@ktreez420 @FyshhTrap @FloridaSon @Hogmaster @Willd @bob31
And others , I know its a long list…
I been asked by few forum members to create topic about outdoor soil preparation…
I can only describe how I do it ( it works for me ) , by any means I am not saying this is the only way to do it…on a contrary, most of the outdoor successful growers have theirs own formula working for them…
For holes 3x3x2 feet ( about 20 buckets of soil…100 gallons total)
I dig 3x3 wide and 2 feet deep hole, placing the top soil aside …
Amendments :
1 bucket (5 gallon) composted rabbit manure
1/2 bucket eathworm castings
2 cups of 0-10-0 bat guano
2 cups of Gypsum ( I have clay soil )
2 buckets of forest humus ( leafs, decomposted wood matter…)
I mix well all together with the hole top soil and place it back to the hole to age up to a month…
Then plant and just water…
I am amending my garden beds after every harvest with thick layer of fresh rabbit manure, let it sit over winter and then just work it to the soil…
Doing this for years and by now its very quality fertile soil…
Also I am openly admitting that I dont stress over PH in my gardening because I water everything from our spring which is always within 6.5-6.8 range…
I welcome all the other outdoor growers to join and share their experience so the new member have place to read different opinions and advices…
Thank you !
I’m very lucky where I live I have very fertile soil without having to do anything except put it in the ground and keep it watered if anything I add a little perlite but unfortunately that does not help a lot of our friends on here who are looking for a good recipe
Thank you @Ragnar I really appreciate you taking the time out to make this thread for myself and other forum members! You’re the man!
Also, any other members should chime in on their recipes and what they do.
I just till my soil and plant them, like @hogmaster said, I’m lucky I guess. My veggies love the soil too! We have very rocky soil, so I think it’s a good soil to grow in.
The holes this year will be about the same as yours, as far as amending, I add A lot, yes forest type humus, decayed matter, etc… I bring in decayed plant material from a small lake/pond , just years of build up matter from the shallow lake bottom, very rich dark decayed plant matter from lily pads and swamp grasses.
This will get mixed into an already rich soil from a well picked area, I like planting near rivers and grassy areas near small lakes / ponds etc.
When the plant is brought to the site I have a pre-mixed bag of soil containing , basically what I used to start the plants in(1 gal.) zip lock, perlite, potting soil, FFOF, whatever I have that I feel is best for That area.
I don’t worry about ph after I plant.
This is just soil prep, nutes are separately added during transplant.
We plant annual winter rye and/or cow peas in fall as green manure. We spread our own aged vegetable compost over the entire plot and till it in as soon as it can be worked.
I keep some compost out to mix with the soil from the dug out holes and to side dress several times throughout veg period. Side dressing with compost is the only feeding they receive during veg. I plant in 3’W x 2’ D holes.
The exact volume we use is dependent on the amount of compost we’re able to generate the previous year.
that compost is great for growing! i keep a heap on each end of my garden…lol everything goes in it,from fish heads and guts to yard clippings…i like your style @Willd…lol doing so much with so little,we ought to be able to do anything with nothing at this point of our lives!!lol
That’s some good info @Ragnar thanks for sharing
I’m getting chicken and plan on useing the droppings as well for fertilizer will be adding to compost pile I have and using it in my raised beds in the coming years thanks for sharing
heh right on @BIGE
We usually keep a stash of vegetable peels/trimmings and leftover roasted chicken carcasses in freezer bags to make soup stock and bone broth too. Once meat has been boiled to death like that it degrades pretty quickly in a thermophilic compost heap.
We don’t put any humanure in ours though. If I were to build an off grid place I might do that to support a composting toilet instead of a conventional septic. And animal products are perfectly fine in a heap like that as long as you keep it to a minimum.
Thank you for the tag. It’s hard for me to add to what’s already been said.
My soil is pretty much like what you have described except for the guano. My only source of that comes from whatever is in Foxfarms, but I use very little of that when planting in the ground.
I’ve thought of building some bat boxes, but I wouldn’t know what type of bats would be using it. From my understanding, it makes a difference between fruit or insect eaters.
I’ve tried to pH my ground plants, but I think I’m going to stop. I’ve noticed signs in the leaves indicating pH swings. I couldn’t figure it out because I always pH’d before feeding or watering.
We can’t pH the falling rain.
My well water is close to the same level as the rain water I collect, so I’ll just water those along with the vegetables.
I’m really considering trying the milk solution in the ground this year, but I need the clones first for comparing results.
I’ll be interested in seeing where this topic leads…
I got a free packet of “Seabird Guano” from one of the vendors at the National Cannabis Festival last weekend. Anybody ever use this? I only ever hear about bat guano, not “seabird guano” lol
