Hi, We are new to A4A and equally new to gardening. We are digging over a patch of ground in our new garden with the intention of starting a vegetable plot. So far we have dug an area 12 feet by 6 feet and have uncovered 5 large crates of glass, broken bottles, old rusty tools, horse shoes, bolts, an old rusty barbeque, broken pottery, tiles etc. We are concerned about the safety of growing root veg in such contaminated soil for fear of finding glass splinters in our carrots or having the rust poisoning our potatoes. Are our fears founded? does anyone have any advice for us please?
Many thanks
Maria :-[
Welcome to the wonderful world of allotments Maria...
I see you have already found the brick and glass mines... most sites have them
The veg will be fine... ;D
Don't know about the veg, but make sure your tetanus jabs are up to date (note to self as well..)
And if theres loads of metal, a big magnet on a stick would help. Good luck!
Hiya, welcome to a4a, ;D
could you build up some beds to get away from the rubbish?
Quote from: saddad on April 03, 2009, 16:09:26
Welcome to the wonderful world of allotments Maria...
I see you have already found the brick and glass mines... most sites have them
The veg will be fine... ;D
My kids love this, they think it's buried treasure. It keeps them happy for hours!!!! ;D
Rust is fine. It is actually good for soil.
Glass and ceramics, wont leave a problem, once you remove what you can.
All you can do is postpone development for a year and dig out and dump the rubbish.
Find somewhere to get some fresh manure, and put that in.
Make a compost bin for your own vegetable matter to rot down.
No reason why you should not take other people's grass cuttings and food waste too.
Paper, cardboard. If it rots, compost it.
Meanwhile, buy a grow bag or three and bung a few bits in them for this year.
It is a start.
Rome was not built in a day, so they say.
Thank you all for your kind responses...... we will carry on clearing the ground and may risk putting a few veg in this year. I have got some potatoes chitting nicely all ready to plant after the cold snap has passed, and we have rather a lot of tomato (200 x 6 inch high healthy plants at the last count!) My children got a little over enthusiastic planting the seeds, so we will need some outdoor space once they have acclimatised. Thankfully I had hidden the packet containing 1000 lettuce seeds or else we would be in trouble for space ;)
Have a productive weekend all.
Maria
QuoteMy children got a little over enthusiastic planting the seeds,
Let them have a look at these slide shows on how to sow various seeds then perhaps you wont end up with too many plants.
I'm glad you have got them interested, I know my grandkids think a packet of seeds is 'just for planting' at least they did until I showed them physically how to do it.
These pictures might keep them amused and they might learn something to boot;
http://www.thegardenersalmanac.co.uk/Data/Seed%20sowing/Seed%20Sowing.htm (http://www.thegardenersalmanac.co.uk/Data/Seed%20sowing/Seed%20Sowing.htm)
I wouldn't panic, but do keep an eye open for hazardous waste. Batteries and paint spring to mind.
Could you sell yhr extra tomato plants at the school fair for example. A couple near us who have a veg garden sell any extra outside their house.
Janet
School fairs are always happy to take what we haven't sold... :)