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Planned Crop Growth - Coal below the soil

rdjenkins91rdjenkins91 Posts: 2
in Problem solving
Hi all!

I've been looking towards creating a bed to grow some basic crops (carrots, onions, potatoes). We had a little bit of soil next to an old concrete shed base that we recently removed yesterday.





Upon removal of the concrete, it seems that what used to be there before was an old coal shed (and waaayy too many stones!). It seems throughout the patch, there seems to be quite a bit of little coal lumps scattered throughout the soil.

Because I'm in South Wales, I'm 90% sure the coal would be "anthracite", which supposedly contains little impurities, although I'm sure it has been sitting there for 20 years minimum.





Now my plan is to dig out as much as the bed as possible and replace it with better soil, but I think there's going to be small lumps of coal scattered throughout the soil, mostly at the bottom - but I'm aiming to get rid as much as possible!

So my main questions are:

• Is the coal in the soil posing any risk if veg was grown in it?
• If not, should I still dig as much as I can out and replace with better soil?

If anyone has advice, it would be deeply appreciated.

Thanks for time!

Posts

  • bédébédé Posts: 3,095
    edited April 2023
    Not South Wales, but I planted on a site used as a coal tip by a previous owner.  I remove the lumps as I came across them.  Absolutley no problems.

    On a scale:  Trees >> Wood. >>  Peat >> Brown Coal >> Coal >> Anthracite, you are at the most inert end .

    If you are in S Wales, ask the locals.
     location: Surrey Hills, England, ex-woodland acidic sand.
    "Have nothing in your garden that you don't know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful."
  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    Go for it.

    I have a friend in Belgium whose garden ins near Charleroi, an old coal mining town.  her entire garden is on coal shale but is, nevertheless, home to a wide range of beautiful and healthy plants from ornamentals to edibles.  She does generate a lot of home-made compost and gets well-roted manure when she can so her soil is improved annually with organic matter. 

    If you can do that in your new bed it should be fine for growing whatever you fancy, as long as you follow the usual rules and take into account the eventual soil type, aspect and drainage when selecting plants to grow. 
    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
    Plato
  • TopbirdTopbird Posts: 8,355
    You could also consider breaking up the worst of it and then using posts and pressure treated planks to make a low raised bed over the top, filled with the mix of your choice. Carrots particularly don't like stony and / or heavy soil.
    Heaven is ... sitting in the garden with a G&T and a cat while watching the sun go down
  • rdjenkins91rdjenkins91 Posts: 2
    Hi all,

    Thank you all so much for replying with these encouraging responses. Feeling much better about it now, and more confident.

    I was initially expecting to have to dig out the majority of the tiny coal pieces. I was under the impression that the crops may have absorbed the properties of the coal and then may have had some toxicity inside for when it comes to eating.

    But thanks again all, much appreciated!
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