Interesting. I've been reading "Five Acres and Independance" which is a republishing of a lot of farming information from the 1900's to the 1940's. Excellent information, and I think I might understand the problem with the strawberries.
Once the ground dries out somewhat I'll be out with the tiller. Debating dropping a few tons of lime back there as well. Should be an interesting spring.
If I may recommend the book 'Gaia's Garden' to you, well, consider it recommended. Ignore the hippy-dippy title, it's a stunningly topical book, especially for your space. ;)
Thank you. I'd probably have skipped it, but now I'll read it.
Speaking of which, I got a ph tester from ole Home Despot today. It's pouring out, so a good time to check soil status.
Turns out it's a 5.75 to a 6. Very acidic. This would explain why the tomatoes did well; they love acidic soil. However for the rest I think I will go out tomorrow and drop a good bit of lime down. Then in a few months it should be ready to go.
Our wild native soils here are around 4. Plants do tend to like mildly to fairly acid soils, unless you're trying to grow potatoes, which get scab in that sort of environment.
Organic matter in soil always acts as a buffer, it will always make the effects of these things less of a problem.
Lime's good. It's about all I can think of, short of putting in concrete somewhere nearby. Man, does that stuff screw up soil.
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timeasmymeasure
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Date: 2006-02-04 05:02 am (UTC)Once the ground dries out somewhat I'll be out with the tiller. Debating dropping a few tons of lime back there as well. Should be an interesting spring.
Chris
no subject
Date: 2006-02-04 06:00 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-02-04 08:54 pm (UTC)Speaking of which, I got a ph tester from ole Home Despot today. It's pouring out, so a good time to check soil status.
Turns out it's a 5.75 to a 6. Very acidic. This would explain why the tomatoes did well; they love acidic soil. However for the rest I think I will go out tomorrow and drop a good bit of lime down. Then in a few months it should be ready to go.
Any other suggestions on lowering acid levels?
no subject
Date: 2006-02-05 05:50 am (UTC)Organic matter in soil always acts as a buffer, it will always make the effects of these things less of a problem.
Lime's good. It's about all I can think of, short of putting in concrete somewhere nearby. Man, does that stuff screw up soil.