Garden Plans > 2012: Gateway to Nature - St Anns Framework Allotment

About this Garden Plan
Allotment
Plan Type, Soil and Location
Garden Location:	St Anns
Garden Size:	9.00m x 16.00m
Garden Type:	Allotment
Garden Layout:	Traditional layout - rows etc
Sun or Shade:	Sunny
Garden Soil Type:	Heavy / Clay soil
Plan Notes
Soil pH tested in 8 raised beds. All vegetable beds tested: pH 7.0 neutral, apart from bed 6: pH 6.5 slightly acidic. Well rotted manure dug into beds 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 to improve soil structure in autumn 2011. Gypsum (organic clay breaker) added to all raised beds apart from bed 5 where early potatoes are planted. Dolomitic limestone (organic) added in early spring to raised beds 7 & 8, which have not been cultivated as the beds do not yet contain enough soil for growing crops. Beds 7 & 8 will be suitable for growing Brassicas (where liming is necessary to prevent clubroot) when soil has been increased and cultivated. Manure should not be added to soil which has been limed. Liming clay soil causes flocculation (fine soil particles aggregate into larger groups, improving the structure). May take a number of years to improve workability of soil. Sharp sand can be added to beds if soil remains unworkable after adding manure to help create a fine tilth for seed sowing. Seeds may rot in heavy clay soil. Nottingham Organic Gardeners may have contact for spent mushroom compost (slightly alkaline, which can improve structure by altering particle size). Hungarian Grazing Rye broadcast sown in raised bed 6 in late October 2011. Dug into soil in early spring to improve structure (very good for improving structure of heavy clay). Broadcast sow again late August/early October 2012. NOTE: Hungarian Grazing Rye inhibitis the germination of small seeds (e.g. Carrot). Does not hinder growth of transplants. Early Spring: 6 bags of multi-purpose organic peat-free compost for raised beds to improve tilth for seed sowing and to help fill raised beds 7 & 8. 4 bags of sharp sand added to 4 raised beds to improve drainage (4 bags of compost and 2 bags of sharp sand taken to site on 17 April - sharp sand can also be used in bottom of drills to aid drainage for direct seed sowing). May need more seed sowing compost for new greenhouse (old greenhouse dismantled and moved to Diamond Centre, Kirkby-in-Ashfield and spare greenhouse erected mid April 2012).

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