Digging trenches

[matmad]

Morning all,

When we got our allotment in Feb last year, there was so much bindweed that we decided to plant our potatoes the easiest way possible.  So we just dug a hole for each and popped it in.  The problem with that method was that I ended up transferring earth by the bucketload from elsewhere on the plot to earth-up.

My thought was that it would probably be best not to disturb the earth more than necessary at that stage, as digging trenches would have cut up the bindweed roots and make the problem even worse. 

Although we had managed to remove the roots from a small area, we used that to plant salad stuff, and didn't have time to thoroughly dig the potato patch.

Anyway, zoom forward a year, and the ground is free of bindweed roots (well, that part at least), and I want to have a go at digging trenches for my spuds this time round.  This way I won't need to drag the earth from elsewhere to earth-up.

Haven't done it before, and this is probably a daft question, but - how do I approach the digging?  Do I stand in the trench and dig the earth out to the sides, or do I stand at the top of the trench and dig down - don't think my back will tolerate that tho'!

If i work my way along the trench standing in it to dig, will the earth become too compressed for my spuds to grow properly?

[matmad]

[Cuke]

I did my first lot of trenches at the weekend and I just stood at the side and dug down as I moved along. They were only a spades depth or so and didn't put too much strain on my back as the soil isn't clay and had been dug over a few weeks ago when I weeded the bed.

I'd have thought standing in the trench would have made it far harder work to be honest, and like you say would compact the ground a lot... I'm only guessing though, someone else will probably have a better idea.

There's some pics and a full description of how I did my trenches on my blog www.growingourown.co.uk if you're interested... :)

[redimp]

I dig the first bit as far down as I can.  Then I stand in it and dig ahead of myself as I work my way along the trench.  I then 'fluff' the bottom a little bit and line it with organic matter before putting the seed potatoes in.  Keeps me fit.

[goodlife]

If I need to dig a trench I stand next to it on the large (old scaffolding) plank.
Well I always stand on plank rather than bare soil ...less compaction..less digging... ;D 

[davyw1]

I find the best method is to back fill, dig out your first trench and move the soil to the back of where your last trench will be. Put your spuds in the trench then dig your next trench putting the the soil into your first trench and so on.

[Pumper]

Funny you should ask that...

I have just finished digging my first trench using an azada (I bought it a while ago and have only just got round to using it).

The ground is quite claggy at the end where the spuds are, and it was seriously hard going. Give it a really good overhead swing, and only about 3 inches of blade would go into the soil. website instructions say hold it at waist height and let the weight of the tool drive it in.  Ha blooming ha.

From what I understand, the azada is supposed to make digging easier, but I swapped it for the conventional spade and life got much easier.

[Vortex]

I trench planted all mine at the weekend, 4 30' rows.
Dug mine a spade's depth, from the side crouching on a scaffolding plank - I had previously dug the plot to remove all the bind weed/couch grass.
Dropped 4" of manure in the bottom, covered with newspaper, planted spuds, then racked the removed soil back to leave a little ridge along the plot. Rows planted 24" apart to allow earthing up later.

[Robert_Brenchley]

It sounds as though you're working with pretty hard ground, Pumper. Sometimes it's less work to use a spade and use your weight to force it in; it's just a case of which works better on the particular job. Dig in loads of organic matter if you can to improve the texture, and it won't be so hard next year.

[Pumper]

It sounds as though you're working with pretty hard ground, Pumper. Sometimes it's less work to use a spade and use your weight to force it in; it's just a case of which works better on the particular job. Dig in loads of organic matter if you can to improve the texture, and it won't be so hard next year.

Too right - I'll certainly give it a go in the softer areas at the other end, and see how that goes. I don't want to give up on 30 odd quid's worth of kit till I'm sure it's not for me  ;)

[compo49]

Why dig trenches when you can use a bulb planter and put them into the hole then put the plug of soil back in , this assuming you manured bed/s over winter and dug it in prior to planting . Then after planting rake in slow release fertilizer into top soil and water in, I believe they only need to be 6inches deep! What benefit is the newspaper on top of the manure if you trench dig? also shouldn't you also mix slow release fertilizer into the top soil you removed and then put it back into the trench. :-\

[Cuke]

As I understood it the shreded paper stops the manure 'burning' the chitted potatoes, I'd imagine it also helps water retention... :)

[Pumper]

Why dig trenches when you can use a bulb planter ...

You pile to soil up along the sides trench and earth up with it later. I dig a good nine inch trench, and then put the seed potatoes in a further 4 inches or so down from that.

[matmad]

Thanks for your replies.  I did start a reply a couple of days ago but pressed a wrong button somewhere and it disappeared >:(  then ran out of time!

Cuke, thanks for the link - very interesting to see how you are working :)

After reading all your messages I initially decided I wouldn't dig trenches as it seemed like really hard work, but when I got to the lottie I couldn't resist giving it a go.

I think I probably used a combination of everyone's methods! 

I dug the trenches standing on a plank, then shoved in some fish/blood/bone and shredded bank statements and watered it a bit and mixed it up a bit too.

Then I stood in the trench, and starting at the end and working backwards, put my potatoes in.  After that I  balanced with one foot on either side of each trench and covered them with earth from each side.

So, I've still got plenty of loose earth to mound up with when they need it, and now I at least feel confident that I can reach them to do it.

I'll do my 2nd earlies differently though, just to compare.  I'll take the easy way out and pop them in a hole and just earth-up as I need to.  Should be easy enough this year as I have already dug the bed over thoroughly.

[manicscousers]

best thing to do with bank statements, and bills  ;D

[Tee Gee]

I'm with compo .........I use a bulb planter but in your case if the ground is a bit too hard to push a bulb planter in then use a hand trowel to form the hole.

See here to see how I do mine; http://tinyurl.com/22xzs7

[davyw1]

The plot where my spuds went in this year was a horse paddock until a few years ago so it was well compacted, to get the spuds in i had to use a spit. I went down as deep as i could digging trenches, then rammed the fork in working the bottom loose, put manure in the bottom compacted it so i had a spades depth planted the spuds on it and the filled the trench to the top with manure and hoed up. As soon as my spuds were out i double dug it which was easier than the first dig. The next time the spuds went in there again they were trenched in the same way but the trenches going in the opposite direction and double dug when they came out. This time it was like digging sugar. So for the sake of a little hard work once a year it was worth it. I now have the options of how i choose to put my spuds in whether it be trench, dibble or follow the rotorvator.