Hi AP
I posted to your flattering award on my gardening two days ago, and somehow it did not get uploaded. Thank you! My husband does the hard work while I swan around looking countrified. In return for your flattery, send me yr snailmail address and I'll send you some super kacang botor seeds. Others willing to send stamped envelopes also can get free seeds.
Clayey soil is a problem for most of us. Here is some advice from the net:
1. Add coarse sand to the clay soil, after it has been dug down and tilled over. Helps break up the clay. Use sparingly and see how the effect is first. Some peole think it almost makes concrete.
2. Do you need to lime and how much to lime – measuring pH
Measuring Soil Acidity (pH level)
You can buy various types of test kit, often you mix a soil sample with water then compare a colour change to a chart, but this is a bit of a pain for taking more than a couple of samples. I use an electronic meter, which is much easier just requiring polishing and inserting into wet soil.
Whichever kit you use, it will come with instructions and will give you a reading. Never make a judgement on the basis of just one test. You may have hit a spot particularly high or low pH. Take samples or test from a number of spots and this will give you a much better general view of your soil’s acidity level.
Agricultural Lime or Garden Lime is made from pulverized limestone or chalk. As well as raising the pH it will provide calcium for the crops and trace nutrients. Some recent experiments are indicating our soils may well benefit from the addition of rock dust, adding trace nutrients to the soil. Dolomite Lime is similar to garden lime but contains a higher percentage of magnesium.
3. The first thing you have to do in order to turn your clay soil into fresh-smelling, enriched dirt is to rototill the ground. There is no getting around it; the ground has to be plowed and tilled before you can mix in organic matter. Anyone who has rototilled clay soil will tell you to be prepared for a workout because it will feel like you are trying to till through concrete. Waiting until after a good rain when the ground is softer is not going to help with clay soil because water only makes clay clump more.
4. Enrich the soil - the main objective is to improve aeration and drainage. Add organic compost to your soil. Compost will add nutrients to the soil, but the most benefit it will have for clay soil is to intersperse air into it. Plant roots need air. Clay soil's composition is dense with little air. It can actually suffocate a plant. Compost allows water to drain more freely. Clay soil holds on to water and causes root rot in many types of plants. Layer approximately 2 inches of compost over the top of the worked clay soil. Mix it in thoroughly.
Conduct the ball squeeze soil test. Grab a handful of soil after the compost enrichment. Squeeze the soil and then open your hand. The soil should break apart easily. If the soil holds the shape of your hand, it needs more compost. Layer an inch over the top and work it in. Redo the hand test. Add more compost, if necessary.
erm ... a compost heap is TERRIFIC. For neat gardens, get one of the plastic ones with a handle to turn the stuff: in goes all the kitchen veg and fruit peelings, newspaper and other paper stuff. Uses up all this stuff and makes great soil.
I am happy to share worms and info with anyone who wants to start a home worm farm - cannot find the worms except in Penang. Amazingly good fertiliser in clean worm pee and castings. Anyone?
