Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat

Growing => Growing in Greenhouses & Polytunnels => Topic started by: Rampant_Weasel on September 19, 2013, 14:15

Title: compacted soil
Post by: Rampant_Weasel on September 19, 2013, 14:15

my first year of tunnel growing and where i have had some potato pots the soil underneath is all compacted.
so much so the spade nearly bounces off!.
anyone had this problem and know a solution? i know in the open the frost and rain would do it but what do u do in a tunnel ?

Title: Re: compacted soil
Post by: sunshineband on September 19, 2013, 14:21

Give it a good soak first.

Title: Re: compacted soil
Post by: Rampant_Weasel on September 19, 2013, 18:10

thx, just tried that and it all ran into the cracks!

Title: Re: compacted soil
Post by: VegGirl7 on September 19, 2013, 21:58

Quote from: sunshineband on September 19, 2013, 14:21

Give it a good soak first.

I agree  :)

I have a few sections on my plot that are/were really badly compacted - after a few days of really heavy rain they were much easier to dig  ;)

Title: Re: compacted soil
Post by: Amilo on November 15, 2013, 14:12

More water then cover it up with non porous membrane to stop the soil drying. 

Title: Re: compacted soil
Post by: NickoV on November 16, 2013, 11:44

I agree to covering after wetting, makes a big difference.
I use a thick layer of compost aswell, and then a cover.The longer you leave it the better.
Water the compost and it acts a bit like a sponge, drip feeding moisture to the soil underneath.