I have 24" boxes (2ft tall, 4 ft wide, 20ft long) that I placed over
trenches that had been backfilled with baled hay. As the hay decomposes,
the soil above subsides and remains loose. It also sinks below the rim of
the box and I replace its volume with compost. I went out a couple days ago
to pull some mulch off my garlic and nearly everywhere I looked, there were
earthworms already

I planted my garlic by putting a layer of compost on top of the soil,
embedding the garlic bulbs in that and then covering with a thick layer of
compost and a final layer of shredded tree leaves. I followed much the same
technique with some lame-looking onion bulbs that didn't get much size last
summer. They were too small to fool with in the kitchen so I decided to see
if they would grow to a decent size if given another chance. Maybe they
will, maybe they won't. Nothing lost either way.

I don't know that this will help you out, but perhaps it might give you some
ideas for future beds.

Bill
^^^^ signed

Marcia Marvin wrote:

Spring greetings!

I am looking for suggestions about how to amend the soil in raised bed
boxes. These are tall ones - 15 inches high - and I've been using them
for
four years. What I essentially have is huge, unmovable window boxes with
ten cubic yards of soil in them. Things have grown less and less
vigorously over the four years, although anything that stays in the ground
long enough does great once it reaches the native soil below (longest
parsnips you've ever seen!).

I use initial fertilizer at planting/sowing time, and feed throughout the
season, but what's the most effective thing to do now for the coming
season?

I'm in Portland, Oregon - wet winters and cool springs. Last average
frost date is May 10, but we've hardly had a frost this year.

Many thanks for any and all suggestions.

Marcia


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