DOes it matter If the soil is good or bad ?

Question

I just planted a bunch of veggies at work ... I didnt buy new soil I just dug up what was there.... Will they still grow? or do I need to buy special soil or fertalizer?

Answer 1

If the soil had growth already grass, weeds, etc.
Yes they'll grow. but you must keep on top of them.
Sunlight, water, fertilizer (miracle grow), weed, and brace the vines.

If not then you may have to give it some help.
Go to your local Agway store and get a soil test kit.
Follow the instructions in this kit. It will tell you the current health status of your soil and from the guide book you'll be told what and how much to add to the soil top bring it up to standards for the crops you planted..

Good Luck Watch out for those pesky Wabbits

Answer 2

Where do you work that you get to do that kind of thing?! That's great!

Yes they will still grow provided they are not too close to a high automobile traffic area. Also gardens should be set back from high traffic areas by fifty feet because lead pollutants out the tail pipes of vehicles settles on the ground and can be taken up from the soil by edibles (but this is good if you are restoring an old brown field/community dump for example). I'm sure your plants would appreciate seaweed and fish fertilizer as comprhensive tonics (organic alternatives to Miracle gro)

If it's a small garden and you think you might be working there for a while or have it maintained even if you leave you there is a lot you can do to really make happy soil and you might even want to consider raised beds. Raised beds are permanent without any tilling. In the intensive or biodynamic methods of small space gardening the bed is "double dug" (to much to describe here) to loosen the subsoil then lots of organic matter is added. But you can get some two by six planks secure them at corners to make quadrangular shape of your choosing. Then heap in compost, decomposed manure, some bags of dirt and mix it in with the existing dirt. This will give you a great start to a luscious productive soil. Many nurseries these days have organic supplies including bagged compost if you haven't had a chance to make your own. Manure - find a horse place that has a huge pile and get it from the middle (that way everything has broken down and it's like beautiful dirt). You could even spread a layer of this black decomposed manure this season for a nitrogen boost to the plants. The nutrients from the manure will leach to the plant roots as you water.

Maybe you could get your coworkers to bring compostable vegetable scraps from home and start a communal compost pile at the edge of the garden to use next season!

Answer 3

Soil is one of the most important aspects of gardening. It plays a very large role in determining what if anything can grow in a given location. Soil preparation is probably the biggest determining factor in how well my beds do. Years that I've been in a hurry and skimped on my soil preparation, I've had sub-par plant performance.

The best thing to do is to take a soil sample (scatted sections and depths around the intended plot) and have it analyzed at your cooperative extension office. They will test it for the major aspects (pH, soil type, major elements). Then you can have a decent idea what you are facing.

If that's not an option, and you know general soil conditions in your area (or can find out from your neighbor), then you can take simple measures and adjust the nutrients and pH to the optimal levels.

If you're just gardening a small plot and option 1 or 2 isn't feasible, then dig down 6-8 inches and fill it with some quality garden soil from your local retailer. In any case, have fun and don't be afraid to make mistakes.

Good luck!

Answer 4

You might want to get some general soil fertalizer (liquid), the vegtables might grow, but if you just dug up what was there you don't have any clue on what kind of nutrients are in that soil, so the plant doesn't have much of a chance.

Answer 5

The condition of the soil is everything to your plants, so if the soil you planted in was good shape (full of nutrients and not too sandy nor too clayey) your plants will probably be fine as long as they get watered properly.

Do a little research on the web. There are a quite few good websites dedicted to gardening. Good luck with your veggies!

Answer 6

Buy a big bag of Miracle Grow, it works wonders for veggies and flowers.