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in Gardening Tips, Soil
Improving Vegetable Garden Soil pH
If a test of your vegetable garden soil shows that is too acidic or too alkaline, you can improve the pH. The right soil pH is important for vegetable crop growth and yield. Most vegetables do best in neutral or slightly acid soil. Gardeners often called acid soil “sour” and alkaline soil “sweet.” Acid or […] More
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in Soil
Soil pH and Vegetable Crop Nutrition
Vegetable crops and other plants get most of the nutrients they need from the soil; the nutrients are dissolved in soil moisture and taken up by roots (other nutrients come from the air and are taken in by plant leaves). A plant root’s ability to absorb mineral nutrients is affected by the chemical balance of […] More
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in Gardening Tips, Soil
Tilling, Digging, and Forking the Vegetable Garden
Once you have decided on a site for your vegetable garden and know what kind of soil you are working with and what amendments can make it better, it will be time to work the soil, to prepare for planting. Digging and tilling is not necessary in fertile well-structured soils. Good soils can be lightly […] More
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in Gardening Tips, Soil
No Dig, Light Dig Vegetable Garden Preparation
There is an alternative to turning the soil with a tiller or spade. The no-dig or light-dig garden preparation method calls for spreading soil amendments across planting beds and allowing rain, wind, and soil organisms to naturally carry the amendments and their nutrients down into the soil. Using the no-dig method, an inch or two […] More
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in Gardening Tips, Soil
Making Compost for Your Vegetable Garden
Compost is one of the best soil additives for a vegetable garden. It is also one of the least expensive. Composting turns garden and kitchen waste materials into a rich, organic amendment. The main components of compost are lawn clippings, vegetable refuse, straw, leaves, and animal manure. When making compost, it is often necessary to […] More
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in Gardening Tips, Soil
Earthworms and Soil Microorganisms in the Vegetable Garden
The lives of soil microorganisms and earthworms are essential to the health of vegetable garden soil. Microorganisms and worms are important to the decay cycle—nature’s way of recycling dead and dying organic material. Through the decay cycle, plants and animals of all sizes die, decompose, and return to the soil becoming essential nutrients needed to […] More
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in Gardening Tips, Soil
Improving Garden Soil with Organic Amendments
You can improve your vegetable garden soil with organic amendments. Organic materials such as aged compost will add nutrients to the soil. Organic matter will also help the soil retain moisture as well as help it to be well-drained. You can add amend the soil with organic matter any time of the year. Good times […] More
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in Gardening Tips, Soil
Key Ingredients of Garden Soil
What makes good garden soil? Here are some key ingredients: Air and water in the soil Half the volume of soil is air and water which fill the spaces or pores between crumbs of soil. Plant roots and soil microorganisms breathe in oxygen from the soil air. Plant roots absorb minerals dissolved in soil water. […] More
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Your Vegetable Garden Soil
Garden wisdom: “Don’t try to grow a 5 dollar plant in a 50 cent hole. For the best results, grow a 50 cent plant in a 5 dollar hole.” Growing vegetables starts with the soil. Soil is a mix of fine rock particles, water, air, organic matter, microorganisms, and other animals including worms. Soil is […] More
Steve Albert