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Bookmark this site to follow the successes and failures in my garden next spring. I'll be including a "journal" section with lots of pictures and information direct from my vegetable garden! |
The best way to improve the condition of the soil in your garden is to add organic material.
Grass clippings, straw, hay, certain types of leaves, even corncobs all work well.
Organic material should be tilled into the garden in the spring or the fall. Ideally,
compost from a compost pile can be added every year. I hope to include a section on
composting here soon, but haven't yet had the time. If the material you add is non-composted,
you'll need to add more nitrogen fertilizer later as the micro-organisms that break down
the materials will take nitrogen from the soil. Miracle Grow is an adequate source of
nitrogen, as well as phosphate, potash, and other nutrients.
My soil is good, and I've been able to grow a variety of vegetables just by adding organic
material each year, and using a fertilizer such as Miracle Grow. If you feel your soil
needs improvement, you may want to have it tested for nutrient levels. Your local
county Cooperative Extension office can assist you in having your soil tested. A sample
will be sent to a laboratory and be tested for any deficiences of nutrients. You will
recieve a report, as well as recommendations to correct any problems you may have.
Once you're satisfied with your soil, you're ready to till it.
You should loosen the soil approximately 18" below the surface for proper root development.
Once your soil is tilled and leveled, your ready to plant.
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Depending on the size of the inorganic material, soil can be divided into three catagories,
clay, silt, and sand. Clay has the smallest particles, silt has medium sized particles, and
sand has the largest particles. The best garden soil, refered to as loam, consists of
40% sand, 40% silt, and 20% clay.