Soil

What’s Your pH?

Don’t struggle through another gardening season wondering why you have tiny tomatoes or puny peppers. Go to your local garden center, spend a few bucks on a pH test kit and test your soil pH. If your soil is too acid or too alkaline, not much will grow well. A pH reading of 6.5 - 7.0 is perfect (or neutral) for growing most vegetables. If your pH is below 6.5 (or acid), work some lime into your soil to neutralize the acidity. High alkalinity (above 7.0) calls for the application of sulphur or aluminum sulfate. Adding sulphur can be a bit tricky so be sure to get more information before moving ahead

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Time to Plant Cover Crops

Late summer is a great time to plant green manures and cover crops like winter rye, oats and clover. Cover crops are worked back into the soil while still green (but before they blossom and produce seeds) adding nitrogen and organic matter and improving air and water movement in the soil. They also help to reduce erosion and suppress weeds.

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Try Corn Gluten Meal

Community gardener, Elaine Larsen, gives thumbs up to corn gluten meal. This nontoxic, byproduct of corn syrup production prevents seeds from germinating, and is very useful in a strawberry patch or other hard-to-weed areas of the garden. It even provides nitrogen for your plants when it breaks down. The product is effective for about six weeks and is very easy to use. Just spread and rake into the top inch of soil in the Fall or early Spring to stop weed seeds from sprouting. Be sure to wait at least six weeks before sowing any veggie or flower seeds. Keep the bag sealed well and it can be kept for a few seasons. We would appreciate hearing about your experience using corn gluten meal in your gardens.

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