Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat
Growing => Grow Your Own => Topic started by: thebumbles on January 19, 2011, 18:14
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Hi
This may be a strange question but here goes. I am hoping to grown my own veggies this year, and have been allocated the area where this could be. The area is near the septic tank, was wondering if the veg would be OK and edible if the soak away water from the tank gets to them. Logically, the soak away is alot deeper than ther veggie roots but when the soil gets saturated could it be a problem. Don't want to risk it, or dig the area over now and find out later its a no go. :unsure:
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Would raised beds be a bit safer? At least there is less chance of pulling up stuff that has been sitting in the soakaway water. Perhaps best to do a bit of digging and see what the soil is like - it may be a no go.
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In dry weather you can sometimes see exactly where the channels draining the septic tank are, or they show up as 'crop marks' of extra growth. I once grew sweet peas in such an area. They were enormous - ten feet tall at least!
Perhaps it is not the best place for root vegetables, though I would not be too bothered about leafy crops, provided the septic tank is not liable to overflow.
I have also placed a temporary cold frame over the tank itself. All that !!! and bath water generates a bit of extra heat.
I forgot to say: Remember that you will have to leave access for the septic tank emptiers, their long hoses and their big clumsy boots.