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  • Hard Lumpy dry soil

    Hi, can anyone help me? I am a new to allotments and my plot has been unused for almost 20 years, the soil is hard and very dry and lumpy in parts and i need advice on how to break it?:

  • #2
    Hello Starmie
    Welcome to the grapevine!

    I was lucky when I took over my plot, it had been turned over by a tractor then left for a few months. We were then able to dig out all the weeds to clear the plot. But I'm sure someone else will have had similar to you when starting out and will tell you how they tackled it.

    Could you break your plot into sections and dig it over bit by bit, adding manure/compost as you go to improve the texture of the soil? Once an area is cleared and ready to plant you'll feel a sense of achievement and be ready to move on to another bit. Find out if you can get some rotted manure delivered - ask your allotment neighbours if they know a good source.

    Good luck!
    Julie

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    • #3
      Re lumpy soil

      Thanks for that, hopefully i should have my manure delivered in a couple of weeks as he's out of it right now, your right you know to do bit by bit i've put some potatoes in and a couple of rows of onions, its just so difficult to not look at the whole plot and scare myself!! 300m square

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      • #4
        Hi and welcome!

        Would suggest that you cover any part that you are not working on or planting into to stop the weed problems getting worse. It won't cure the problem but it should contain it until you can get to it!

        You could hire or borrow a rotovator and turn over a section - you will still have to work the area by hand to remove perenial roots - generally the thick white ones! but it might break up the lumps for you?

        Unless you are happy with added chemicals I wouldn't spray - it might kill the top growth and make it look good temporarily but it is unlikely to kill all the roots so you still have to hand dig - 6-8 weeks of black plastic kills top growth, can then be reused on a new section, and adds nothing to the food chain.

        Good luck, hope all goes well

        Terry
        The weeks and the years are fine. It's the days I can't cope with!

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        • #5
          Bit by bit. Starmie. Anything you can't cultivate at the moment cover with old carpets, cardboard etc. Get hold of as much organic compost or manure as you can and stick that on top - the worms will drag it in. Best bet is dig a managable bed, plant or sow something and work on the rest as and when you can.

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          • #6
            If you garden on a clay based soil it dries a bit like concrete, the best way is to soak the area you plan to dig the night before. This will make it easier to dig or hoe the next day. After that it is only continued application of organic matter, such as manure, leafmould, seaweed, braken, compost etc that will improve the 'workability' of the soil. I know its hard to start and it can be a long process, but it is worth it.
            Geordie

            Te audire non possum. Musa sapientum fixa est in aure


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