What grows in rough soil

So, today I turned over my the soil in my front garden, I can say that nothing has been planted in it or quite some time, it was covered in shingle and a covering under that (which I've all removed) I'm going to turn the soil quit a few times this winter to bring it up to health.

Any woo, when I turned it for the 1st time today the soil is full of rocks, broken bricks, slate and pipe, I think the only way I could get rid o it would be to completely dig out all the soil and replace it, which I'm not prepared to do.

So my question is are there any veg that would grow in that soil? Or should I buy in a bit of new soil and add this to make it a bit less rubbley?

Cheers
Mark

P.s I'm based just out side London.:

 

Hiya Mark.

I'd be inclined to get out as much of the rubble that is practical, and plant spuds in there, around mid April. Seed potatoes will be on sale in Garden Centres in a few weeks I reckon, so now is a good time to be thinking about it :thumb:

Cheers...Freddy.

 

I'm with Freddy on this one, you're best to get all that rubble out now, otherwise it's going to be difficult when you come managing it when plants or veg are in there.

The whole of my back garden was like this when I moved here and the rubble went down to two feet, including a 2x2ft solid concrete cube that was holding a post for a 'whirligig' type washing line. It's hard work but worth it!

 

It sounds like the kind of ground that my dad insists is ideal for rhubarb. Apparently the rocks and rubbish in the ground stimulate the roots to fork, and ultimately to send up more new shoots. However he also stopped growing rhubarb years ago, having decided it was too invasive

 

Every time to dig it over (you say your going to dig it over several times anyway), just throw out the bigger stones/rubbish and you'll soon get it sorted. I wouldn't add any topsoil as it would just be lost amongst what you already have.

You could as already suggested plant spuds in some of the area which when planted, earthed up and dug out helps to break down the soil and remove yet more debris. And anymore soil could be planted by diging a planting hole, adding mostly compost and planting into that. Your soil will come good in a year or two.

Steve...

 

If you lke herbs, Rosemary, thyme and lavender would all survice in that type of soil.

 

Thanks all, spuds it is.....now just have to choose what one to grow out of the billion verities :-)
I was planning on having a lavinder hedge so that should grow fine.