Garden Basics Part 2

Healthy Soil…Healthy Plants

The key to successful gardening is “healthy soil.”  This basic principle of organic gardening applies to all plants.  Quite simply, when you feed the soil the proper nutrients, you let the soil feed the plants.  So how do you “feed” the soil?  First, you need to understand some elementary information about your soil and why it is so important, and then you can take steps to improve it.

To start, you should determine the soil texture by moistening the soil and rubbing it between your thumb and fingers to determine it’s “feel.”  Sands are gritty and will barely hold together; clay can be squeezed into a firm shape; and silt will act in a way to allow particles to cling together.  Sandy soils tend to dry out quickly because they contain high amounts of soil air.  Oppositely, clay soils have a tendency to pack together, shutting out air and water.  The best garden soil, “loam,” has moderate amounts of sand, silt and clay.  Generally, soil in our area tends to be clayey.  This condition can be improved by adding a soil conditioner  Gypsum or Perm till (slate particles). For sandy soils, humus should be added to help retain moisture and nutrients.

Next, you must evaluate the soil structure.  Soil structure is affected by soil pH, the amount of humus and the combination of minerals in the soil.  Ideal soils allow soil particles to clump together with air spaces between them for water drainage as well as oxygen consumption and carbon dioxide release from plant roots.  The best way to improve soil structure is to add high amounts of organic matter like humus, dehydrated manure, composted manure, mushroom compost, alfalfa meal, peat moss, or worm castings.

You will also need to take a soil sample, to measure the pH and amounts of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium in the soil as well as other nutrients. This will help determine exactly what the soil needs.  Our staff will help you read the results and determine what to add to your soil and how much.  Generally, a pH of 6.0 to 7.0 is acceptable.  If your pH is lower than this, your soil is too acidic and requires lime to be added.  If your soil is low in organic matter, it will often have a high pH level. All plants require a proper balance of nutrients – nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K).  Soils lacking any one of these elements will not produce healthy plants.  Refer to the Organic Fertilizer Chart for suggested amendments.

When dealing with poor or improperly balanced soils, obtaining “healthy” soil may take two to five years to acquire.  The best thing you can do to supplement your soil program is to use various organic fertilizers to meet your plants’ needs and regularly add organic matter.  This will continue to help the soil structure as well as create biological activity that is also a vital part to developing productive soil.

Key Words

Soil Texture – The proportional amount of sand, silt and clay in the soil.

Soil Structure - The arrangement of soil particles in the soil.

Soil pH - The measurement of acidity or alkalinity of the soil.

Organic Matter - Various forms of living and dead plant and animal matter.

Organic Fertilizers

Amendment                        Benefit                        Average N-P-K Ratio                        Average Application Rate Per 1,000 Sq. Ft. (based on present soil fertility)

Alfalfa Meal                        Organic Matter            5-1-2                        Low:  50 lb.             Adq:  25 lb.

Blood Meal                        Nitrogen                        12-0-0                        Low:  30 lb.            Adq:  10 lb.

Bonemeal                        Phosphate                        4-12-0                        Low:  30 lb.            Adq:  10 lb.

Cottonseed Meal            Nitrogen                        6-2-1                        Low:  35 lb.            Adq:  10 lb.

Epsom Salts                        Balancer, Magnesium            10% Magnesium,  13% Sulfur            Low:  5 lb.            Adq:  1 lb.

Fish Emulsion                        Nitrogen                        4-1-1, 5% Sulfur            Low:  2 oz.            Adq:  1 oz.

Greensand                        Potash                                    7% Potash, 32 Trace Minerals            Low:  100 lb.                        Adq:  25 lb.

Gypsum                        Balancer, Calcium            22% Calcium, 17% Sulfur            Low:  40 lb.            Adq:  5 lb.

Kelp Meal                        Potash, Trace Minerals            1-0.5-2.5            Low:  20 lb.            Adq:  5 lb.

Limestone                        Balancer, Calcium, Magnesium            51% Calcium Carbonate, 40% Magnesium Carbonate            Low:  100 lb.            Adq:  25 lb.

Mushroom Compost            Organic Matter            Variable            Low:  350 lb.            Adq:  50 lb.

Peat Moss                        Organic Matter            pH Range 3.0 -4.5            As Needed

Rock Phosphate            Phosphate                        0-3-0, 32% Phosphate, 32% Calcium                        Low:  60 lb.            Adq:  10 lb.

Worm Castings            Organic Matter            0.5-0.5-0.3            Low:  250 lb.            Adq:  50 lb.