Is This Right ??

[Solitaire]

I have clay soil and am using a section of the horses field which they have trodden bare of grass.

I have marked out the size of my beds and cut off the top layer, dug down about 1 1/2 folk lengths, removing stones and then dug in rotted horse manure and then raked over.

A few days later I dig in another load of horse manure. I hope this is the right way, so far I have only managed to sow lettuce and raddish seeds and the rest of my garden is getting neglected

[ann-the-nan]

Is this right??

You seem to be heading the right way. You are lucky to have access to manure. I think the manure in this area must come from rocking horses. My soil is heavy clay so gardening in bad weather is more like liquid engineering. You have obviously worked harder on you soil than I did on mine. I just built some raised beds and put compost I bought from the council on top. Also, late last year I dug a bean trench and filled it with household veggie waste. (uncooked) it does need 3 or 4 months so it maybe a bit late for this year.

You could try growing the round carrots. They are easy and so long as they have tagates growing along side the carrot root fly doesn't attack.

est of luck with it after a very brave start.

[Solitaire]

I know there was an advantage to having horses, except the manure is in the other field, so it's a case of ferrying across in buckets.

[FionaH]

Just make sure you fence your plot well. God knows how much damage a peckish horse could do to your veg

[SarzWix]

Carrots and manure don't mix well They will end up all sorts of peculiar shapes

Sounds like you're doing a great job though, the soil will really benefit from the work you put in now. You should be good to go with peas, beans, cabbages and other brassicas, salads, squash, pumpkins, courgettes... In fact the only thing that might object to the manure is carrots and parsnips - they'd prefer a patch with no muck but maybe some sand mixed in instead for drainage

[Spiderling]

Hi Solitaire, You sound as if you are near as dammit double digging, which is excellent for your soil structure. Our allotment hadn't been worked for 5 years when we took it on 5 years ago and is also heavy clay soil. Plus it had been rotavated a lot which had created a hard pan of clay around 10 inches down. We have gradually double dug and put in good old 'oss muck and our soil and drainage has improved 100%. I agree with Sarzwix re. what you can plant. Potatoes are also a good crop. We cultivated and prepared a bit at a time...as soon as we had some land ready, we planted crops in it. We have watched folk almost killing themselves to completely clear the site, only to find themselves back where they started with weeds etc.! We took our plot in the July and planted leeks, courgettes, cabbages, peas and later, winter crops such as sprouts, savoy cabbage. Carrots went into buckets and we did very well with them. Our plot is divided into four(George cross style) so we can rotate our crops. This is our fourth full season and each bed has now been double dug..I can't describe the difference it has made..it's so much easier to work now! We aimed to be self sufficient veg-wise and are almost there. I only end up buying potatoes, a few onions and carrots,due to not having the storage space for the amounts we need. I haven't bought green veg for two years now. Good work so far! Good luck. Cheers!

[Spiderling]

PS!!!! I forgot to say, invest in a wheelbarrow to transport your muck...makes life a lot easier and saves wear and tear on your back etc..Cheers

[Solitaire]

I do have a barrow, but it's a big stable one, can carry three times the amount of a normal barrow, only draw back is that when full I can't move it also my land is on a steep hill so everything has to be pulled up it.

For carrots I can always make a bed with no manure and keep digging until most of the stones are out. Don't worry about the horses, I have electric fencing round the veg patch and garden which is well back as my mare used to eat the peach trees.

I am so pleased I am doing it right

[Nicos]

Hi there Solitaire!!!...and welcome to the Vine

I've only just noticed your location when you mentioned peach tree!

The only reason you needed to add muck this year was to improve the structure of the soil- virgin soil has plenty of nutrients already.
Sounds like what you are doing will be fantastic in the end!!!

Try and chuck in some sand with the next lot of digging too-it'll certainly help.

We had very heavy clay on our first allotment- and the more 'roughage' we added, the easier it became to work -eventually.
Do you have any of your own compost made from household waste???..or even any rotting leaves from nearby woodland?? It'll all build up the drainage.

hmm...and that's right about the carrots!!

Any piccies ???( we're all ever so nosy on here..not me personally of course..but the rest are!!!!)

[Solitaire]

What do you want piccies of and I'll take some

[Nicos]

....Well..I'm easy going of course!!!!


BUT.... everyone else would love to see piccies of before/during/after....and the surrounding views ( cos where you live has to be absolutely gorgeous!!!!)

[FionaH]

What do you want piccies of and I'll take some

Everything! Including the horses

[Creemteez]

I do have a barrow, but it's a big stable one, can carry three times the amount of a normal barrow, only draw back is that when full I can't move it also my land is on a steep hill so everything has to be pulled up it

Ever thought of making the equines earn their keep and towing your barrow for you?