CLAY CAUSING WATER TABLE AFTER RAINFALL

Hi I am new to this site and have read the advice on clay soil already posted, but my clay problem is slightly different.  I have two allotments side by side 150ft by 20ft each, a spade depth down there is a clay shelf that completely covers both sites, infact it covers nearly the entire allotment site, poor drainage when field turned into allotments, along with no up keep of drainage system, allows only a 3 to 6 inch depth of soil in which to grow.  The majority of allotment holders only grow Beans and Tomatoes, etc.  I am trying to feed several families on a low budget with a variety of veggies. After a rainfall, the water sits on the clay shelf for days before it eventually drains away, I have lost over 300 potato plants due to this problem.

I am trying to raise the height of the soil by double digging a trench and putting a 9 inch layer of woodchip before digging next trench, this is working, but being disabled and in poor health this is taking too long.  I have also dug in some very deep soak aways filled with rocks, this is not so good but do have a close supply of water.  local council do not want to help or can't afford to help.

Does anyone have any experience with this problem or any ideas that I can try?  Being on benefits I can not afford to buy the amount of sand I would need.

Make lazy beds to raise your planting areas up away from the clay.
All it means, simply put, is to make 4ft wide raised beds without the wood around them.

Dig soil from the path areas and heap them on the bed, this doubles your planting depth, traight away
However, it is only the continual improvement and cultivation of your soil that will eventually improve it the drainage and depth of soil.
So good luck with it

Doc, you need to double dig your plots, but don`t add woodchip, this will do more harm than good. Try and get a supply of well rotted manure and use instead. Also. you say you are trying to feed several poor budget families. Get these people to help you, don`t feed them for nothing, let them pull their weight in this.

A heavy liming will help to improve the soil texture by flocculating the clay. It will also encourage earth worms and other friendly organisms like soil bacteria to work for you.  

Lots of organic material:  manure with plenty of straw; composted bark (not chipped); peat, anything you can get.  Green manure like Forage Rye can be sown from Aug to Nov and be over wintered before digging in.

Using these in combination with double digging will help a lot.

Never needed to do that as we have a sandy loam.  Probably when you are digging over in the autumn at a guess.

Try these sites:

http://www.lime.org/soil2.pdf

http://www.suite101.com/article.cfm/gardening_in_bc/100061

There's quite a few mor out on the net.

Absolutely Steve. 

Loads of organic matter is what's needed but the lime will help to incorporate it into the soil by making the very fine clay particles stick together into bigger ones.  Checking the pH will help to know if it needs liming.

The clay varies between 3 to 5 feet deep, from the council.

  That's one heck of a depth of clay. Dig it out and sell it for pottery making    I think your only hope is what you are doing.  Try to put some drainage in and heap as much organic material (including green manure on the top to build the level up.

I have access to a manure mountain, now have the means to transport it, just need the help to carry it to and from the trailer.

Get those families you want to feed to help with that !!!!!!

If you enter your location into your profile it helps you to get better advice.

If the clay has been dumped in the past then there is some hope of finding soil below it. In many areas with natual clay it goes down for 10s of feet and may end at the rock layer.

I would go one step further than lazy beds and put in proper raised beds with boards round.