Allotments 4 All

I've just finished the demolition and clearance of two big, dilapidated huts on my plot (full of glass, wood, asbestos, two dead rats and a mummified cat. Nice.)

I'm now presented with two large (12' x 10') rectangles of bare earth where the sheds were. My problem is the soil is dry (like 30 years dry), lifeless and sour looking. But weed free!

I'd be grateful for suggestions on how to restore it asap: I've got some manure left over from autumn digging but not a lot.

Which veg might put up with the soil in its present state? (Garlic and jerusalem artichokes already in elsewhere).

Probably looks far worse than it actualy is, as always plenty of organic matter dug in will do the trick. If it's really lacking in nutrients etc. I'd try some green manure first just to get it going,

Try growing marrows courgettes or ridge cucumber as you have very little dung left .Why not dig the hole lot over then mark the spots that the marrows, courgettes or ridge cucumber will be planted, and dig the dung in those spots. Its only an idea.

I have a similar problem with a section on one of my plots, also where the previous owner had her shed and greenhouse (she grew in grow bags not in borders). The soil is so hard it almost feels like digging into rock. I tried digging planting holes but it took forever. I also noticed that because the area surrounding the planting holes is so compacted and we're on clay the holes didn't drain very quickly when watered so I was then worried about waterlogging. I have finally settled for raising the bed in that section. I broke the soil (if you could call it that!) as much as possible and then I have constructed a rectangle bed out of straw bales and filled with manure and soil and plan to grow melons or pumpkins or something like that, plans not finalised yet. The idea is that over a few years the contents of the strawbale bed will mix (with the help of earthworms) with the poor soil underneath and one day it will be softer and easier to dig. Strawbales make for a high bed but if you used wooden planks you could make a shallower bed which would need less manure and soil. My other option was to cover the whole section with growbags and grow out of those but that would make little improvement to the problem. I have no idea how long it will take for the soil to soften using my method but the strawbale bed will be good for a few years of growing by which time I hope some improvement will have taken place.

CC's answer on concentrating the FYM seems good.

For the rest, try some green manure see http://faq.gardenweb.com/faq/lists/organic/2002080423030611.html

Mustard and Phacelia bulk up quickly and would be ready to dig in by May

The best value that I have found GM seed is at Kings http://www.kingsseeds.com, search for green manure, and Tuckers www.edwintucker.com, in the vegatable and flower section

Don't worry about annual weeds - they are excellent green manure

Phil

Thank you all for these creative solutions.

Phacelia followed by courgettes & squashes it is...when the snow has melted!

If you leave a couple of the Phacelia to flower they will attract plenty of wild life - and look pretty

Phil