Search
Latest topics
» Beds not holding moisture?by MrBooker Today at 7:13 am
» N&C Midwest September 2023
by Scorpio Rising Today at 6:55 am
» Walking stick kale
by markqz Yesterday at 11:52 pm
» Butternut squash sets world record at the State Fair of Virginia
by markqz 9/25/2023, 5:13 pm
» Ohio Gardener's Greenhouse
by OhioGardener 9/25/2023, 4:29 pm
» Closing beds for winter
by plantoid 9/25/2023, 4:25 pm
» Famous Gardening Quotes
by OhioGardener 9/23/2023, 12:51 pm
» Foodbank’s composting program creates food from food
by OhioGardener 9/22/2023, 8:29 am
» What Have You Picked From Your Garden Today
by OhioGardener 9/21/2023, 1:15 pm
» Turning existing garden beds into SFG
by jemm 9/20/2023, 7:35 am
» updating my mix - what should I add
by sanderson 9/18/2023, 5:04 am
» Senseless Banter...
by sanderson 9/16/2023, 11:37 pm
» Lumber and measuring for SFG boxes
by sanderson 9/16/2023, 12:21 am
» Avatar issues
by Guinevere 9/14/2023, 7:53 pm
» Happy Birthday!!
by sanderson 9/11/2023, 4:40 pm
» When to harvest? / Watermelon seedlings
by sanderson 9/9/2023, 6:07 pm
» Hornets Nest
by sanderson 9/8/2023, 8:15 pm
» Tropical Storm Hilary
by jennyjo37 9/5/2023, 5:31 pm
» A square foot garden in a round bed.
by alicej 9/4/2023, 3:39 am
» Determinate Cherry Tomato for Greenhouse
by OhioGardener 9/2/2023, 6:52 pm
» N&C Midwest August 2023
by Scorpio Rising 8/31/2023, 9:01 am
» Hurricane
by Scorpio Rising 8/30/2023, 7:25 am
» No-Fail Zucchini Bread
by OhioGardener 8/28/2023, 11:11 am
» buying compost small town SW Pennsylvania
by sanderson 8/27/2023, 6:41 pm
» Phosphate
by sanderson 8/27/2023, 3:43 pm
» Topping brand new SFG box with more gorgeous compost???
by sanderson 8/27/2023, 3:36 pm
» 8 Great Vegetables for Fall Planting
by sanderson 8/27/2023, 2:58 pm
» What are you eating from your garden today?
by OhioGardener 8/26/2023, 7:19 pm
» Flowers to attract hummingbirds
by OhioGardener 8/26/2023, 6:59 pm
» Hoss Tools Seeds 50% off
by OhioGardener 8/26/2023, 6:25 pm
Google
Soil adjustments in raised beds
4 posters
Page 1 of 1
Soil adjustments in raised beds
I am not new to gardening but changing habits. Started doing raised beds this last spring. My soil test have been good. Done by ag agent. Some areas of my garden are really shallow with top soil. So. I have been digging down about a shovel depth or more. Tossing all the clay to one side. Then I would replace that with my own compost mixed with some sand, composted leaves, and some of the top soil and fill in the hole and up to the side boards.
At this time I am using mushroom compost, peatmoss ( store bought ), vermiculite and some of my own compost along with a little sand adding about half of the top soil that I have dug out.
The question I have is that good enough ( I hope to add in some horse manure soon to my mixtures)? Do I need to soil test this or should my mixtures be good enough and simpy replenish the raised bed as it settles?
At this time I am using mushroom compost, peatmoss ( store bought ), vermiculite and some of my own compost along with a little sand adding about half of the top soil that I have dug out.
The question I have is that good enough ( I hope to add in some horse manure soon to my mixtures)? Do I need to soil test this or should my mixtures be good enough and simpy replenish the raised bed as it settles?
backyardgardner- Posts : 2
Join date : 2012-07-10
Location : Mt. Juliet: Rolling Hills of Middle Tennessee
Re: Soil adjustments in raised beds
Hi BYG, welcome to the SFG forum!
I think that most of us use the formula for Mels Mix from the new SFG book - 1/3 compost, 1/3 vermiculite, 1/3 peat. It's a soiless mix that seems to work very well. Did you read the book yet? If not, it's worth checking out.
I'm pretty new to all this so I'll let someone else with more experience using sand & soil answer.
CC

I think that most of us use the formula for Mels Mix from the new SFG book - 1/3 compost, 1/3 vermiculite, 1/3 peat. It's a soiless mix that seems to work very well. Did you read the book yet? If not, it's worth checking out.
I'm pretty new to all this so I'll let someone else with more experience using sand & soil answer.
CC
CapeCoddess- Posts : 6824
Join date : 2012-05-20
Age : 67
Location : elbow of the Cape, MA, Zone 6b/7a
Re: Soil adjustments in raised beds
Hi BYG welcome to the site.
To answer your question yourself you need to look to the left hand side of your page and click on the bobbly thingy on the " Home page " it will take you to a shed load of useful topics that seem to help newcomers . Look for " how strong is your backbone and composting 101"
If you decide to fuly follow the ethos of the site you'll be needing Mel Bartholomew's " All new Square foot Gardening " book , 2006 edition , to bring you up to speed ofhow we play at our version of square foot gardening .
Our methods work well world wide providing you get a well varied nonsoilbased compost system going after intitially purchasing some basic forms of compost .
Don't rush in like a few have and wilynilly buy without understanding the differences of commercially bagged materials and the stuff you can get very cheaply from the local ammenity waste disposal sites lest you come unstuck.
To answer your question yourself you need to look to the left hand side of your page and click on the bobbly thingy on the " Home page " it will take you to a shed load of useful topics that seem to help newcomers . Look for " how strong is your backbone and composting 101"
If you decide to fuly follow the ethos of the site you'll be needing Mel Bartholomew's " All new Square foot Gardening " book , 2006 edition , to bring you up to speed ofhow we play at our version of square foot gardening .
Our methods work well world wide providing you get a well varied nonsoilbased compost system going after intitially purchasing some basic forms of compost .
Don't rush in like a few have and wilynilly buy without understanding the differences of commercially bagged materials and the stuff you can get very cheaply from the local ammenity waste disposal sites lest you come unstuck.
plantoid-
Posts : 4095
Join date : 2011-11-09
Age : 72
Location : At the west end of M4 in the UK
Thanks for the suggestions
Yes I have copies of the book......just working through what I have at the time..I usually add back part of the soil to help, because I am finding that I have to water more.....we have had some very hot days in the past months here......and the soil helps it to hold the moisture a little longer.......I am getting ready to start more compost piles.
Thanks
Thanks
backyardgardner- Posts : 2
Join date : 2012-07-10
Location : Mt. Juliet: Rolling Hills of Middle Tennessee
Re: Soil adjustments in raised beds
I think your beds sound fine, I have converted all of my beds to Mel's mix and am following the book but if this is working for you and you are making your own compost then topping it off with some composted horse manure will be just fine without having any tests done! Happy gardening!
cheyannarach-
Posts : 2037
Join date : 2012-03-21
Location : Custer, SD
Page 1 of 1
Permissions in this forum:
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
|
|