Re: Seed potatoes, Sydney, NSw, Australia, where?

In article <47ba33c3$0$50603$c30e37c6@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
>,
 Terryc <newsthreespam-spam@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote:

> Our major problem is stuff below the ground is only small. We still need

> to crack the problem.
> 
> We are currently debating 4 tonne of river sand to improve drainage, The

> beds are raised 2'-4' but it is heavy clay derived soil and I think some

> stuff just doesn't like it.

Correct.  Carrots will fork in clay soil; they grow happily in a bucket of

sand.  Most root crops produce well in soil they can get through fairly 
easily.  

I'd go for raising the beds -- if you have a 2" bed you will have 2"
carrots, 
and so on.  Nothing wrong with adding SOME sand, as long as you are
getting it 
cheap and it is fairly coarse.  Fine sand will just wash out of raised
beds, 
unless there is lots of organic matter to hold it in place.  I'd be going
for 
straw and manure, personally.

-- 
Chookie -- Sydney, Australia 
(Replace "foulspambegone" with "optushome" to reply)

http://chookiesbackyard.blogspot.com/