4 Crops That Grow Well in Clay Soil

Hunker may earn compensation through affiliate links in this story. Learn more about our affiliate and product review process here.
Image Credit: Liliya Filakhtova/iStock/GettyImages

Clay soil poses several challenges for growing vegetables: It has a tendency to get waterlogged in wet weather, and it is slow to warm in spring. Also, its fine texture causes clay soil to compact easily when overworked, and it gets hard when allowed to dry out. Not many crops grow well in those difficult conditions, but you can grow a garden successfully in clay soil by picking the right crops.

Advertisement

Tip

You can loosen clay soil by mixing a layer of bulky organic matter with it to a depth of 6 to 8 inches six weeks before planting crops in spring or during the fall prior to spring planting. Use leaf mold, shredded leaves, composted wood chips, tree bark, or decomposed straw. Getting the bulky amendment into the soil early gives it time to break down before the site is planted.

Video of the Day

1. Bean Varieties

Image Credit: Maksims Grigorjevs/iStock/GettyImages

Bean plants (​Phaseolus vulgaris​) aren't picky when it comes to their growing conditions and thrive in clay soil, especially when it was amended with aged compost. The key to growing various kinds of bean plants in clay soil successfully is temperature. Beans need warm soil. Because clay warms more slowly than loam or sand, wait until the soil temperature warms to 60 degrees Fahrenheit before sowing bean seeds.

Advertisement

Video of the Day

Tip

Use a soil thermometer to get an accurate soil temperature reading. Insert the thermometer 4 inches deep in the soil, and take a reading. Do that task morning and evening in the same spot for two to three days to obtain an accurate average temperature.

2. Carrots and Beets

Image Credit: More86/iStock/GettyImages

Carrot plants (​Daucus carota​ var. ​sativus​) growing in clay soil aren't likely to produce long, plump tubers, but you'll probably find success with varieties that produce short tubers. Carrot tubers that normally grow long get stunted in the hard, difficult-to-penetrate clay soil. Short tubers, however, can grow well. Look for 'Parmex,' 'Carson,' 'Thumberline' and 'Supreme Chantenay Red Cored.'

Advertisement

Beets (​Beta vulgaris​ subsp. ​vulgaris​) grow in clay soil, but, like most crops, grow best in a loose loam. These plants produce short, round root vegetables that crack in dry soil. Keep beet plants' soil moist but not wet by watering when the top 1 to 2 inches of soil feels dry to the touch.

Warning

Don't dig into or turn clay soil when it is wet. Doing so compacts its particles and causes further problems. If the soil sticks to your shovel, then wait a few weeks for some of the soil's moisture to dry.

3. Swiss Chard

Image Credit: Martin Hambleton/iStock/GettyImages

Grow Swiss chard (​Beta vulgaris​ subsp. ​cicla​) in clay soil. This leafy beet relative grows in the cool fall and spring seasons in most U.S. locations and during winter in mild, frost-free regions.

Advertisement

Wait until the soil warms to at least 40 degrees Fahrenheit before planting Swiss chard.

Tip

Mix 2 to 3 inches of aged manure or compost into the top 6 to 8 inches of the clay soil before planting beans, carrots or Swiss chard to help these vegetables thrive in the difficult conditions posed by the soil.

4. Rice Varieties

Image Credit: B.S.P.I./Corbis Documentary/GettyImages

Rice (​Oryza sativa​) is another crop that thrives in clay soil, growing best in constant moisture and heavy soil. Rice, however, needs a long, warm growing season. If your area's growing season typically includes three to six months of temperatures that average higher than 70 degrees Fahrenheit, and you have clay soil that stays wet most of the year, then rice varieties are options for you to grow. Plant rice from seed when the soil warms to 75 F in spring or early summer.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Report an Issue

screenshot of the current page

Screenshot loading...