Spring Time Is Around The Corner...

With Spring Time just around the corner, it got me thinking about my garden. Every year, I plant various fruits and veggies. And every year I grow absolutely, Nothing! If it does produce any fruit or veggies, they aren't worth eating. 

So, I'm on a mission this year to find out why. 

Join me as we try to discover...

What Type Of Soil Do You Have? 

"A good garden is as good as its soil!" 

Having the proper soil is essential to having a healthy garden. You can't have one without the other! That being said, what is good soil? 

There are three main soil types clay, sandy, and loamy. However, depending on your climate and vegetation, as well as the underlying rock that is present. Loam soil tends to be the best as it is a mixture of clay, sand, and silt. This soil is very fertile compared to most other soils. 

How do I know my soil type? 

To determine what type of soil you have to work with, I suggest doing an easy test. This can be done with a jar that has a lid, and a sample of your soil. 

For this test you'll need:

1. Large Jar- I prefer to use an old pickle jar that has been thoroughly cleaned. 
2. A sample of your soil.
3. Water

First, you'll need to fill your jar about halfway up with soil. Go to the area of your yard you plan on using to start the garden. 

Next, add just enough water to almost fill the jar. Leave some room for air towards the top, about 1". 

Last, shake it like crazy! Then, leave it in a safe place to sit overnight. The next morning your soil should be broken down into three sections. Sand, silt, and clay. 

Thank you! Gardners Edge for this wonderful infographic!! 

Once you have determined what kind of soil you have, you can start figuring out what needs to be added to create a more healthy soil so your plants can thrive! 

What can you add to make your soil better? 

Now you have an idea of what type of soil you have, but is that what you need to grow your garden? In most cases, probably not! To increase the nutrient levels in the soil you can add a number of different organic materials, most of the time you have them on hand already. 

 

Worms are wonderful for the garden! They create air pockets and til the dirt. Their poop also helps add nutrients, gross I know! 

Eggshells-  Add a building material all plants need to grow and produce. Without it, they don't grow as fast and in some cases, for Tomatoes or Squash, they have developed blossom rot. 

Coffee Ground- Coffee ground that has not been used will increase the PH level in your soil. Used ones will not. So check your PH levels before adding fresh coffee grounds. Used coffee grounds can be added to the soil mixture.

Banana Peels- Contain nutrients that are essential for a healthy garden. As the banana peels decompose they add nitrogen, phosphorus, magnesium, and potassium to the soil.  

Livestock Manures- Manure are so good for your soil. I know that sounds pretty gross when you think about it. My garden is grown in poop? Yes! The nutrients in the manure are readily available for plants to start using right away.  

Okay, my soil is ready! Now what? 

"We Plant!!" 

You probably don't live in Arizona like I do. Which we fondly call "the third ring of hell!" That being said, knowing what to plant and when helps in the success of your garden. 

I know from looking at the map from the USDA that we are zones 7, 8, and 9. 

Every plant whether it be a fruit, herb or veggie has an ideal time for planting. They are very easy to locate online with just a simple search.

From the chart above for zone 7, I can see that I should have started planting about 2 days ago. Always a late bloomer! 

They let you know when you should start your seeds indoors, how much growing time is expected, and when to transfer your new plant outdoors. 

This helps so much! I have planted late in the season and it took forever for the plant to even grow. Nothing of real significance produced and was just a huge waste of time, money, water, and energy. 

So to wrap things up:

1. Know your soil type

2. Determine health of the soil. 

How does it grow stuff? Fast or slow? If slow, it needs more nutrients. 

3. Add nutrients. 

4. Plant each plant according to your zone, soil type, and climate. 

Wall-la! You should have a healthy thriving garden!