I'm a newbie here as well as to hobby of gardening (which I am falling in love with) however my little garden spot (10ft x 16ft) doesn't have the best soil around. Yes, I did do a soil test and know what nutrients it will need.
So what I would like to know is, should one work more on getting their garden soil the best that it can be or should I put more of my effort into better vegetables?
The plants that I have decided to grow are peas, beans radishes, carrots, beets and cabbages, with the rest of the plants like peppers, tomatoes in containers.
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gardenbean
- Senior Member
- Posts: 251
- Joined: Wed Apr 13, 2011 8:47 pm
- Location: Westminster Colorado
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DoubleDogFarm
- Super Green Thumb
- Posts: 6113
- Joined: Sun Mar 28, 2010 11:43 pm
gardenbean,
Warm welcome to HG.
Eric
Warm welcome to HG.
I think they are hand and hand. Better soil will give you better, healthier, bug and disease resistant vegetables / plants.So what I would like to know is, should one work more on getting their garden soil the best that it can be or should I put more of my effort into better vegetables?
Eric
Hi gardenbean,
I'm only on my second year of veggie gardening, though I've done a fair bit of container herb gardens in the past. My personal approach is a long-term one - I feel that by being a good steward of the land and soil, I will get better, happier plants and veggies. So I wouldn't recommend focusing all your attention on amending the junk (no pun intended
) out of your soil and neglecting planting anything in it - garden soil benefits from plants and their roots.
There's no instant solution that I know of, as things like tilth, nutrients, fungi, bacteria, and critters take time to develop, expand, grow, interact. From what I've read and learned this far, I feel that each year I responsibly tend the land I garden in and the plants I grow, and add the appropriate natural amendments when needed, the soil will become better, healthier, and more complex ecologically, and that in turn will make the plants in it better. Good things often take time and patience
I'm only on my second year of veggie gardening, though I've done a fair bit of container herb gardens in the past. My personal approach is a long-term one - I feel that by being a good steward of the land and soil, I will get better, happier plants and veggies. So I wouldn't recommend focusing all your attention on amending the junk (no pun intended
) out of your soil and neglecting planting anything in it - garden soil benefits from plants and their roots. There's no instant solution that I know of, as things like tilth, nutrients, fungi, bacteria, and critters take time to develop, expand, grow, interact. From what I've read and learned this far, I feel that each year I responsibly tend the land I garden in and the plants I grow, and add the appropriate natural amendments when needed, the soil will become better, healthier, and more complex ecologically, and that in turn will make the plants in it better. Good things often take time and patience
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gardenbean
- Senior Member
- Posts: 251
- Joined: Wed Apr 13, 2011 8:47 pm
- Location: Westminster Colorado
You guys are great! And thank you for the hugs!! 
And I totally agree with what you all are saying.
Guess anyone cares here is what is going into this newbie's garden this year--(here goes)
Peas-because they add tons of nitrogen to the soil
Beans (wax, garden and roma II) No pole beans this year!
Radishes
Carrots (short and sweet)*because my soil is heavy and clay like
beets, all different flavors and shapes
onions- using the plants and not seeds (don't feel comfortable just yet in growing by seed)
Kolobori-they love going with my beets
Within these rows and areas I will hav various plants and herbs to use to keep away nasty pests. Marigolds and Nasturtiums of course and large sunflowers as my garden borders.
And in my containers I will have my tomatoes , squash and cucumbers.
And I totally agree with what you all are saying.Guess anyone cares here is what is going into this newbie's garden this year--(here goes)
Peas-because they add tons of nitrogen to the soil
Beans (wax, garden and roma II) No pole beans this year!
Radishes
Carrots (short and sweet)*because my soil is heavy and clay like
beets, all different flavors and shapes
onions- using the plants and not seeds (don't feel comfortable just yet in growing by seed)
Kolobori-they love going with my beets
Within these rows and areas I will hav various plants and herbs to use to keep away nasty pests. Marigolds and Nasturtiums of course and large sunflowers as my garden borders.
And in my containers I will have my tomatoes , squash and cucumbers.