Next Event ---> Pipe Creek Market Days - Saturday July 20, 2024
You are more than welcome to contact me for goodies
before the next Market Days !!
Last Updates :: Sunday May 19, 2024 - Update quantities due sales at Pipe Creek Market Days
on Saturday, May 18, 2024
Gardens are doing well, so will be doing alot of canning for next Market Days !!
Cultivating The Soil
Notes for Dec 2022
The Bandera County Extension Office provided sacks for soil samples, as well as the forms to fill out, to send to the Texas A&M Agrilife Extension Soil Testing Lab.
It only took about 10 days for them to test my soil & email the results.
Their first finding is that my pH level is 8.0, so it is very alkaline. No wonder, I am on a limestone rock here. Most of my veggies need to be about 6.0.
Their second major finding has to do with primary nutrients N-P-K, secondary nutrients, and micro nutrients.
As reference, the primary nutrients are:
N = Nitrogen = Necessary for Strong Leaves & Good Color
P = Phosphorus = Necessary for Roots & Fruits
K = Potassium = Necessary for overall Plant Health & Disease Resistance
The Soil Testing Lab found the following about my primary nutrients:
( 1 ) My nitrogen ( N ) is too low. They recommend that I add 1 lb per 1000 square feet at planting, and then every 4 to 6 weeks during the growing season.
( 2 ) My phosphorus ( P ) is way high. They recommend not adding any phosphorus for 5 years, and to send soil samples to test annually.
( 3 ) My potassium ( K ) is good.
( 4 ) Secondary nutrients are at a good level.
( 5 ) Micronutrients are at a good level.
Rainbow Gardens has nitrogen 12.0.0, phosphorus 0.12.0, and potassium 0.0.12, as well as secondary & micronutrients. They also have aluminum sulfate which reduces alkanity. I had already purchased all these prior to sending the soil samples to the lab. So I am armed with nitrogen. As for amending the pH level, I need to understand how & when to use the aluminum sulfate. More to come on pH levels & nutrients.
Other ways to cultivate my soil:
( 1 ) My pastures are full of cow patties. When I cut the asparagus back to 1 inch, I gather up cow patties, put them in our cement mixer to chunk them finely, then spread that on the asparagus bed. I could consider doing this in some of the other raised beds while over-wintering.
( 2 ) I have lots of chickens, and so lots of chicken poo. Chicken poo also is rich with nutrients - too rich to put right on the beds while plants are growing. Chicken poo will burn the plants. But, I just prepped the beds to over-winter, so now would be a great time to spread chicken poo in the beds.
( 3 ) I have 3 compost bins. One is composting, one is filling, and one is using. Anything that the chickens won't eat goes into compost. I can sift & spread the compost over the beds to soak in while overwintering.
( 4 ) I am learning to do Vermiculture / Vermicomposting, but I am in early stages here. It is actually really messy. I am about ready to just put my red wigglers into my beds, and just feed them directly in the beds rather than dealing with the indoor mess.
( 5 ) I bought a 5 pound bag of cover crop seeds from True Leaf Market to over-winter my beds. I planted 3 of the beds, and the seeds germinated right away, and are growing well. These supposedly introduce nutrients back into the soil. Here is the amazing thing: Every type of seed in this bag grows veggies that are edible ! I just pulled up a couple pounds of Daikon Radishes & need to pickle them or ferment them now !! There are also beans & peas & other delicious edibles !