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Clay soil

post #1 of 19
5/11/12 at 11:13am
Thread Starter 

Are any of you challenged to grow in clay-based soil? What has worked for you? Post here!

Suburban dweller aiming for greater self sufficiency, better nutrition and humane food.

 

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Suburban dweller aiming for greater self sufficiency, better nutrition and humane food.

 

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post #2 of 19
5/11/12 at 11:22am
  • Imp
  • All things share the same breath- Chief Seattle
Quote:
Originally Posted by SouthernAlberta View Post

Are any of you challenged to grow in clay-based soil? What has worked for you? Post here!

I don't grow well in clay-based soil either. I prefer being above ground. roll.png

OK, Sorry couldn't resist being silly.

 

Here in the Seattle area everything is clay. I find raised beds and lots of organic soil amendments help.

Native plants and root rot resistant varieties help too.

 

Imp- Now if I could do something about the sunlight.

 

 

If all the beasts were gone, men would die from a great loneliness of spirit,

for whatever happens to the beasts also happens to the man.

All things are connected.
Whatever befalls the Earth befalls the sons of the Earth.

 

       ― Chief Seattle

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If all the beasts were gone, men would die from a great loneliness of spirit,

for whatever happens to the beasts also happens to the man.

All things are connected.
Whatever befalls the Earth befalls the sons of the Earth.

 

       ― Chief Seattle

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post #3 of 19
5/11/12 at 11:28am

I roto-till straw into the soil wherever i want to plant something. It helps keep it from becoming so compacted again... It usually lasts about 2 to 3 years before it needs worked again.

 

~Nathan

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post #4 of 19
5/11/12 at 12:14pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Imp View PostI find raised beds and lots of organic soil amendments help.

Native plants and root rot resistant varieties help too.

Hi Imp. I live in Canada's sunniest region, but our growing season is still too short for me. Raised beds and container gardens are definitely in my plans because I have dogs that like to dig.

 

Quote:
Originally Posted by Razor1616 View Post

I roto-till straw into the soil wherever i want to plant something. It helps keep it from becoming so compacted again... It usually lasts about 2 to 3 years before it needs worked again.~Nathan

Hi Nathan. Do you use straw bedding from your coop in your soil?

Suburban dweller aiming for greater self sufficiency, better nutrition and humane food.

 

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Suburban dweller aiming for greater self sufficiency, better nutrition and humane food.

 

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post #5 of 19
5/11/12 at 12:25pm
  • Imp
  • All things share the same breath- Chief Seattle

I have pretty much given up on vegetables because my trees have grown and the yards are rather shady now. Between that and our normal cloudy days, not enough sun for most veggies.

I switched over to fruit (tree and berries), and have been having a lot of success. One nice thing about clay is that it contains a lot of minerals and is usually very healthy for plants, if you can work past the heavy wetness of it. Maybe in Alberta the clay isn't as wet as it is here.

 

Imp

 

 

If all the beasts were gone, men would die from a great loneliness of spirit,

for whatever happens to the beasts also happens to the man.

All things are connected.
Whatever befalls the Earth befalls the sons of the Earth.

 

       ― Chief Seattle

Reply

 

 

If all the beasts were gone, men would die from a great loneliness of spirit,

for whatever happens to the beasts also happens to the man.

All things are connected.
Whatever befalls the Earth befalls the sons of the Earth.

 

       ― Chief Seattle

Reply
post #6 of 19
5/11/12 at 12:25pm

I would not use straw bedding that is freshly from the coop in a bed that i plan to plant this year. It is best to let the chicken poop compost before planting near it. I just made new beds this year and used fresh new straw. Now i would rec commend that you try to find straw that is not seeded. The straw i used had seeds in it and they are now trying to grow, so that makes it a bit more of a pain to deal with.

 

~Nathan

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post #7 of 19
5/11/12 at 1:03pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Razor1616 View PostThe straw i used had seeds in it and they are now trying to grow, so that makes it a bit more of a pain to deal with.

No kidding! Dandelions are bad enough.

 

 

Quote:
Originally Posted by Imp View Post
Maybe in Alberta the clay isn't as wet as it is here.

No, we are semi-desert here.

Suburban dweller aiming for greater self sufficiency, better nutrition and humane food.

 

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Suburban dweller aiming for greater self sufficiency, better nutrition and humane food.

 

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post #8 of 19
5/11/12 at 2:33pm
Hi, my garden was started on clay and rocky soil. After 11 years of picking up rocks, and adding leaves, hay, wood shavings, ash and loads of loam out of the forest, I finally have a fertile plot of ground. I've been using rabbit poo to fertilize, but started tilling the chicken poo, and the bedding in last fall. Rabbit droppings can be used anytime, but chicken manure has to be composted or given time to break down.
Waiting on Spring.
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Waiting on Spring.
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post #9 of 19
5/11/12 at 2:41pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by ozark_chickies View Post

Hi, my garden was started on clay and rocky soil. After 11 years of picking up rocks, and adding leaves, hay, wood shavings, ash...  

Tell me about adding ash. Could I use the ashes from my fire pit? What are the benefits?

Suburban dweller aiming for greater self sufficiency, better nutrition and humane food.

 

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Suburban dweller aiming for greater self sufficiency, better nutrition and humane food.

 

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post #10 of 19
5/11/12 at 3:01pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by SouthernAlberta View Post

Tell me about adding ash. Could I use the ashes from my fire pit? What are the benefits?

Yes, you can. This article tells it better than I could.
http://www.humeseeds.com/ashes.htm

edit because link did"t post
Edited by ozark_chickies - 5/11/12 at 3:03pm
Waiting on Spring.
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Waiting on Spring.
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