[billathome65]

Hi it's the 2nd day of January 2011 and I was stood looking over my small back garden and thinking it will be nice to get started this year the soil was turned before the frost and is waiting for compost which is under way to be added in the next month or two.

This will be the first time this garden has been used for growing veg and a first for me planting veg and if it was as easy as plant grow enjoy I'd be a happy man, but I know that is far from the truth. Not even a worm to be seen at the moment as the soil has been covered with gravel for the past 10 years.

I have all my seeds ordered and will be picking up some seed potatoes in the next few weeks if they are available possibly Morris Piper I have a garage with some perspex plastic on but as with most garages it is cluttered with the stuff I use but can't store in the house, plus I also have ferrets in built in hutches so not much space here for seed germination I have a small work top I am thinking tomatoes but apart from that no real space.

I have been reading a lot of the stuff here talking about seeding plants before transplanting but to be honest anything that can go straight in the soil will be advantageous

The garden itself is very clumpy very wet with a mix of clay coal and not much else and whilst a raised bed is probably the answer I need all the spare space I can get so am thinking edging stones rather than bulky wood frames. So the dilemma is how to take the excess moisture out the soil with a mix can I use ordinary builders sand and work in what to do what to do??

Small garden every inch of ground a must and some crops in this year help!!!!!!!

Any ideas greatly welcomed.

[mumofstig]

The answer will be to get as much compost/manure into the soil as you can, this will break up the clay and bring the worms in.
Have you got any local stables that will let you have some manure, but make sure it is well rotted (not smelling of....... well, manure ) If not can you afford some of the bags of farmyard manure or soil conditioner they sell in the garden centres.........it really will make all the difference. It's what I had to do to my garden plot when I first started and made all the difference!
By next year, especially with the ferrets, you should have lots of your own compost and won't have to buy ever again
I'd not add sand at this stage, as the soil may not be as claggy as you think, once you have worked it in the spring. Good luck!

[billathome65]

Thanks for the advice we don't have any stables round our area but do have a couple of garden centres so will get some bags of all purpose compost. As for the ferrets the smell from their wee will be good to keep rodents at bay but I think the wee would be to acidic??

I know it is all trial and error but hopefully not to costly 

I have posted some pictures of the garden area and when they are approved hopefully you guys can give me some encouraging advice and support.

Cheers Bill

[SG6]

If the garage has lengths of wood use them to mark out rectangles for digging and do a piece at a time. It is easier and takes less time to do a small piece. Then it is completed and you have the first done. Ready work out your mistakes then do not make them on the second, third, fourth...

Throw some seeds in, preferably a bit more ordered then ramdom scattering. But whatever you feel like.

Also means that in the future, if wanted, you can mark the beds off, enclose and convert to raised beds.

As to the soil, dig in just about anything that will lighten the soil. Manure, spend potting compost. I have used fine bark chips and similar fine mulching material, add some course sand and grit. The aggregates that Wickes sell is pretty good.

What to start with, keep it easy. Onion sets (white onions) are fair, turnip, swede, parsnip, garlic, leeks, tomato's. Carrots need an easier soil then you describe, try these in large pots then next year add the compost to the beds, dig that in again.

If find I get better results from potato's in large pots then from in the ground. So I grow 3 larde pots of potatos (50cm pots) and agin the used compost gets deposited on the garden afterwards. Problem is you need to add manure to the pots as the compost isn't enough.

Try potato's in the ground as you want, if OK carry on, mention it as I have had little success in the ground.

Get a small fork, turning over a small forkfull of heavy soil is easier then a large forkfull.

Don't worry about the worms, they will appear soon enough. They like leaves apparently.

[Salmo]

Avoid ordinary builders sand as it is too fine and will not open up the soil. Sharp sand or grit is what you need.

[SG6]

When you feel brave enough, get a couple of tubs of pelleted chicken manure.
Apply handfuls at regular intervals.
Smells awful, but works well.
Hands smell of it afterwards.

 

[Christine]

I do a mixture of two scoops of pelleted chicken manure and one scoop of calcified seaweed mixed up and raked in. Scoops save smelly hands and the seaweed seems to add some of the trace elements missing in the chicken pellets.

Put together, they still work out cheaper than growmore - price of stuff has gone through roof.

If you come by a couple of bales of straw that's good stuff to dig into clay to break it up.

[billathome65]

Thanks for all the advice.

Cheers Bill