Post by SPLASH on Apr 24, 2012 15:26:04 GMT -5
Last year my corn grew good, but cantaloupes, watermelons, and squash were pathetic in the raised garden they grew great in the year before. The more and more I read and research, I figured I had a nutrient deficiency.
Just over 3 weeks ago, I did a soil test and the results were not good. My Nitrogen (N) was almost non existent. Plants need nitrogen to establish good roots. Melons etc (anything from the curcubit family) need nitrogen early in growth not only for roots, but also to form thick and healthy vines. My Phosphorus (P) level wasn't as bad as the (N) but still needed to be higher. Anything from the curcubit family will need (P) for blossom production and later on the development of large healthy fruits. Corn on the other hand just needs (N). My Potash (K) level was decent. Potatoes and tomatoes like a higher level of (K).
This raised bed has been there for atleast 16 years and who knows how much longer with no soil ammendments made. After you dig down about 4 inches, it's a hard clay which is not good for gardening. I didn't add any chemical fertilizer last year and will not again this year, I'm trying to go the organic method.
After the results of the test, I went to the Home Depot, Meijer and overpriced Bordines to look into my options and decide what I was going to do to make this soil better for this years' planting. I ended up with 240 pounds of composted manure and a 3 cubic ft bale of peat moss. I ran the tiller through the soil as deep as it will go once, then I got the shovel out and dug down a few inches into that clay and turned it over. I spread the peat all over the bed (peat will break up that clay and increase aeration to roots) and spread the manure. I then ran the tiller over the bed twice, first shallow and then deep. I now have decently workable soil to 6 inches down. I then planted 64 Walla Walla onion starts around the outside of the bed. I wanted to grow onions and I figured planting them along the edges was a good idea so I have the whole bed for other plants and also I have read that onions are a natural way to deter insects from entering the bed.
Today I retested the soil. My (N) has moved up quite a bit and I was very happy to see that. My (P) increased some, but later on in the season I will be spreading bone meal around plants to increase this. My (K) skyrocketed. I will have to research this some, maybe the peat helped this?
A little effort really pays off! I'm now more excited to plant this bed now that I know the soil is getting better.
As for my Parents' garden, it gets that crap they call Miracle Gro
and getting through the heads of my folks that the crap kills micro organisms that improve the soil is impossible. I tested that gardens' soil and it has a good level of (K) so that's good for the potatoes we will be planting out there, but nearly no (N) or (P). Their garden gets all of it's (N) from miracle gro 
.
Thought I had the old man inspired to go get some manure and till it in, but he's now talking about using some chemical fertilizer.
Now is the time to get tilling if you haven't already. Test that soil and make your ammendments now so it can sit a month before planting, or 3 or 4 months from now wonder why you have tiny or no tomatoes. 
;D
Just over 3 weeks ago, I did a soil test and the results were not good. My Nitrogen (N) was almost non existent. Plants need nitrogen to establish good roots. Melons etc (anything from the curcubit family) need nitrogen early in growth not only for roots, but also to form thick and healthy vines. My Phosphorus (P) level wasn't as bad as the (N) but still needed to be higher. Anything from the curcubit family will need (P) for blossom production and later on the development of large healthy fruits. Corn on the other hand just needs (N). My Potash (K) level was decent. Potatoes and tomatoes like a higher level of (K).
This raised bed has been there for atleast 16 years and who knows how much longer with no soil ammendments made. After you dig down about 4 inches, it's a hard clay which is not good for gardening. I didn't add any chemical fertilizer last year and will not again this year, I'm trying to go the organic method.
After the results of the test, I went to the Home Depot, Meijer and overpriced Bordines to look into my options and decide what I was going to do to make this soil better for this years' planting. I ended up with 240 pounds of composted manure and a 3 cubic ft bale of peat moss. I ran the tiller through the soil as deep as it will go once, then I got the shovel out and dug down a few inches into that clay and turned it over. I spread the peat all over the bed (peat will break up that clay and increase aeration to roots) and spread the manure. I then ran the tiller over the bed twice, first shallow and then deep. I now have decently workable soil to 6 inches down. I then planted 64 Walla Walla onion starts around the outside of the bed. I wanted to grow onions and I figured planting them along the edges was a good idea so I have the whole bed for other plants and also I have read that onions are a natural way to deter insects from entering the bed.
Today I retested the soil. My (N) has moved up quite a bit and I was very happy to see that. My (P) increased some, but later on in the season I will be spreading bone meal around plants to increase this. My (K) skyrocketed. I will have to research this some, maybe the peat helped this?
A little effort really pays off! I'm now more excited to plant this bed now that I know the soil is getting better.
As for my Parents' garden, it gets that crap they call Miracle Gro
and getting through the heads of my folks that the crap kills micro organisms that improve the soil is impossible. I tested that gardens' soil and it has a good level of (K) so that's good for the potatoes we will be planting out there, but nearly no (N) or (P). Their garden gets all of it's (N) from miracle gro 
. Thought I had the old man inspired to go get some manure and till it in, but he's now talking about using some chemical fertilizer.
Now is the time to get tilling if you haven't already. Test that soil and make your ammendments now so it can sit a month before planting, or 3 or 4 months from now wonder why you have tiny or no tomatoes. 
;D
