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Abbotsford, B.C

Upon digging up the soil in my future patch to see what it was like, I found it to be extremely dense, compact, and very clayey. The topsoil is over 8 inches deep (I didn't dig any futher), and clay all the way through. Any suggestions for a cheap way to successfully aerate 3000 sf of soil? For a fuller description of my problem, you can see my diary, so I don't have to write it all out again. Any suggestions would be muchly appreciated.

Cameron

3/8/2005 9:51:12 PM

[email protected]

Dynamite is cheaper than Plastique as a rule.

3/8/2005 10:28:42 PM

In the shade - PDX, OR

Check the "clay soil" post below.

Also do a site search on clay and see what comes up.

Patients will be needed in order to build that soil properly. 2 or 3 yrs depending on how much organic matter you can get your hands on.

You should be able to spread that fresh manure out on the 3K sqft with no problem. (depending on the sz of the pile) If you leave it on top for a while w/o tilling in some of the N will reduce. I wouldn't go over 3~4" deep any where.

3/9/2005 3:04:55 AM

Alex, IN

Check ou this product:

http://www.outsidepride.com/store/catalog/Liquid-Aerify-p-17886.html

It's called Liquid Aerify, I will be trying it this year. They is also a Soil Activator that you can get to use with it.

I have very clay like soil, But at least you have 8 inches of topsoil! I only have 4 then I have pure clay. I have been adding manure and leaves the past few year, but what I have been able to transport here has not nearly been enough.

I Hope this helps.

Mikkal

3/9/2005 6:41:02 AM

Baildon, Saskatchewan, Canada , EH

Last year I tried to grow in clay as I was a rookie in pumpkin growing and thought that i had ok soil!A seasoned grower came over and couldn't believe that i could have such a beautiful plant in such terrible soil(Good for a sod house here on the Prairies).I made my patch bigger,got rid of all the clay(30yds)and added awesome topsoil,52 bags of leaves and so on! What i learn't is that there is not much use in growing somebody's fine seed if you can't give it the best soil to grow in.I lived in Langley once and I'm sure that you will be able to come up with some good soil.Best of luck.Just added my 2 bits as i am a new grower!

3/9/2005 2:27:49 PM

Mill Bay, British Columbia

Cameron, welcome to BC!! Just plow the area and till it the best you can. You should have pretty easy access to as much manure as you want and the soil in your area is already very, very rich naturally.

Look in your local newspaper and you will see farmers that are advertising manure.....bet you can get all you want for free, perhaps just the cost of delivery. BC'ers are a pretty friendly bunch and your neighbours will be happy to help out.

There will be a couple of good weigh-offs for you to attend this year....good luck!!

Let me know if you need some "west coast" seeds.

Welcome/Glenn

3/9/2005 9:26:49 PM

Abbotsford, B.C

Thanks everybody! I went back and took a look at the manure pile again, pretending there was a measuring stick there and sort of visualizing how many yards of manure there was there. There's seems to be at least 15-17 yards or more, which would probably be enough to spread three or so inches across the whole patch. In addition, there is a neighbor right across the road that I think is willing to let me have some of his more well-rotted stuff. I know that my problem is not nutrient-rich soil-- I know my soil is packed with minerals, it's just the fact that it is so compact, and it is retaining water way too well. That aerify stuff sounds like a possibility, does anyone else have any suggestions? I'd appreciate all comers; the more ideas I try the better chance I have for success.

Cameron

3/9/2005 9:47:03 PM

Puyallup, WA

Ask a near-by farmer if they have a sub-soiler. It is a 24" shank that is pulled behind a big tractor. It does a great job of breaking up the deep clay.

3/9/2005 10:25:27 PM