Can it be done?

[babcock]

We recently moved to a hilly part of Somerset. I earmarked what flat area there is for veg growing. After some exploratory digging the conclusion is, we have no soil! Under scrubby grass and weeds there is basically gravel. Even a spade depth doesn't get to soil. So my question is:-
Since I can't go down is it feasible to go up. I thought double depth stockwalling to create beds and then either layer stuff no dig style or fill the beds with compost/soil etc. There seems to be no problem with drainage. I have considered a mini digger to scrape off the surface but who knows how far down it goes. Given the cost of a digger, skip, disposal of the gravel and then replacement of the topsoil I hope I can go for what I have outlined.
Thoughts please
Val

[Hammer]

Hello babcock,
Just a thought, can you get hold of /or borrow an auger - it works on the same principle as a giant corkscrew, this will give you a soil sample of the various levels as you go down into the ground. Maybe try to get a loan of one from a local Archeological Society.
Worth a try and won,t cost much, if anything. By the way what,s the drainage like ?
Regards Hammer

[Nicola_D]

I think raised bed should work as long are they are as deep (in terms of height) as you can manage to work with comfortably. You might struggle with some root veg like carrots or parsnips, but at least with carrots you could always pull them up early and use them young and sweet. Things like tomatoes, cucumbers, courgettes, peas/green beans, lettuces, herbs etc should be fine.

you could also grow stuff in containers, that is what we did last year and had great success with tomatoes, cucumbers, courgettes, carrots and lettuces in different containers. I've seen people saying that they have found veg to grow much better in containers and raised beds than straight in the ground because you have more control over the quality of the soil and drainage with containers.

Hope you give it go and wish you much success

[babcock]

Thanks for the replies both. It seems likely that the area was a farm track at one time so the gravel/rubble will be pretty deep. I am intending to use double height stockboard or scaffold boards which will give me a bed 16" deep. All I need to do now is to source some reasonably priced materials. I have been quoted £14 each for 15' stockboard making £56 per bed. Ouch!