Q. I am going to till up a new area for a vegetable garden. The soil is high clay
content "good old desert dirt". Beside the obvious generous addition
of compost, what else do you recommend to improve the soil? Washed sand,
gypsum, greensand, steer manure? All of the above, none of the above? I thank
you in advance for your answers, :)
A. If you add compost you wont really need anything more. I am sure some others have their favorites to add but the backbone is the “black gold” of the compost. The amount of compost depends on the organics in the soil to begin with. This can be judged oftentimes by soil color. A very light color usually indicates very low organics and I would add about 50/50 compost with the soil. If the soil is darker then you can add less. I would make raised beds. You can do this without sidewalls.
Viragrow Delivers!
A. If you add compost you wont really need anything more. I am sure some others have their favorites to add but the backbone is the “black gold” of the compost. The amount of compost depends on the organics in the soil to begin with. This can be judged oftentimes by soil color. A very light color usually indicates very low organics and I would add about 50/50 compost with the soil. If the soil is darker then you can add less. I would make raised beds. You can do this without sidewalls.
I attached two information sheets I wrote for Viragrow. The
planting calendar is a general calendar and don’t take it as gospel. Just a
guideline. It is for Las Vegas so adjust it accordingly. The calendar also has
some instructions on making raised beds without constructing sidewalls. The
other information sheet is on planting in compost rich soils and avoiding some
possible burning of transplants and seeds during the summer months.
Viragrow Delivers!
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