[Arls0308]

Hi there,

I realise this is short notice, but I'm off tonight to buy some compost for my lottie to dig in to get some seeds/plants in. Anyway, I'm hoping to plant some carrots and parsnips in a raised bed and know they need sandy soil - mine is great but fairly heavy. Should I just buy some builders sand and mix some of it in with the compost and soil?

Also, a guy from the allotment came over for a chat last weekend and told me that carrot flies cannot fly higher than 2 feet off the ground, so if I raise my beds that high they can't get to them - has anyone else heard of this?

Cheers,
Arls

[gregmcalister]

The carrot fly rumour is true.

Use sharp sand rather than builders sand. I do this on heavy clay soils which get easily waterlogged although I do add organic matter as well.

[Arls0308]

Thanks for this. I shall scout for aome sharp sand and raise my beds!!

[Lee1978]

Hi there,

Also, a guy from the allotment came over for a chat last weekend and told me that carrot flies cannot fly higher than 2 feet off the ground, so if I raise my beds that high they can't get to them - has anyone else heard of this?

Cheers,
Arls

I grow mine in large water barrels with the bottoms cut out and a sand and loam mix in, works for me

[compostqueen]

I nicked some builders grit sand from my husband's stash    and added it to my soil when making some raised beds, and it seems fine stuff.  He bought some more recently so I'll be after some of that. Will say the bags appear to be leaking if he says owt

[gobs]

So I'm told, builder's sand is not good to use, is that so?

[DD.]

So I'm told, builder's sand is not good to use, is that so?

It will set like cement, unlike sharp sand.

Good for sandcastles, though.