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Post by theloamranger on May 6, 2023 14:08:39 GMT -5
Hey Everyone! I’ve never gardened before except very limited experience with container growing and could use help. I would like to grow directly into my ground this year. My soil is mostly sand with a little bit of silt and an even smaller amount of clay. It is extremely quick to drain. I would like to start growing now, but want to make sure I have good soil, as well as keep costs down. I was trying to look into getting local compost and/or topsoil. I know that there are other things I can purchase to add like peat, vermiculite, manure, rock powders, worm castings, etc. As far as balancing my budget goes, where do you think I should put my money towards first? As far as saving money, I have a compost pile started and have some compost from last year’s pile. Could I just stick my half finished compost and some more organic material into the ground and get planting right away? Would I be better off waiting for my compost to be finished instead of trying to amend it now? I also have Maple tree logs and branches, as well as pine, and possibly Oak. Would making a Hugelkultur bed be an effective measure and should I use my compost for that instead of waiting for it to finish? Could that be grown in immediately or would it not work? I could certainly use some guidance. Please help
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Post by desertwoman on May 6, 2023 18:19:24 GMT -5
As suggested before.... to answer your questions more effectively, it would be really helpful if you could add your location and growing zone so that the info is handy when answering questions. Click on your Profile>Edit Profile>Personal and then scroll down to Signature and enter your location and zone there.
But off the top, just add what you have, It will all help to retain water- last years' compost, any organic matter, even some half finished compost could probably work.
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Post by gardendmpls on May 6, 2023 21:21:54 GMT -5
When I lived right by the bay, my soil was almost pure sand. I added whatever I could get: bags of leaves (in the fall), lawn clippings, seaweed and a lot of compost, both my own and some from a city program. Also whatever I could get on sale, like peat. Everything would vanish into the sand and I had to keep adding, but I still got nice crops and over time, things improved. Buying a house a few blocks further away from the bay, I have a great sandy loam to which I add compost, leaves, seaweed, pulled weeds and chicken poop from my ~30 chickens and it is great.
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Post by theloamranger on May 6, 2023 21:53:13 GMT -5
desertwoman, sorry I added my location under location on the profile page last time, but didn't realize that it doesn't show unless under signature haha! Thank you both for the help. Here's to a great growing season for all of us!
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Post by desertwoman on May 6, 2023 23:30:06 GMT -5
No worries- and thanks for adding the info theloamranger , Being in Wisconsin/zone 5 it seems you have a shorter growing season than some, so I am wondering if raised beds might work better for you this year. You wouldn't necessarily need to build frames, just mound some bagged or bulk soil, compost , OM , etc on top of your sandy soil and plant in that. Would making a Hugelkultur bed be an effective measure and should I use my compost for that instead of waiting for it to finish? Could that be grown in immediately or would it not work? binnylou and raphanus have done hugelkultur beds. They will probably have some thoughts on that, for you.
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Post by gb98 on May 29, 2023 6:13:02 GMT -5
I have sandy soil as well here. I had 8 yards of compost-top soil mix to build my raspberry beds. Three years later, they are doing well.......and so are weeds like quack grass and sheep sorrel!!
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