bed too rich...what to do NOW?

[safronsue]

good morning! it's a beautiful day!

I'd appreciate people's thoughts on this plan/solution. I created a raised bed on very depleted ground. Filled it last november with NOT very well rotted but not fresh horse manure and their straw bedding to a depth of almost 50cm. Lots of leaves went in too and some mouldy alfalfa bales i had. It's obviously too rich for seedlings so what could i sow/plant that would be either productive or speed up the soil conditioning??? A catch crop of rye? clover green manure? Would spuds just rot? courgettes? if i put a layer of top soil, would have to be thin, would that lighten up the mix.

[Jandra]

I'd put in 'hungry' plants. If it's a raised bed I'd suppose it doesn't stay really wet? Then I don't see why spuds would't work. Courgettes, pumpkins, corn. And don't forget greens which like lots of nitrogen: early spinache, perhaps, to start the season?

Good luck!

[Marc]

Yes, I'd put on a layer of topsoil, then try growing whatever you want. I can't see the richness being a problem for most things although it might mean that they grown very big and lush, so may flop over each other and the sides. Don't plant too close together.

[Odsox]

I agree with Jandra, especially any of the brassicas .. summer cabbages, kale, cauliflowers, broccoli, calabrese, etc., potatoes would do very well, in fact just about anything apart from carrots.
I wouldn't sow the brassicas or courgettes directly in the soil as the seeds might rot, sow them in pots and transplant later and they will love it.

[The Riff-Raff Element]

Perhaps a bit of permaculture? Rhubarb would love that bed.

[boboff]

Grow Vertically as well, I know my Hops went balistic in a similar soil condition.
Beans and Grapes and Peas would do well I reckon, plant with Potatoes and you are onto a winner, although you may even be warm enough for Tomatoes and Basil Yum!

[safronsue]

oh thanks for your encouraging comments! we have done GOOOD today. Dug a trench, put a good layer of this light top soil on about 25 sq metres of raised beds and cleared up all the prunings and general woody detritis and put it in the trench for a hugelkultur type of thing. well done us. i was surprised at how easy it was to dig the trench...a benefit of the depleted ground and a sign of how unsubstantial it is. pretty much good to go now for the spring.