[annieanne49]

Hi
Normally just read posts but I have taken on new allotment nearer to home. I already have an allotment 2 miles away but can only get there by bike or bus.
Anyway went to my new allotment day after it had rained with the intention of raking over previously back saver spade dug soil ( very kindly lent by plot neighbour) and the soil was rock hard (like boulders). Was wondering if any of you nice people have got any suggestions as to what I could do, as I have lots of plants ready to go in.
Thank you in advance Anne

Title typo edited for clarity

[m1ckz]

as soon as it rains get down there an rake it over....will break uo nice then   dont let it dry out untill you have done it

[annieanne49]

Thank you will try that

[Growster...]

You might need to knock the lumps down a bit before you rake, Annie.

If you have a big 'clouter', like a Canterbury Hoe, you'll be well on your way to getting something you can rake, but if those clods are that big (I use a backsaver spade as well), they really do need a bit of thumping first!

If you're planting out seedlings, then you don't really need the soil to be that much finer, and a few lumps won't matter, as they'll get going whatever the condition, but for sowing seeds, you'll need to get down there and give it all a bit of a seeing-to!

[ptarmigan]

In the long term add as much organic matter as possible, home made compost, spent mushroom compost etc.  Put on the top in the winter and the worms do the work. In the short term a cheat is to do you best to make a drill and fill with multi purpose compost to sow seeds in...

[annieanne49]

Thank you for your replies. Was thinking will need to dig over in autumn and put manure on it.  Will have to get a lump hammer for now lol.  Will put compost in when planting out hope that helps.

[snowdrops]

A good garden fork is a good  thumper for clods, once saw on a garden programme an old gardener saying that is all you should use to break the clods down,rakes are for raking😄, very adamant about it he was. I found it to be true on my old clay allotment. Have a look at back to Eden gardening on YouTube & Beeskissed diary on here about mulching to improve soil structure & fertility, makes sense to me

[Headgardener22]

If you're going to sow anything, make sure you fill the drill with compost and sow into that, my experience shows that there's little or no point in sowing anything directly into clay soil, when it dries out it forms a pan over the seeds that the seedlings struggle to get through.

Compost and more compost is the only answer