When it comes to growing things, some plants will spring up practically anywhere – cracks in sidewalks, between bricks in a crumbling wall. You might even get a fantastic crop the first year you plant some vegetables in your back yard. But to truly maintain a bountiful vegetable, herb and flower garden, it is wise to know exactly what is in your garden’s soil.
» Take a Test
The first step to establishing an ideal growing medium is to test your soil. Your local university extension office typically offers soil sample kits and laboratory testing to help you determine the levels of a range of nutrients and minerals commonly needed to successfully grow a bountiful garden.
Of course, you could go buy a liquid fertilizer high in nitrogen to plump up those vegetables, but you could easily overdose your plants and end up with just the opposite – no fruit at all.
» Fertilize
I am not saying you shouldn’t fertilize. When you educate yourself on what you are lacking and what you have in abundance, you can then choose a fertilizer that is specific for your garden, as well as each plant you choose to grow. Here are some common organic fertilizers and how they can supplement your soil.
» Compost
• Bone meal: high in calcium
and phosphorus
• Fish/blood meal: high in nitrogen
• Kelp/seaweed: high in zinc and iron
• Pine needles: acidic
• Oyster shells/dolomite: alkaline
• Wood ashes: high in potassium
According to the University of Maryland Extension, compost is “a dark, crumbly, earthy-smelling material that results from the decomposition of organic materials.” When added to soil, it can provide a wealth of benefits: improve soil health, enhance a garden’s appearance, replace expensive fertilizers, keep waste out of landfills and more. Note: some materials are not compostable.
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You can buy compost at most nurseries, but there are also a variety of ways to create your own compost. First, you can buy or build a turning unit that allows you to frequently rotate your compost, thereby delivering the oxygen needed to break down the materials. Second, you can create a heap or a pile, which can be open, enclosed in mesh or contained in a partial or full enclosure (Never use treated wood for building a compost bin). A third, but definitely not final, method is pit or trench composting. Just dig a hole (about a foot deep), throw your food wastes in, and cover with at least 8 inches of additional soil.
You can work compost directly into the soil or make a “tea” by steeping the compost in a bucket of water for one to three days (average five parts water to 1 part compost). There are many books on composting, and your Extension Office will have even more information.
» Manure
Manure isn’t as common as it once was for fertilizing farms and gardens, but it can be beneficial. Just know where it is coming from and what the ranchers are feeding their animals so you can be certain your garden is chemical-free. N
By S. Michal Bennett
As Featured In: Summer/Fall 2017