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Usa

What is the proper soil mixture?

3/3/2003 4:56:50 PM

Montoursville, PA

I believe most top growers work to arrive at 10% or better humis content with a PH of 7. That soil will take and hold water of about 1 - 11/2 inch per week.

Visit a garden center in your area and see how you may get a soil test. Your state university may be an excellent choice at a very good price. In the begining test only for the basic elements. Add other interests as you build the patch up to much higher humus content.

You may add all the manures up to five or more cupic yards without even a worry of having to much. Add all the leaves you can till in and grow an annual rye cover crop in the fall. Read, read and read some more. Get the books How to Grow Giant Pumpkins and ask questions here and on the chat board. In the short order you will enjoy seeing your patch grow into one of the best in the business.

3/3/2003 5:50:33 PM

Usa

I ordered the books but they are not sending them out until March 11 or 12th. Then I have to wait 7 days from then for delivery and I would like to start preparing the soil. But I am unsure on how to mix. How much manure/mulch/garden soil/potting mix? I have manure and mulch already. We have terrible soil I grow all of my vegetables and flowers in raised beds with my own soil mixtures. I rotate crops so I don't grow the same thing in the same place every year. We don't have leaves available very much here. I'll have to check on some of the landscapers and see what they can give me. We really don't have but 2 seasons here Summer and Winter. We have 2 growing seasons.
We have ASU here in town. They have an agricultural program. I can check that out.
I think I will have to use raised beds to get better root growth and better soil control.
Thank you for your response.

3/3/2003 11:31:05 PM