[yorkiegal]

So today was my first day on the plot. I double dug an old bed, removed the weeds, used a fork to break up the clumps , raked it and then added manure and forked it in again. I covered it with tarp whilst I wait for the manure to rot. I was quite proud of myself until I was leaving the allotments and came across a woman who was sieving her soil.  Do I really need to do that before planting?

[Nikkithefoot]

You only really need to sieve your soil if you want to. Carrots and other root crops might appreciate it, but personally I think life is too short to spend time sieving soil. If you have very clayey soil possibly to get rid of the bigger lumps......................but then again.

I wouldn't but others will have other ideas.

[yorkiegal]

It is clay soil but fortunately the previous occupant only left recently to move over to another plot and left quite a nice lot of top soil which goes down about 10 inches.

[Yorkie]

I shall be bashing my clods of earth with the back of a rake or fork.  Don't own a sieve!

[gazza975526570]

sounds excessive to me. Turn the soil and give it a bash with the fork. I will then turn the fork over and run it through the soil but thats about it.

Seems to do the job.

[catweazle]

i sieve the soil i use to cover the drills when i sow small seeds (or i did untill i hit on the idea of covering the drills with compost)

other than that the fork tends to break it up well

[Totty]

Sounds like you have done most of the hard work. I would uncover a small seed bed area and let the sun dry it out for a bit. Then rake it over nicley until its nice and level and all the large lumps and stones are removed. There is no need to sieve anything really. It can lead to the surface capping when it gets wet then drys out which stops any air getting into the soil which is not what you want for a seedbed.

Totty

[sunshineband]

Bear in mind that the soil particles need to be small enough to be in contact with the seed all round, but......

Very very small particles of soil though set solid as they dry and form a cap over the surface which seedlings cannot penetrate and then they die (at least my soil does)


Bash up, the lumps, rake it down flat again, take out any big stones and off you go 

Over the years, adding organic matter like manure and home compost every so often improves the soil structure so there will be fewer lumps to deal with 

[yorkiegal]

thanks everyone

Off to buy a wheelbarrow now then back to the plot to carry on digging.