[Lottiegob]

Seems like we're never going to get the first earlies in - we're into April, it's stopped snowing and now we have April showers to contend with!  Thought you might like to see the potential potatoe bed currently being dug....

http://i751.photobucket.com/albums/xx159/lottiegob/spudbed1.jpg


http://i751.photobucket.com/albums/xx159/lottiegob/spudbed2.jpg

[Tattyanne456]

Oh dear

[Beetroot queen]

A few days of sunshine and it will be ok. Honestly I am calling our second plot the swamp but it will still do okay once knocked into shape hehe

good luck with the spuds 

[digalotty]

you could grow rice 

[sclarke624]

Put a few in a tub or old compost bag at home in the garden maybe then at least you will have some ready early.

[Lardman]

Looks like just a bit of bad drainage as its very compacted - double dig it 

[Salmo]

One tip. If you chop each of those big lumps a bit with a spade as you dig they will break down more easily.

[digalotty]

i find a fork better for breaking the ground up

[rock_chick]

I agree with Lardman - it looks very compacted. You should definitely double dig the area over.

[Debz]

I only have one lot of potatoes in too.  Our April showers are running into each other in one all day shower  and with high winds.  So even if it was dry enough to go outside, I may take off like Mary Poppins!

[Lottiegob]

Thanks all for your advice - life is full of challenges!

[Trikidiki]

Looking at some of the 'sods' you have dug it looks like you have a pan of clay at about a spits depth, the light brown material. You'll need to break into that at some point to help the water drain away. Try not to bring it to he surface though.

[greenhead]

Thanks all for the comments.   I agree about double digging but unfortunately I am the person who has to do it  Lottiegob- my partner takes over when the soil resembles a seed bed!! - hope she is not about!!  

The clay extends to a depth of a metre or more then there is Marl so there is drainage of sorts once you have broken through the metre of clay.  In practical terms you can only go down two spits - what is the best way of going about this task - I have a Honda 201 rotavator -but just laughs at it !!  

Many millions of years ago our plot was at the bottom of the river seven which may account for the soil structure

[blackbob]

Thanks all for the comments.   I agree about double digging but unfortunately I am the person who has to do it  Lottiegob- my partner takes over when the soil resembles a seed bed!! - hope she is not about!!  

The clay extends to a depth of a metre or more then there is Marl so there is drainage of sorts once you have broken through the metre of clay.  In practical terms you can only go down two spits - what is the best way of going about this task - I have a Honda 201 rotavator -but just laughs at it !!  

Many millions of years ago our plot was at the bottom of the river seven which may account for the soil structure

dont think i'd be too keen on double digging that plot.big danger of bringing all that clay to the surface.i'd single spit trench it with plenty muck for this year.
then in the back end you can double dig it and let mother nature work on it over the winter.

[Kristen]

Double digging shouldn't mix the layers, should it?

Judging by the soil turned so far the top spit could be dug shallower (spit is showing some clay at the bottom), and thus double dug would only be, say, 1.5 times the current digging depth - but still needs two passes.

Here's one I double-dug earlier!