[gardener247]

so i was watching victorian kitchen garden the other day and the guy started walking on the soil before sowing and planting :blink: isn't this defeating the whole point of digging???

[penance]

I dont think so but would depends what he was sowing/planting.

The weight of an average person wont do to much with a few passes.

[rock_chick]

We were told at college not to stand on bare soil, especially when wet, as this causes compaction, and the problems associated with it.

[blackbob]

iv'e always used scaffolding boards.if the soil is sticking to ya boots you shouldn't be working it.

[JayG]

Unless he was firming the soil prior to planting out brassicas I would say it was a bad practice unless he was using a scaffold board or similar to spread his weight.

[blackbob]

Unless he was firming the soil prior to planting out brassicas I would say it was a bad practice unless he was using a scaffold board or similar to spread his weight.

i agree,i always heel in the sprout bed prior to planting out.the harder the better.

[mumofstig]

I've seen this before and they did indeed pass backwards and forwards with the weight on their heels over the seed bed and then raked it flat.
Then they pulled the drills for seed sowing

It just shows how methods have changed since then

[sunshineband]

Perhaps they were emulating the victorians? 

Who did  not use scaffolding planks 

[compostqueen]

It was always done by both professional and amateur gardeners alike, eg the bed dug over and then walked over in what they describe as "the shuffle".  It was then gently raked over. 

[sunshineband]

It was always done by both professional and amateur gardeners alike, eg the bed dug over and then walked over in what they describe as "the shuffle".  It was then gently raked over. 

That's what I get the children at school to do on the brassica beds --- they look quite cute on the raised beds