[frizzy]

Hi, I've been digging over my early potato bed, but when I get down to a spade's depth on one side there is a seam of solid orange clay. Is it worth trying to break it down or should I put my potatoes elsewhere? I've only had the allotment for a couple of years so I'm still finding where the solid clay is! That bed had salad on it last year and that did well.

[BabbyAnn]

I've been digging over my early potato bed, but when I get down to a spade's depth on one side there is a seam of solid orange clay.  Is it worth trying to break it down or should I put my potatoes elsewhere?

I wouldn't bother trying to break up the solid clay - most likely it is sub soil and it does nothing for the top soil

You might get away with a spade depth's worth of soil though for growing potatoes (it's what I do now anyway  )  Most potato tubers form just under the surface which is why we earth up

[Hampshire Hog]

I think you'll be ok but I would increase the soil depth by adding some home made or bought compost to give the spuds a bit more room. I don't think you need to be picky anything you have hand will help perhaps last years grow bags or soil from pots you have emptied. Probably worth adding some chicken manure pellets too.

Cheers HH

[Goosegirl]

I only have about 6" topsoil before I hit the sub-soil which is compacted alluvial silt. Because of this, I have raised beds but, when first digging them, I used a garden fork to break it up at the bottom of the trench to aid drainage and allow my new top soil, manure and compost to mix with it. It was hard work though.

[snow white]

Just dig over, do not incorporate the subsoil, put a layer of rotted manure on the top, then nestle the potatoes into the manure.  Put straw on the top.   Add more straw when you see the halums.  This way you have added organic material and not subsoil.  Potatoes are easy to harvest too!

[frizzy]

Great thanks. They're in and I'll use whatever I can to earth them up and raise the soil level