If you have a plot of land on which you have decided to grow fruit and vegetables, one of the first things you will need to do is assess your soil. Soil types vary across the country, even across a plot!

To get the best out of the soil, it is important to identify what type you are dealing with. Soil texture may fall into the following categories: Clay, silt or sand. These are categorised by the size of the grains of the soil, and their corresponding nutrient levels.

Clay soil is made of fine particles, which clump together, and become heavy and often waterlogged. There are few air spaces and poor drainage in clay soil. It can be hard for plants to force their roots into this soil, but it can be rich in nutrients. Organic matter can be added to improve the texture.

Sandy soil has a gritty texture. This means that water drains quickly through it, leaving it dry with little water for plants. As a consequence, sandy soil can be poor in nutrients, and needs organic matter to add the nutrients required.

Silty soil falls somewhere between clay and sand, with fine particles, rich in nutrients but free draining.