After another wait for rain, I was able to plant the remaining two cucurbits this afternoon. It still wasn’t great for digging a hole deep enough but at least I didn’t wish I had a pneumatic drill.
I had, however, actually expected to encounter wood on the way down. But no, there was none!
Last year, when I dug into the soil above the first hugel bed, I’d been surprised to see there was only wood left and I had therefore thought there would be wood left in the second, which is where I was digging today. So, I can’t believe I couldn’t see any.
Of course, I may have misjudged the exact location. Either way, I will continue to monitor…. and in the meantime, keep my fingers crossed for crops.
Growing out of chaos 
That’s sounds like a lovely situation if so. I have hugel beds which are near five years old and still have wood under them.
I’m hoping the wood is indeed doing some good but I am surprised that it has seemingly decomposed so quickly.
Perhaps the wood in your beds was more substantial?
The one in particular is cherry. Most was partially rotted when I piled it even. It’s branches too -most no more than 3 inches in diameter. There are such differences in climate and situation though, I’m not assuming they’re quite equal comparisons. Mine is likely more dry for one.
My climate is pretty dry, (average rainfall is 24 inches per annum). However, the wood in the bed I refer to in this post was considerably thinner than 3 inches.
Interesting. I will try to remember that info. Thanks.
You may have heard that Britain is cold and damp? There are parts which amply fit that description, for sure – the West of England, for example, does get substantially more rainfall than where I am in the East. Anyway, glad you found the information of interest 😊.
I had that image in mind, yes. Thanks for setting me straight.
Well, it’s an understandable misconception….
Do you make your hugelbeds raised Helen, or are they more like woody bean trenches? I assume the latter since you’ve apparently lost one!
Yes, the latter – I expect the one(s) with more and thicker wood to take longer to decompose 😊.
That’s fascinating, Helen. I wonder if you’ll ever resolve the mystery.
I’m going to investigate in the trench once all the summer crops have finished. I am trying to be no-dig but if the wood has gone, I would like to make a new bed….. with the number of mushrooms which appeared on this bed, though, I’m not surprised that the first lot of wood has decomposed so quickly (if indeed it really has).