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How to Assess and Improve Soil For Vegetable Garden
On your journey to providing the best soil for vegetable garden, start with soil you have and assess its quality by walking around in it. See what it does to the bottom of your boots to get an idea of how thick and clay-like or porous and sandy it is. Then consider getting a chemical analysis of your soil to confirm and add to your ‘boot analysis’.
Topsoil
This is the most valuable and fertile part of your soil. It has been established over centuries from plant and animal decay. The most incredible nutrients available to plants are manufactured chemically and found in the topsoil. Treat this carefully and respectfully. If your vegetable garden is to be established soon after your home has been built, consider moving your topsoil from the garden area away from the construction site and returning it later. Never turn your garden soil to the depth of the subsoil and destroy the impact of the topsoil.
Clay Soil
This is difficult soil for vegetable garden. It is generally sticky and heavy when wet but it is filled with nutrients and can be made more workable by adding a little more well rotted manure and other organic material every season.
Sandy Soil
Easier to work with, its fertility washes away every time it rains. It needs to be fertilized heavily and regularly.
Soil pH
Test the pH of your garden soil annually just after harvesting your main crops. If your soil is not acidic enough, use peat or fresh animal manure on a regular basis. If it is too acidic add lime. Too little potassium can be rectified by using rock potash or other organic fertilizers.
The best organic-based soil for vegetable garden has a coarse, open texture that will hold some shape when you test it by forming a ball in your hand. Developing this kind of soil is nearly always the result of a gardener’s commitment, working from the base s/he inherits in the back garden, utilizing the good in this and then gradually and very persistently improving it until it reaches a healthy organic condition that will support the best yield of great tasting vegetables.
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