Capping of the soil is a major problem in the vegetable garden at sowing time. It happens when the soil particles on the surface melt together to form a hard cap or crust.

Effects of capping:

• the cap is so hard that the vegetable seedlings cannot break through it and are unable to push the shoot above ground
• the cap shrinks when it dries, and forms a crazy paving effect of hard soil lumps

Causes of capping:

• soil particles in the seed bed are too fine
• large droplets of water (heavy rain, or a coarse watering can)
• kitchen gardens with clay soils are particularly at risk from capping

Avoid capping by:

• keeping small crumbs of soil on the surface - do not overwork the seedbed. Fine soil is needed around the seed, but the rest of the soil between the vegetable rows should be made up of small crumbs

• watering with small droplets - do not water the seeds in with a bucket, or strong hose. Use a gentle spray from a rose with small holes

Renovate capped soil in the vegetable garden by:

• gently keeping the cap damp, to enable the vegetable seedlings to push through
• carefully hoeing either side of each vegetable row, to break the cap. Then the next lot of water will be able to drain into the soil, & will not sit on the cap & spread the crust over a larger area of the vegetable patch