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On This Episode of The Modern Homesteading Podcast, Harold and Rachel Discuss Getting Ready For Spring Planting By Testing, Amending, and Preparing Your Garden Soil.

The Modern Homesteading Podcast, Episode 190 – February 21, 2023

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Testing, Amending, and Preparing Your Garden Soil For Spring Planting

We Discuss:

Why?

• Preparation for planting
• Improved soil health
• Increased plant health and growth
• Produce with higher nutrient density
• Better water retention
• Our health, the animals we feed from it

Understanding the Soil Structure

• Soil composition
• pH levels
• Nutrient levels
• Importance of soil structure
• How To Determine The Health Of Your Garden Soil

How to Determine the Health of Your Soil

• Soil Tests For Nutrient Density and pH
  • Grow Abundant Gardens
  • Logan Labs
  • Plant pH Preference List
  • Reading soil test results
  • Understanding soil nutrient levels
  • Taking action based on soil test results
• Soil Texture Test
  • Jar Test – https://hgic.clemson.edu/factsheet/soil-texture-analysis-the-jar-test/ 
• Worm Count Test To Determine Organic Matter Levels
  • https://soils.vidacycle.com/soil-tests/1-1-earthworms/
  • https://ahdb.org.uk/knowledge-library/soil-macrofauna-earthworms

Methods for Amending Soil

• Adding Organic Matter
  • Compost – https://redemptionpermaculture.com/how-much-compost-do-i-need-for-my-garden/ 
  • Wood Chips
  • Leaf Mold- Also has a lot of nutrition mined from far below in leaf litter
  • Biochar
  • Grasses, straw, cover crops, corn cobs, etc..
• Incorporating Amendments Based On Soil Tests
  • Nitrogen
    • Animal Manure
    • Green Manure
    • Compost Tea
    • Blood Meal
    • Feather Meal
    • Alfalfa 
  • Phosphorus
    • Bone Meal
    • Bat Guano, fish meal (much lower than bone meal)
    • Apparently, Willow leaves
  • Potassium
    • Greensand
    • Wood Ashes – 50% – don’t exceed 20 lbs./1,000 sq. ft. per year
    • Rock Dust
  • Calcium
    • Gypsum – 23% – up to ½ lb. per sq. ft
    • Wood Ashes – 25% – don’t exceed 20 lbs./1,000 sq. ft. per year
    • Crushed Oyster Shells
  • Magnesium
    • Epsom Salt – 10%
    • Greensand
  • Sulfur
    • Epsom Salt – 13%
    • Gypsum – 18% – up to ½ lb. per sq. ft
  • Low pH
    • Lime
    • Sphagnum Peat
  • High pH
    • Vinegar
    • Sulfur – Jobe’s Organics Soil Additive, Soil Acidifier
• Considerations for Specific Plants Soil type, ph, water, sun, shade, nutrients
• Adding fish, leaves or all sorts (comfrey), ramial chips, as much diversity as possible to your soil

Other Links:

• Essential Nutrients for Plant Growth: Nutrient Functions and Deficiency Symptoms
• Plant Nutrients in the Soil | 17 Growth Elements | – AGRI TUTORIALS
• September 2016 e-Newsletter on 2 Key Nutritional Deficiencies
• Selenium in Georgia Soils and Forages: Importance in the Livestock Industry | UGA Cooperative Extension
• Storey Guide to Improving your Soil: https://amzn.to/3S2ybqr
• Storey Guide to Fertilizers for Free: https://amzn.to/40ON6IN
• The Regenerative Growers Guide to Garden Amendments: https://amzn.to/3jTTYnG
• Simple Soil Test: https://amzn.to/3IhtuG2
• Grow Your Soil! by Diane Miessler: https://amzn.to/3SiVRH9
• The Living Soil Handbook by Jesse Frost: https://amzn.to/3XTV9S8
• The Intelligent Gardener by Steve Solomon: https://amzn.to/3XN4gUD

This Week’s Recommended Books

• Harold’s Pick – Edible Forest Gardens (2 volume set) – https://amzn.to/3yix5hR 
• Rachel’s Pick –  Rodale’s Ultimate Encyclopedia of Organic Gardening-https://amzn.to/3k0nEPQ

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