I would add sand — except that it’s well known to compact the heavy clay soil around here and render it like mud for brickmaking. Instead we add compost, wood ash, and straw and leaves for mulch, and encourage the presence of earthworms to aerate the soil for us as much as possible.

I remember trying to grow carrots years ago and, yes, they were dreadfully mutated when I pulled them up. If only I had read that they like sandy soil so they don’t have to push too hard to break through it. I read that a couple of handfuls of sand in every square foot of soil is a good ratio. When I was a child, I remember the old chap who lived a few doors down from us grew beautifully shaped carrots in a bucket of very sandy soil.
Serena´s last blog ..Thai Temple Tour

I am blessed to have had Granddaddy in my life, ready to teach me by example and to answer my questions — even if I don’t always get the kind of answers I want.