Soil

[Nigella]

My soil is very stoney  :(

Most of the stones are flint .... I read it could be tricky to grow on (because its a certain type of soil - I forget which) .... help ! Is this true ? (was so very excited about my new allotment)

Anyone else have flint-stones (he he) in their allotment ?

I have dug out the worst of the stones - and have applied growmore to some areas and my own compost to others (wasn't enough to go round everywhere).

Is there anything else I should be doing ?

???

[Nigella]

[moonbells]

I think I've Flintstones and Dino too.

I'm in the Chilterns and it's extremely chalky/alkaline soil and it's amazing how many flints there are. I'm forever trying to dig the big ones out - though will never get all of them. They make good path surfacing...

Some things are tricky on alkaline soil - fruits prefer it a bit more acid, as do spuds. I have scabby potatoes every year and there's not much I can do apart from stick inches of manure in the trench and hope it acidifies it a bit.  The soil's also very free draining so needs loads of organic matter to help it to retain moisture. 
Oh the other hand you don't ever have to lime it for brassicas - though you do have to make sure you firm them in well.

Basically, add as much organic matter as you can, as often as you can.  Manure for heavy feeders like spuds and leeks, and compost for everything else.  As I said in a previous thread, the local stables does a roaring trade in well rotted horse manure...

moonbells

[Nigella]

 :) :) :) :D

ah more diggin required