GARDENING IN POOR SOIL
What
are your options if your soil isn't very rich? Here are some examples of
poor soils.
1. Compacted soil. This soil
doesn't absorb rain well, and has very little airflow down into the soil.
2. Clay soil. For one reason or
another, the top soil has been stripped away, leaving just clay. You need
a lot of help.
3. Sandy soil. For very sandy
soils, if you don't have good organic content to hold onto nutrients,
fertilizers can be flushed away with a good rain.
4. Soil low in organic matter.
The long-term use of chemical fertilizers or poor conservation methods can contribute to this condition.
5. Soil damaged by chemicals.
Chemical fertilizers are high in salt that kills microbes in the soil.
Pesticides and herbicides are detrimental to soil life as well.
Of course, your long-term goal is to correct
these problems in the soil. You could till up your soil and add in a ton
of compost, either homemade or
purchased, such as
peat compost, composted manure, mushroom
compost, blood or bone meal, or vermicast (worm castings).
However, this could get quite expensive, and be very labor intensive.
Option B - Rely heavily on foliar feedings.
Plants have little openings in their leaves, called Stomata. These open in
the evenings when the temperature falls below 80 degrees, and close in the
morning, when temperatures rise above 80 degrees, which helps the plant to
retain its moisture. Foliar feedings feed the plant through their Stomata,
and are best done when the Stomata are open.
An Intensive Fertility Program for Poor Soils
I
planted a garden in an area with very poor soil. This is what I did to
overcome this problem.
1.
Organic matter. I used a garden tiller to break up the top 5 or 6 inches of soil. In areas that
were totally red clay I mixed in a little mushroom compost and cow manure
compost to add organic matter. I didn't add a lot of this because of cost.
If money was no object a 1 part compost to 2 parts soil works well.
2.
Calcium. Since the soil was so poor, I mixed in 100 pounds of
High Cal. lime per 1,000 sq. ft.
A standard application is 40 lbs. per 1,000 sq. ft. It is actually best to
get a soil test done to see how much calcium is needed.
3.
At planting. Next I used a garden rake to form the soil into raised
beds or rows, depending on the crop. I mixed 3 ounces of Huma-Tec and
1 ounce of Ocean Trace with a gallon of water,
and used this as a planting solution. For each seed planted, I closed the
hole, than poured an ounce of this mixture right over the seed. Where the
soil was just clay, I put 2 ounces over each seed. This mixture greatly
improves germination, and gives the plant a good start.
To make a transplanting solution, mix 2 ounces of Huma-Tec and 1 tablespoon. Ocean
Trace per gallon of water, and pour some in the hole before placing in the plant.
4.
Pre-emergence.
Ocean Trace and
Fish Fertilizer work
really well together. I mixed 2 qts.
Fish Fertilizer to 1 cup Ocean
Trace and used a
hose end fertilizer sprayer (can also be purchased at a Lawn and Garden
store) to spray it on the soil. This quantity is enough to treat 1,000 to
2,000 sq. ft., depending on just how poor the soil is.
5.
Two weeks after the plants emerged from the soil, I mixed 1 gallon of water with
1 ounce of C4 and 1 tsp. of
Ocean Trace, and use a spray bottle or back pack
sprayer to wet the leaves. This application helps the plant to establish a
wonderful root structure and to become more robust. It has been said that,
all else being equal, a plant's yield is pretty much determined in the first 21
days after emerging from the soil, so this is an important application.
For great results, I repeated this application every 3 weeks. A hose end
sprayer will not work because it adds too much water. We want a one ounce
per gallon mix to be sprayed on the plant.
6.
Foliar applications. Once a week throughout the season I applied the following foliar application.
I mixed together 4 parts fish fertilizer, 3 parts Huma-Tec and one part Ocean
Trace, and using my
hose end fertilizer sprayer, I sprayed 1 cup of this mix over every 1,000
sq. ft. of garden. Again, this application is best made in the morning
before 10 a.m. It can also be made in the evening after it cools off
(the stomata are open when the air temperature is below 80 degrees). If
you would rather feed your plants twice a week, just reduce the amount of mix to
4 ounces for every 1,000 sq. ft. of garden.
By
using this method, even with very poor soil it is possible to provide your
garden with all the food it needs. Fish Fertilizer and
Huma-Tec are a good source of Nitrogen,
Phosphorus, Potassium and trace minerals, plus they are a wonderful source of
carbon. Ocean Trace is a concentrated and
well balanced source of trace minerals. Don't be surprised if you have the
best tasting and most nutritious garden ever. Bon Appetit.
A Fertility Program for Better Soils
Perhaps you have half-way decent soil, but want to boost your garden's nutrient
density and yields.
1.
Calcium. Do a soil test for calcium levels, and follow the
recommendations to bring your soil to around 75% base saturation rate of
calcium. Use the right type of
Calcium for your locale. A
standard application is 40 lbs. per 1,000 sq. ft., but it is best to do a soil
test and get it right.
2.
Organic matter. Mix some rich organic compounds into the soil.
Examples are mushroom compost, cow manure compost, bat guano, vermicast,
or your own homemade compost.
3.
At planting. If you want to really get the plant established,
consider mixing 8 ounces of Huma-Tec and
2 ounces of Ocean Trace with a gallon of water,
and pour an ounce over each seed planted.
To make a transplanting solution, mix 2 ounces of Huma-Tec and 3 tsp. Ocean
Trace per gallon of water, and pour a little into each hole for transplanted
plants.
4.
Two weeks post emergence. Two weeks after the plants emerge from the soil,
mix 1 gallon of water with
1 ounce of C4 and 1 tsp. of
Ocean Trace, and use a spray bottle or back pack
sprayer to wet the leaves. This application helps the plant to establish a
wonderful root structure and to become more robust. It has been said that,
all else being equal, a plant's yield is pretty much determined in the first 21
days after emerging from the soil, so this is an important application.
Repeat this application just as the plant is beginning to fruit.
Note: A hose end
sprayer will not work because it adds more water than the one ounce per gallon
ratio.
5.
Foliar applications can make such a difference in the quality of what you
are growing. You may choose to make foliar applications once or twice a
month, or to decrease the amount in the application and "spoon feed" the plant
more often.
For
these foliar applications you may choose to use a
hose end fertilizer sprayer, or a back pack sprayer (or even a spray bottle,
for small areas). The most important item in this application is
Ocean Trace.
You may choose to add to this
Fish Fertilizer and/or Huma-Tec.
A good ratio is 4 parts fish fertilizer, 3 parts Huma-Tec and one part Ocean
Trace.
If
using a hose end sprayer, once every 2 to 4 weeks add 1 cup of the above mix
(4 oz. fish, 3 oz. Huma-Tec and/or 1 ounce Ocean Trace every 2 to 4 weeks) and
spray over every 1,000 sq. ft. of garden.
For a
back pack sprayer or spray bottle, add any or all of the following to
enough water to make a gallon of mix, and mist onto the leaves once every 2 to 4
weeks.
2
ounces fish
1.5 ounces Huma-Tec
3 tsp. Ocean Trace
If
you want to apply a foliar application more than once every 2 weeks,
proportionately reduce the amount of product you use in each application.
You don't want to over do it.
Remember, this application is best made in the morning before 10 a.m. It
can also be made in the evening after it cools off (the stomata are open
when the air temperature is below 80 degrees).
Recommended applications for Great Soils
You have worked hard to build up your soil,
and it is in great shape. Congratulations, and good job! In all
likelihood the preceding points 4 and 5 would still be quite helpful.
Of
greatest importance is to make one or more foliar applications of
Ocean Trace. This product is
incredible for the wonderful balance and density of micronutrients it supplies
to both plants and soil.
