Claggy Soil

[jackie j]

Our top plot is now ready for this years growing, we have put in a couple of terraces as it was so steep. We have had a fair bit of rain recently. I turned the soil today as OH has been walking on it to try and dry it out a bit, The soil doesnt have much nutrients in it as it was a negelected plot till we took it on a year ago. I added compost with plants last year, seeds didnt do anything if just put in the ground. What can I add to help drain it. I am hoping that once we get some drier weather it will improve.

[Two_Sheds]

seeds didnt do anything if just put in the ground.

Probably grazed off by slugs? I have to sow nearly everything in pots, not direct

[jackie j]

Probably grazed off by slugs? I have to sow nearly everything in pots, not direct

Bottom plot is fine its the top plot that I have problems with, frogs / toads on both plots and sometimes I use pellets ( not very often though ). Last year also had mice on top plot that ate all the peas and beans.
At the moment the soil is far too wet so am hoping it dries up a bit. Cant rake it yet too wet.
It needs feeding too. I normally use chicken manure pellets, I also have some manure to use but its too fresh and is in compost bin rotting down to use next winter. Just wondered if I could /should add something to help drain the soil.

[SarzWix]

I've got really claggy soil on one plot too Jackie, and basically just add anything and everything I can to it! It's a slow job... What's helped in some parts is that I use gravel or grit in the bottom of my tomato pots and big wooden troughs, and whenever I empty them out, the compost all gets chucked on the previous year's potato beds and some of the gravel always ends up going with it. Those patches are a lot better than the beds that haven't had any yet. So maybe if you can get some bags of that and add it along with whatever compost/manure you can get your hands on as well, it will help to open it out a bit?
This sort of stuff: B&Q Gravel Natural 10mm, 0000003380826

[jackie j]

Thanks Sarz will get some and add a bit as I go. One side of the allotment is fine the other side is very heavy, being on a slope helped the water to drain away a bit but not a lot. Will post piccies soon.