[WendysLot]

Hi

Last year was my first year on my new plot. I know it was a particularly wet year but I have discovered an area about 12 by 6 ft that is prone to flooding. Unfortunately this is where I planted my carefully chitted potatoes and needless to say they all rotted and came to nothing.

My question is what to do with the area this year and in the future. Is there a variety of vegetable that enjoys this environment or maybe fruit trees would be best in this area?

Has anyone had experience of this problem and if so how did they overcome it?

Thanks in advance.

Wendy

[sunshineband]

Is it flooding because of the water table, or is it just very badly drained?

What is the soil like in that area, compared with the rest of your plot?

[WendysLot]

The soil is quite poor in that area. The previous plot owner took away the top soil from that area - no idea why they would have done this. So we had to replace some of the top soil using soil from another area that was wasteland. There is a slight slope and this area is at the low end. The soil is quite clay like and very hard to dig in comparison with the rest of the plot with which we have had no problems. I suspect its poor draining and the slight slope that is the main reason plus the lack of top soil.

Wendy

[sunshineband]

At least you know what might be causing the problem, Wendy 

You could consider adding as much home made compost or rotted manure as you can to that area, which will boost the organic content, as taking the top soil away will have left very little in that subsoil.

Our plot was solid clay/silt with flints and lumps of pressed together pebbles, and poorly drained as a result.

We have low raised beds, and they are narrow enough to reach without having to tread on the soil, and that helps too. We dug deep to break up the hard pan (that on our plot was about ten/twleve inches down) where the top soil ended and sub soil began.

Through adding home made compost, cheap bags of compost from the supemarket etc as well, we have workable soil now - two years later. We have taken out masses of stones too, which has helped the texture.

As for the sope, if it is not too steep I wouldn't worry, but if it is too steep to walk down safely then you could think about terraces.

[WendysLot]

Ok thanks. We will work on building the soil up. The slope is only very slight but I think still contributes the flooding.

Thanks for your replies.
Wendy

[sunshineband]

You're welcome 

[8doubles]

Watercress ? 

[Annen]

Thanks for this thread. 

You could be describing my plot too.

The only thing that has done at all well have been brassicas and celeriac.  My Nadine potatoes like yours disappeared without trace, I did find 2 roosters, and some charlotte survived in the not quite so wet bit.
I'm not sure what to put in for next year or just build some double height raised beds.

[Trillium]

In the actual flooding area I'd be inclined to do some raised beds, not just little 6" ones, but ones about 12" high. You can fill the beds with some gravel at the bottom for drainage and your better soil on top. This way you can grow whatever you want without worry and not have to try to replenish that whole area with soil that will likely keep washing away. Clay is wretched stuff to deal with and I've found this the best solution, even on a slope.