Topic: Sharp Sand

[Bill Door]

This is a very silly question really. 

I have clayish soil and I am thinking of adding sharp sand on the portion that i will be using for root vegetables.  I have basically double dug the ground but I am puzzled as to the best time to add the sand.  I have to level the ground as I have "piled" the soil up a bit. 

Anyone any suggestions?


Thanks  Bill

[Georgie]

Are you trying to improve the soil or the drainage?  If it's the former I think incorporating plenty of well rotted compost would be more effective.  If it's the latter then I guess the time to do it would be now but I'm not sure if it will work. 

G x 

[Trevor_D]

It does work - I was having just that conversation at the plot yesterday. But the plot-holder didn't say when.

My guess is that it doesn't matter. It's not going to wash away over winter, is it? You can add compost as it suits you, so why not sand? You'll have to fork & rake it next spring anyway. My instinct is do it when you have the time.

(Someone who does it regularly will be along soon & tell it for real....)

[nilly71]

The lady next to me said just to spread it over the top, water well and cover with black plastic. The worms will mix it for you.

Neil

[hopalong]

I put some sand into a particularly claggy part of my plot at about this time last year.  It helped improve drainage a bit, but others are of course right to point out that lots of organic matter is what is really needed to improve soil structure and texture.

[Amazin]

I'm on heavy clay soil. I added compost (chicken pellets) in the autumn when preparing the beds for this year's root crops. Then a few weeks later I added the sand, dug it in and covered the bed over winter. In early spring I added some more sand and lightly forked it in. My root veg all did well this year, including carrots.

[Bill Door]

Thank you Amazin.
Please to hear that you had a good crop of carrots as that is exactly what I need.

The ground had potatoes this year so organic material is not required.  However, the soil is reasonable but just a bit too much clay.  Hence I need the sharp sand.

Will try to do it over the next three weeks, weather allowing.

Bill

[Amazin]

Cheers, Bill. So long as you get it worked in at some point before you sow, you should be okay. And good luck with your carrots - hope they dance, too.

 ;D