What I Learned About Good Soil Quality

Spring is a time of rejuvenation and growth, not only for nature but also for gardeners like me. As a patriot and a lover of freedom, I know that being self sufficient is the most crucial thing I can learn in my life right now. And, growing my own food is a huge part of taking care of my self and my family. But that takes good soil quality. When everything is $25 per gallon, or per pound, or per dozen, I want to grow and raise my own food. It’s a must for me, and the evidence is all around this crazy world. 

As I struggled all summer long in near desperation to grow my own food, I have learned valuable lessons during my spring/summer growing season. From the importance of well-fed, good quality soil to the potential challenges and factors that can affect plant growth, I’m sharing with my heart on my sleeve, my experiences and expertise in attempting to cultivate a successful garden. Join me as we explore the key insights I have gained, and discover how to bring life to your own victory garden.

The Necessity of Good Soil

Without good, well-fed soil, things simply don’t grow. As I reflect on the challenges I faced during this season, one factor that resonates is the quality of the soil. My plants seemed to struggle, and upon deeper analysis, I realized that my soil had probably been depleted from the previous growing season. It is essential to replenish and nourish the soil, ensuring it is rich in nutrients and organic matter. Without these vital elements, plants cannot thrive.

Factors Affecting Soil Quality

• Depletion from Previous Season: The plants I grew in the previous season had taken up many nutrients from the soil, leaving it insufficient for new growth. This taught me the importance of crop rotation and replenishing the soil with organic matter, such as compost or well-rotted manure.
• Poor-Quality Soil: Another possibility is that I may have purchased soil of subpar quality. It is crucial to choose soil that is specifically formulated for gardening and contains the necessary nutrients for plant growth. Investing in high-quality soil can make a significant difference in the success of your garden.
• Extreme Temperatures: The hot weather during this summer had adverse effects on the soil. It dried out quickly, leading to poor water retention and ultimately hampering plant growth. Adequate mulching, adding shade cloth, and regular watering can help combat the effects of extreme temperatures.
• Contaminated Soil Amendments: Horse manure is a popular organic amendment, often regarded as a nutrient-rich addition to soil. However, I learned the hard way that not all manure is created equal. I thought the horse manure I used had been contaminated with herbicides, and had affected the health of my plants. But, thankfully, I found another neighbor who had used it on her garden, and it had no ill effects. So that horse poopy was good, and I had composted it for months in the sun. It is essential to ensure that any soil amendment you use is free from harmful substances.

Nurturing Healthy Soil

To ensure that my plants have the best chance to flourish, I plan to adopt several practices to nurture healthy soil. I hope these techniques will transform my garden back to having results like my first “lucky green thumb” garden year. I’m looking for improved overall plant growth. Here is my plan:

1. Regular Soil Testing: I have a new soil tester, and I plan to conduct regular soil tests to assess the nutrient content and pH levels of my soil. This will help me identify any deficiencies or imbalances so that I can tailor my fertilizer applications accordingly.
2. Mulching: Mulching is a great way to retain moisture in the soil, promote healthy root development, and suppress weeds. I have learned to use organic mulch, such as straw, to create a protective layer over the soil surface. And, when using wood chips, only apply it to the top, or it can rob nitrogen from the soil as it breaks down. Leaving it on the top will let it do it’s job of moisture retention and micro biome creation.
3. Composting: Composting is a crucial step in creating nutrient-rich soil. I compost kitchen scraps, yard waste, and cow manure, creating a natural fertilizer that replenishes the soil with essential nutrients.
4. Crop Rotation: Crop rotation is an effective technique in preventing nutrient depletion and reducing the risk of disease buildup in the soil. By rotating the types of plants I grow in different areas of my garden each season, I hope to ensure a balanced nutrient cycle and minimize the risk of pests and diseases.

MY FALL EXPERIMENT: I completely sacrificed my fall growing season to help regain the ability of my soil to grow good, healthy plants. Here’s what I planted in my experiment and why:

“Field peas,” also known as “black-eyed peas” to replace, or “fix” nitrogen

“Borage” and “Dandelions” for their long deep tap roots which pull nutrients up to the top of the soil

“Marigolds” to keep pests away from the soil… hopefully. 

RESULT OF MY EXPERIMENTS SO FAR: (as of November 1, 2023) The field peas look great. Super healthy, and starting to get flowers. I didn’t really plan to harvest black-eyed peas, but that will be cool if that happens. Some of them have some ants and some small black bugs or eggs on them. I have heard that this happens to plants when they are in unhealthy soil. The plants themselves seem okay for now, though, so I pulled out some infested stalks, leaves, and some whole plants; I’m keeping it natural as long as I can.

All of the Borage plants came up except for in one of my 3 bed sections. Something is definitely different in that bed section. I’ll let you know how the soil tests come out!

NOT ONE dang dandelion or marigold came up. Not one. Dandelions are weeds. Maybe the seed source? Or, again, it’s my soil…?

Creating My Own Good Potting Soil Mix

I also made potting soil that is similar to what you can buy at the store. Creating my own potting soil mix was a fun and rewarding experience. To start, I gathered some essential materials like cocoa coir, which acts as an excellent moisture retainer, promoting healthy root growth. For added drainage and improved aeration, I included vermiculite in the mix. To provide the soil with the necessary nutrients, I added composted cow manure, which is rich in organic matter and helps plants thrive. Lastly, I included organic fertilizer to boost the overall health of my plants. 

Good Potting Soil Recipe

Here’s the ratios I used: 2 parts cocoa coir, 1 part vermiculite, 1 part composted cow manure, along with a small amount of organic fertilizer. In this large tub, I added about 4 large handfuls of the fertilizer. The result was a nutrient-rich and well-aerated potting soil mix that should give my plants the perfect growing environment.

I mixed in some soil that I already had in the garden, to stretch it by about one third. And, I used this soil in the garden, right on top of my other soil, to transplant my cucumber plants and try to save them, as well as planting seedlings indoors.

After being transplanted into this soil mixture, my cucumber plants finally began to grow! Then of course, something started stealing my plants. Some critter like maybe a raccoon just plucked entire plants out of the ground. 4 plants GONE! I added a hoop of chicken wire around the plants, but then the grasshoppers killed one as well. I have one remaining cucumber plant.

Creating Good Soil Quality

This growing season has been filled with valuable lessons and insights into the art of cultivating a successful garden. By failing over and over again, I have learned to focus on the importance of well-fed soil and understanding the factors that can affect its quality. As soon as I overcome these challenges and finally AGAIN nurture a thriving garden, I’m going to explain to you how I achieved remarkable results. It is my hope that these failures and improvements will empower you to create your own green oasis and experience the joy of a bountiful harvest.

Stay tuned in for our FREEDOM CLASSES, that will be more specific about how to grow your own food.