Hello,
I am a serial lurker :D on this board and find all of your advice fantastic - thank you! However, there is something I can't find the answer to......
I have been offered a swap on our allotment, which I am not sure about. The new plot has had bonsai trees planted and the soil has had a lot of grit dug in. The trees have been removed and the plot will be cleared for me but I am not sure about all the grit.
Will my veggies grow ok?
Thank you :)
CL x
the grit will just open the soil up and make it drain better. if i wer you'd id dig in as much manure and organic material as I could ,because it wont have had a good feed for years if its been inhabited by trees.
Hi CornishLass,
Is there any reason why you want to swap. Perhaps the other plot is in a better position, sun, shade wise. Ive had my plot for about four years now and i still have not got it how i want it, i would not be best pleased if i had to move to a new plot and start over. Sometimes better the devil you know. Ask yourself why they want to swap. Too much grit and you could be forever watering your crops.
My site is on the an ex gravel working, so our soil have a lot of stones in it. Perhaps not grit because in general the particles are rounded rather than angular. But it does drain far to readily and as others have said watering is a big issue though this can be reduced by mulching. The crops do surprisingly well: I had thought the stoniness would be a big issue. I also do not have much of an issue with things like cucumber rotting at the stem.
I have put far to much effort into planting fruit and generally improving the soil to want to move plots.
Maybe that is a better soil structure to work with than clay?
I now have pretty good soil, after 4 years of working the beds, adding manure, compost, mulch, the soil is now dark and rich and this year's crop are flourishing, more or less. The first two years were pretty mediocre until I got the hang of enriching the soil.
Thank you for all your replies. The other plot is in a better position (for me) and is more private, which we would prefer. My only big worry is transplanting the asparagus which I planted this year (only had plot since Nov).
I am happy with the guys reason for the swap too so think I will do it. Thank you again for your advice.
CL x