Hi guys,
I posted earlier about my garden, which went in way too late this spring.

anyways, I was wondering, how can I really blast the soil and build it up for
next season?

I have an endless supply of cattle bedding and horse bedding, some good
machines, some other stuff (aged wood chips, grass clippings).

at the end of my dismal growing season (too much rain, not enough sun), should
I just spread as much "stuff" on there as possible, till it under, and let it
mellow out for the winter? I was thinking that even if the material is too
"hot" it would certainly cool off after a couple of months in the ground.

I know I'm being impatient, but would like to really crank my soil up for next
spring.
thanks
john

(JohnDKestell) wrote:

Hi guys,
I posted earlier about my garden, which went in way too late this spring.

anyways, I was wondering, how can I really blast the soil and build it up for
next season?

I have an endless supply of cattle bedding and horse bedding, some good
machines, some other stuff (aged wood chips, grass clippings).

at the end of my dismal growing season (too much rain, not enough sun), should
I just spread as much "stuff" on there as possible, till it under, and let it
mellow out for the winter? I was thinking that even if the material is too
"hot" it would certainly cool off after a couple of months in the ground.

I know I'm being impatient, but would like to really crank my soil up for next
spring.
thanks
john


Probably the first thing to do is decide where you are going to plant
you garden. Then get the soil tested. Next figure what you want to
plant and what kind of soil and exposure it wants. Determine what you
need to do to get the soil to the proper condition. Check your
library for some gardening books.

--
Susan N.

There are 10 types of people in the world. Those who understand binary and those who do not.

the soil pH is great (just a little alkaline), the structure isn't too bad, the
drainage isn't great but not terrible either. I think maybe I just need to
build up the structure for next year. and get an earilier start! just
thinking about next spring, and some fall garden preparation for it.

do I just "bomb" it with all I have? Will it cool off over the winter? build
up some soil? I only ask because my last garden was inherited from the
previous owner--and it had been a cattle pasture for maybe 100 years, so the
soil was excellent to begin with. Black, crumbly earth. My new garden is a
little sandy, and needs to get on some steroids. It's come to my attention
that my garden is a filled in inground swimming pool. how do I cheat time and
get some dark black soil of my own?

thanks
john

On 19 Jun 2003 14:15:58 GMT, (JohnDKestell)
wrote:

anyways, I was wondering, how can I really blast the soil and build it up for
next season?

Green manure...crimson clover, or (if you're a brave soul) crown vetch
Beans are also a good crop to attempt.

I have an endless supply of cattle bedding and horse bedding, some good
machines, some other stuff (aged wood chips, grass clippings).

The more the merrier, throw it everywhere, mix it in if you can.

at the end of my dismal growing season (too much rain, not enough sun), should
I just spread as much "stuff" on there as possible, till it under, and let it
mellow out for the winter? I was thinking that even if the material is too
"hot" it would certainly cool off after a couple of months in the ground.

It's been very nasty these past two months. I should've grown LOWbush
cranberries instead of HIGHbush ;P Luckily the tomatoes love the
rain, hopefully some will come when they are finally setting fruit.

Dan

If it was filled with sand, it takes an awful lot of good stuff to make
it like soil. Can you remove the sand down a few feet and replace it
with your good soil?

Or- sounds like you might choose another loction

PH is only part of the picture. If you are going to dedicate a season to
do soil improvement, get a soil test to see what the soil needs for NPK. A
test will also give you a confirmation on the PH you believe you have. Then
you will know what organics to add to boost as needed.

Structure can be built with organics such as leaves, compost or manure, etc.
They are all great in their own way. Add them all if you like. Leaves can
change pH when used heavily. There are other amendments as well. Seaweed
has a lot of minerals. Greensand, bone meal, etc - the list gets pretty
long.

Once you do the above amendments, consider a basic cover crop such as
buckwheat to keep the weeds down. This can be tilled under later and add
even more structure.

Cya! Wacko!


"JohnDKestell" wrote in message
...
the soil pH is great (just a little alkaline), the structure isn't too
bad, the
drainage isn't great but not terrible either. I think maybe I just need
to
build up the structure for next year. and get an earilier start! just
thinking about next spring, and some fall garden preparation for it.

do I just "bomb" it with all I have? Will it cool off over the winter?
build
up some soil? I only ask because my last garden was inherited from the
previous owner--and it had been a cattle pasture for maybe 100 years, so
the
soil was excellent to begin with. Black, crumbly earth. My new garden is
a
little sandy, and needs to get on some steroids. It's come to my
attention
that my garden is a filled in inground swimming pool. how do I cheat time
and
get some dark black soil of my own?

thanks
john

(JohnDKestell) wrote in message ...
the soil pH is great (just a little alkaline), the structure isn't too bad, the
drainage isn't great but not terrible either. I think maybe I just need to
build up the structure for next year. and get an earilier start! just
thinking about next spring, and some fall garden preparation for it.

do I just "bomb" it with all I have?

Yes. If you lay down one foot of organic material, you will be in good
shape for a long time (it may be a good time to make beds, so they can
contain that much material). Next year you may have to plant through
the mulch, but it is something easily done. I prefer not to mix layers
as manure is best placed at the bottom and leaves or wood chips (which
have no weed seeds) at the top.

Will it cool off over the winter?

of course. It will cool off in one month.

build
up some soil? I only ask because my last garden was inherited from the
previous owner--and it had been a cattle pasture for maybe 100 years, so the
soil was excellent to begin with. Black, crumbly earth. My new garden is a
little sandy, and needs to get on some steroids.

If it is sandy, you probably do not need to till, just lay on top and
make sure there are a few earthworms to start the banquet. They will
turn the soil for you as they move up and down by three feet over a
season (at least that is what they do in Michigan).

It's come to my attention
that my garden is a filled in inground swimming pool. how do I cheat time and
get some dark black soil of my own?

If it is fill, it is probably poor soil. You will have black soil next
year just by laying things on top and let it compost.


thanks
john

On 19 Jun 2003 14:15:58 GMT, (JohnDKestell)
wrote:

Hi guys,
I posted earlier about my garden, which went in way too late this spring.

anyways, I was wondering, how can I really blast the soil and build it up for
next season?

I have an endless supply of cattle bedding and horse bedding, some good
machines, some other stuff (aged wood chips, grass clippings).

at the end of my dismal growing season (too much rain, not enough sun), should
I just spread as much "stuff" on there as possible, till it under, and let it
mellow out for the winter? I was thinking that even if the material is too
"hot" it would certainly cool off after a couple of months in the ground.

I know I'm being impatient, but would like to really crank my soil up for next
spring.
thanks
john


My soil and the climate where I live (N.E. Victoria, Australia) are
lots different from yours, but what I would do is to build ginormous
compost heaps, break down the material in a compost heap, then dig it
in, to a depth of two spits
Barrie