Can I grow vegetables in a water logged patch?

Hi all

I was hoping my first questions would be whats the best vegetables to grow for a complete beginner, but after clearing some concrete slabs to make a small 2m x 3m patch of earth to grow them in, I can see it collects water when it rains and takes ages to drain. The top of the water level will be a few inches below the top of the soil (hence i did not realise until I started to dig).

I live on a hill side and believe it must be water draining down the mountain side. After it stops raining a day or two later the water has gone. I cant see any way to drain this without digging up the patio to run a pipe down to the drains or something, which would probably be quite a task and not worth it. I am assuming this level of water must be under most of my garden.

So I was wondering if I can grow vegetables in this, and if so what would be best for a beginnner. Perhaps I need to put a few more inches of soil on top? i dont know.

Thanks a lot

 

Hi Xan` and welcome to the site. I would suggest you double dig the ground to improve drainage.:thmb:

 

I would suggest making a raised bed. Double digging it first would be even better, then build a raised bed on top, and 1) never walk on it and 2) you'll never have to dig it again!

 

Since posting this (and last nights heavy rain) I can see various puddles on my new patch, and the water levels are all different heights. So that tells me that the patch itself is not draining otherwise it would be just one water level if it was my whole garden not draining properly, so am a lot more optimistic its jus that compacted patch now. I did try digging one area and its not draining, so will give it another good dig and see what happens.

thanks

 

Hi there Xan. I can only endorse what's already been stated. Double digging AND raised beds should do the trick :thumb: Cheers...freddy

 

Xan` you do realise that double digging doesn`t mean digging it twice? It means turning over the subsoil as well.

 

And add to what David said Xan' - don't get the subsoil and topsoil mixed up !!

 

I find it is easier to double dig with a Terex Spade.Started my double digging 4 weeks ago.

 

Shiney, I broke into a sweat just reading your post.:lol:

 

Fancy we gave up digging our plots with spades and Terrex spades years ago.We used to do it every year but once we had got 30 pole found it too diffcult to keep doing it because we would start off fine but then the weather would turn against us so the task would never get finished.We found that by adding lots of compost, leaf mould plus the bonfire ash the ground soon got better,though we have had our allotment plots for 28 years so all that work has paid off in the end.

I just barrow lots of stuff onto the surface either in the Autumn or spring and then get straight onto it with the rotavator.Our soil for most of the time is so fine that when I walk on it I tend to sink down it is that fine.

Shiney do you mean to tell me I am sitting on a pot of gold with my Terrex spade?I brought Mr Kandy one donkeys years ago for about £25 but it is somewhere lost at the back of the shed as we no longer use one.

 

I just Googled Terex Spades, and apparently they are selling for up to £200 on ebay.:thumb: