Improving clay soil.

[muddylou]

This is my second year of having an allotment, I have a clay soil in London. So far I've only covered the beds with horse manure and straw over winter, I'd like to improve my soil so as my beds become empty (my overwinter Garlic has just come out) I'm planning on again adding horse manure and straw along with BFB, then use a green manure.
       I plan on doing this with all my beds apart from the area I'm going to use this September for my overwinter onions/garlic, for this bed I'm going to dig in the contents of my compost bin.

1) Does this sound reasonable, or have I missed out on something?

2) What would people suggest as a green manure (I've never used one before).

Thanks for any input.

ps. I have access to an unlimited supply of manure and straw.

[muddylou]

[manicscousers]

Have a look at this one, muddy, maybe some ideas on it  ;D
http://www.allotments4all.co.uk/smf/index.php/topic,30184.0.html

[aquilegia]

We have heavy clay too.

You're very lucky to have lots of manure and straw! I envy you!

We (I say we, it was mostly Mr Aqui!) double dug it all and dug in lots of compost/manure. I now plan to never dig it again (I just don't have the time/energy!) I loosen up the top layer with a fork if it's got a cap on it. But otherwise I leave it to the worms to dig. I plant my overwintering garlic through a layer of mulch rather than digging.

Grazing rye is supposed to be a good green manure for breaking up the soil. It can be overwintered too. I've not used it before, but will do this year. And I'm going to sow loads of broad beans (I have lots that need to be used up). I'll use some as just green manure and cut them back when I need to plant in the spring and leave the rest to produce beans. I sowed phacelia in the spring everywhere that didn't have anything growing and as I need the space I pull it up and plant/sow in between. I still have some plants left which are covered in bees and hover flies and looking really pretty!

I try not to walk on the soil and keep it covered all the time, either with plants or mulch (or both). Every time I plant something new I put on a bucket full of compost (to about 50cm square) and fork it lightly into the surface or just mulch it. The worms have clearly been busy as there's not a lot of mulch left on most of it!

BTW, I don't add anything to the ground before sowing a green manure. I think it'd be a waste of BFB. The manure would help, but I don't think the fertililser would be worthwhile. I could be wrong though as I don't use that one as I'm a veggie.

[Unwashed]

I'd echo aquilegia, don't walk on it to preserve the structure, especially when it's wet, and don't bother with the BFB because low nutrients is not a problem with clays, just dig in lots and lots of that lovely manure because organic matter is the very best thing to open up a heavy clay soil.

[muddylou]

Thanks for the imformative replies, I've just bought an over winter green manure mix (rye grass and vetch). Looking forward to getting the veg out now and the Green Manure in  :).

I wont bother with the BFB (as per your advice). Thanks again.