[willowman]

The soil down one side of my g/house (approx 6 ft x 2 ft) must have been drained of all nutrients by now.
Over the last 5 years I have used it to grow toms and chillis.
It is now looking very dry and powdery, like dried out compost.

Is there any way I can revive this? Can I add any sort of fertiliser? I have loads of Growmore pellets, but no more own compost (all been put on the garden).

I don't really want to remove it and refill with fresh compost because of the cost.
Any suggestions welcomed.

[mumofstig]

Why don't you plant your toms in bottomless pots this year so that you feed the pots and just water the greenhouse soil.
Then in the winter perhaps you can remove the soil out to the garden/plot and put soil from outside, into the greenhouse.

[Goosegirl]

Sonds like it needs some bulky matter like well-rotted manure to help hold in water and nutrients. I would leave it 'till later then dig some soil out as mumofstig suggests - maybe about 6" deep to give you room to add organic matter. 

[Ivah]

I use the bagged version of well rotted farmyard manure on my greenhouse beds every year. It has less seeds and slug eggs than either compost or farmer supplied manure. I also hit them with probably an excess of fertiliser; chicken pellets, BFB and a sprinkling of potash. I alternate with Tomatoes on one side and everything else on the other side of the central path and have never changed the soil. I feed very little during the season as I cannot understand why Tomatoes are treated differently to everything else; other crops you prepare the soil then let them grow often taking more crop per square metre than you do with Tomatoes.

[AnnieB]

Not sure how far you are from Cambridge but have a look at Maddingley Mulch, West side of Cambridge.

They do 2 recipies for revitalising soil. Wonder if one would take your fancy. Tony's tonic and Denise'e delight as I recall

If you visit they have big tubs of the stuff for you to see and get your hands into.

[mumofstig]

but after 5 years doesn't anyone think it would be a good idea to change the soil as well?
This long without a rotation seems plain wrong to me

[Yorkie]

Must say I tend to agree with Mum 

[digalotty]

me too

[AnnieB]

Is there any way I can revive this? Can I add any sort of fertiliser? I have loads of Growmore pellets, but no more own compost (all been put on the garden).

I don't really want to remove it and refill with fresh compost because of the cost.
Any suggestions welcomed.

They asked how to revive and said they didn't want to replace.

So as they say they are around Cambridge area simply thought that a visit to Maddingley could be of use.

Simply answering the question asked.

[mumofstig]

My remarks weren't directed at you AnnieB, so no need to be offended by them!