How do you know if your garden's fit for veg growing?

If you move into a house, how would you know if your soil is contaminated with heavy metals etc?

If it's a brand new house, I guess the developers would tell you? But if it's older wouldn't it be buried in the small print, or not mentioned at all?

I've never owned a house so am completely clueless on this issue.

I know you can get soil analysis from the RHS, but how many people would really bother with that before sticking some carrots in!

 

You try growing veg, if you have problems with heavy metals in the soil, then you sue the **** off everybody responsible, developer, council AND enviroment agency.lol:gnthb:

 

Umm. Thanks Dai.

But how do you know it's contaminated in advance so you don't have to make yourself ill or worse in the process...?

 

Seriously, why do you think your soil is contaminated with cadmium and the likes?

 

I don't, Dai.

Just that lots of gardens are, particularly new builds. And another thread talking about annexing roundabouts got me thinking about it.

 

Andrew, you are being paranoid. Grow your veg and enjoy. It is illegal to knowingly sell a house with contaminated soil.:gnthb:

 

Nah, not being paranoid Dai. I do grow my veg and enjoy it. My garden has been tilled for a century or more, it's soil from heaven.

Just thinkin, is all. I know that contamination is widespread, and growing, and as I ponder possible house buying horror, it'd be good to hear the wisdom of GCers on the matter.

 

I would just grow the veg AndrewH, and see how you get on.
What do you think is in the shops?
I haven't heard of anybody dying from any of it - it's just down to what do you want to eat ?
Whatever is in your ground will be less contamination than anything from the supermarkets.

 

If your soil has been tilled for a century or more, then how is it contminated? Trust me. you ARE being paranoid.:gnthb::flag:

 

Just read this AndrewH.
If your ground has been tilled as a private garden for 100 years I don't think you have anything to worry about.

 

Dai, please! Read my posts, dude!

Alice, yes, that's what I intend to do if I ever get a place of my own. Just wondering whether there were any processes or whatever where buyers get informed about these issues?

I know there are new residential properties that have a "don't grow veg for 100 years, it's an old quarry" type advisories on them. But who tells you about these things?

 

Alice - you get me wrong. I grow veg and don't worry.

But I'm (half) thinking about (maybe) buying, and wondering what actually happens if there is an issue.

 

JWK - the house I'm looking at is Number 1, Uranium Mine Terrace.