[kellyb]

can i grow vegetables in heavy clay soil, or would raised beds be a better option? if so what can i make it out of? i have access to logs but would thes be a good option?

[Sally A]

Heavy clays not too bad for somethings, is it lime or acidic? (easy way to know - what colour are your hydrangeas in your area?)

there has been a previous posting about breaking up heavy clay, have a quick search using the option at the top of the screen.

I'm on lime/clay but the ground has been broken up gradually after many years of digging in compost and poo.

[splodger]

hi kelly - with raised beds - the better the timber - the longer it will last

i use alsorts for my beds - but they are not raised as such - more edged - so that i can strim the paths without hitting the soil or my veggies  

if it's really claggy soil - you may want to lighten it - with sand, compost, muck, leaf mould - it will all help

[piskieinboots]

I've got heavy clay but as I move house on a somewhat regular basis (RAF wifey  :roll: ) I use raised beds.  If I was static in my own property I would set about opening (improving) the soil rather than using raised beds.

I use link-a-bord for mine, being plastic there is an element of winter protection with them..... they are online and I think - reasonable.  I can dismantle them when I have to move and off I go again

[Little Miss Muffet]

are garden was clay.if you mix with mushroom compost that helps.thankfully i have moved now.

[shaun]

I grow on clay soil kelly but i dont use raised beds.its a case of manure,compost,leafmould.manure,compost,leafmould.manure,compost,
leafmould.washed grit sand also helps  but not to much just blind the surface and dig it in ,ohh and plenty of digging and rotavating.

[WG.]

All of the above kellyb but I'd add gypsum since that is even known as claybreaker.  Plenty of manure, leafmould and gypsum.

[kellyb]

thanks for the help, i will try to work with the soil i have as i have plenty of manure and mulch avaliable. but the ground has never been worked before as it was part of the common before it was my garden.

[piskieinboots]

depending on the size - it may be worth hiring a rotavator to break it up and leave it in clods for over-wintering - the frost will give you a huge helping hand

just a thought

[brucesgirl]

I have clay soil, and it really does improve quite quickly if you keep putting organic matter in.
Dug dad's sandy soil last week, and it was horrible, made nasty noises when I put the fork in!

[Rob the rake]

There's no problem in raising beds on clays and it can be a distinct advantage in wet seasons. Before you bed up though, spend a couple of years improving the soil with lots of organic matter and sharp sand.
I find compost better than manure for improving texture. Being finely divided, the compost seems to have an instant effect on soil structure.

Rob.

[mkhenry]

can i grow vegetables in heavy clay soil, or would raised beds be a better option? if so what can i make it out of? i have access to logs but would thes be a good option?

Clay soil does have a few disadvantages but it also has great worthwhile properties that you can turn to your advantage.

Work the soil as you have been advised and it will pay great dividends.

I have very heavy brick working clay and do use raised beds normally with great success.