theory and with the addition of more compost...

Fingers crossed!!

[Ranter]

Our new plot has fairly clay-like soil too. There's lots of manure advertised locally (on freecycle etc) but it's fresh-ish, not well rotted. Would it do more harm than good to be digging in fresh manure at this stage?

[wulf]

I think it would probably be less than ideal if you're planning to plant straight away. However, if the ground is going to be empty until next spring, you could spread the manure on top - it will act as a mulch while it is rotting down and then you can dig it straight in a few weeks before you start planting.

Wulf

[Wombat]

This seems to be a perenial problem Fee!

Clays are generally sodium clays with very small particle size, which is what causes the problem. To improve tilth and particle size apply a calcium compound like ag lime (calcium carbonate) or dolomite (a mix of calcium and magnesium carbonates). This will slowly change the sodium clays to calcium clays. I can't remember the addition rate but I would dust the stuff over the plot until it was well covered then dig it through!

Nev