Gardening Series: Dig in the Dirt! Soil Preparation: How Do You Prepare Garden Soil for Planting? P3
- Shidonna Raven
- 17 hours ago
- 3 min read
Updated: 2 hours ago
March 14, 2025
Source: Almanac
Photo Source: Unsplash,
• 4:06
Shidonna Raven Garden & Cook - Garden Club
Test Your Soil
To better discern your soil type, you can have it tested. Many universities have affiliated Cooperative Extension services, which will often test your garden soil for a small fee.
Or you can also conduct a DIY jar test to determine your soil type. Get a glass mason jar and put a couple of inches of soil in the jar. Do this with several jars, taking samples from around the garden. Then simply fill the jars with water. Here are the complete instructions for the jar test and other DIY soil tests.
II. Soil Nutrition
A soil test will also tell you more about the fertility of your soil. Without fertile soil, it’s almost impossible to grow a vegetable garden. Plants’ primary nutrients are nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K). On the package of fertilizer, you’ll see these three values separated by dashes (N-P-K); the numbers of each nutrient indicate the percentage of net weight contained.
Nitrogen (N) promotes strong leaf and stem growth and a dark green color, such as desired in broccoli, cabbage, greens and lettuce, and herbs. Add aged manure to the soil and apply alfalfa meal or seaweed, fish, or blood meal to increase available nitrogen.
Phosphorus (P) promotes root and early plant growth, including setting blossoms and developing fruit, and seed formation; it’s important for cucumbers, peppers, squash, tomatoes—any edible that develops after a flower has been pollinated. Add (fast-acting) bonemeal or (slow-release) rock phosphate to increase phosphorus.
Potassium (K) promotes plant root vigor, disease/stress resistance, and enhances flavor; it’s vital for carrots, radishes, turnips, onions, and garlic. Add greensand, wood ashes, gypsum, or kelp to increase potassium.
A soil test will tell you what nutrients your soil is missing. You do not want to add nutrients to your soil if they’re already available in high amounts; this may actually inhibit your plants’ growth.
For example, a soil test may tell you that your soil needs more potassium but absolutely no additional phosphorus. You’ll also learn about some other essential nutrients, including magnesium and calcium.
III. Soil pH
Soil pH is the third and last component of healthy soil and affects the availability of nutrients and minerals in the soil, as well as how well a plant can access, absorb, and regulate these materials. A very high or very low soil pH will result in nutrient deficiency or toxicity, leading to poor plant growth.
A pH ranging from 6.0 to 7.0 is ideal for most garden vegetables. This is the ideal range when microbial activity is greatest, and plant roots can best access nutrients.
However, many plants tolerate a wide range, and certain plants have specific pH range preferences. Find a list of common garden plants and their pH preferences here.
Availability of Nutrients at Varying pH Values
Through a soil test, perhaps you find out that your soil is too acidic (which is great for blueberries and azaleas, but not cabbage). Your soil test results will make recommendations to adjust your soil pH. If your soil pH is too low (acidic), add garden lime to the bed. If your soil pH is too high (alkaline), add powdered sulfur to the soil.Raising and lowering your pH does take time; once lime or sulfur is applied, it can take a year or more to see any movement in pH. Remember, you do not have to change your soil pH if you grow plants that tolerate the current pH of your soil. And never assume that you should add lime, sulfur, wood ash, or other amendments. Don’t make already alkaline soil even more alkaline with wood ash!
How can you introduce more (organic or natural) fresh vegetables and fruits into your diet? How could this impact the environment? How could a home garden contribute to your and your family's over all health?
Share the wealth of health with your colleagues and friends by sharing this article with 3 people today.
If this article was helpful to you, donate to the Shidonna Raven Garden and Cook E-Magazine Today. Thank you in advance.
Comments