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
- Worm Count Test To Determine Organic Matter Levels
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
- Nitrogen
- 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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Author, blogger, podcaster, homesteading and permaculture enthusiast. I have a passion for sharing what I learn and helping others on their journey. If you're looking for me, you'll usually find me in the garden.
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An aspiring permaculturist and urban homesteader who loves to teach and inspire others to grow where they are planted.
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