I've dug out a photo of mine - you can see the thick layer of big sand particles at the bottom and a very very thin (pale coloured) layer of clay near the top of the sediment. The dark bits on top of that are small organic matter that didn't float.
I've also found this link which has a version of the "soil triangle" chart that we used to classify our soil based on the proportions of sand, silt (that's the middle layer) and clay particles as well as a flow chart for the "squeeze into a ball" test.
The result of my test has got me doubting if I shook it at all! Have carried on and dug in some soil improver in some of my patch in readiness for potato planting. Have planted some Pak Choy in the other bit which were started off by the chap who is always in his allotment who said they will grow anywhere
If that is just compacted soil then your best bet will be to continue breaking it up and add some decent top soil, MPC, JI 3 compost, home made compost, rotted manure, grass clippings, etc. Unless you can do something to improve the soil, you'll not have much luck with veg growing for this year. OTOH, if you've only just uncovered it, continue with breaking it up and give it a copious watering - then have a look and see if any worms show themselves. If they do, all is not lost but you still need to add some or all of the above to make a decent growing area. Good luck
The Pak Choi came and went. They were planted in the untreated soil and bolted but were still very nice quick fried with some chilli . The Pots are like trees and starting to flower Not sure when I should start to harvest?
Reading about your earthworms, I think the great man Charles Darwin spent much of his life studying them after he published his theory of evolution. If it was good enough for him........
The Pak Choi came and went. They were planted in the untreated soil and bolted but were still very nice quick fried with some chilli . The Pots are like trees and starting to flower Not sure when I should start to harvest?
What potatoes did you sow? On the basis this thread started in April, I'm guessing main crop so you've got a while to wait yet!
Snip the flowers off, you don't want energy going into them, then wait for the foliage to die back, probably September-ish. Then you can harvest.
Of course nothing stopping you scraping a little earth away and harvesting a couple of visible potatoes instead of the entire crop!
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Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
Snip the flowers off, you don't want energy going into them, then wait for the foliage to die back, probably September-ish. Then you can harvest.
Of course nothing stopping you scraping a little earth away and harvesting a couple of visible potatoes instead of the entire crop!