[AdsaM]

Hi All,

I have removed concrete from an area of around 10 feet x 25 feet and want to grow veg on this area.

What preparation do I need to do to the ground with it being covered for around 25 years.

Will growmore be sufficient or do i need to add anything else.?

All advice much appreciated. 

Thanks

Steve

[mikem]

Difficult to say without seeing or testing it.  If it was me I would get as much compost/horse manure etc as I could find and add that.  Unlikely to have much life in it e.g. worms etc currently.  Not sure that I would try and grow anything this year although some people with more knowledge than me could probably recommend a green manure of some sort.

[Bombers]

Hi Steve,
You need to clear the area of any remaining concrete. Then, Double dig and incorporate as much organic matter as you can lay your hands on. (compost/manure/leaf mould etc,.)
Good luck.

[zazen999]

Hi

Have a dig - take out a chunk and turn it over. What is it like? Has it any worms? Is it hard clay or sand or what?

Either way, I suspect you'll need as much organic as possible as the others have said.

[woodburner]

I'd be most surprised if you find any worms more than a few inches in from where the edge was. Even worms need to eat, and there's been no food there for 25 years. They'll have moved out long ago!
You'll definitely need to add loads of organic matter, but if the topsoil was removed before  the concrete was put down, you will need some decent soil too.
Even if the original topsoil is still there it's probably a good idea to get some (unsterilised) topsoil anyway and scatter it around to kick-start the soil fauna.

[DIGGER]

Its a big area not to try something this year. Might be worth popping some potatoes in then after they have been harvest get some manure in ready for next year.
The potatoes will also help break up the ground

[Yorkie]

I would also do a pH test - if I recall correctly, concrete contains lime so can make the soil quite alkaline

[AdsaM]

Had a dig in various areas and i did find some worms, think those areas are where the concrete had got cracks in it. Where the water could seep through.

There are also quite a bit of the wiggly white roots that have been spreading under the concrete. Not sure what weed they are.

I'm on Holiday all this week so will get it all dug over.

[agapanthus]

I would do as suggested with all the organic matter you can findand also go with Digger..plant potatoes....they really do help!!!!

[Trillium]

There are also quite a bit of the wiggly white roots that have been spreading under the concrete. Not sure what weed they are.

Sounds like couch roots which are very invasive. Definitely want to be rid of every bit you can find before any planting or amending. Every tiny bit left will sprout. At this pale stage it should be easy to pull lengths of them out.

[woodburner]

Couch roots aren't really wiggly, bind weed is though. Whatever it is you don't want it sprouting up in your veg plot so it needs to come out. The worms are a good sign. What does the soil look and feel like generally?

[AdsaM]

Couch roots aren't really wiggly, bind weed is though. Whatever it is you don't want it sprouting up in your veg plot so it needs to come out. The worms are a good sign. What does the soil look and feel like generally?

The soil where the worms are is quite soft but there are areas where it is hard and taking some breaking up.

Think the best option would be, as you say to treat it as all stale, then get to work bringing it back to life. 

The weeds are coming out easily and i think i'm getting it all but realise there will be a certain amount of growth with some of the * hiding from me.

Thanks for all the advice

Steve