How to Make Soil to Grow Vegetables
A vegetable garden involves a lot more care than just sowing the seeds and waiting for a tomato to start growing. Vegetable gardening requires planning and preparing the soil. The soil condition is very important for a healthy harvest. Preparing the soil could be daunting but it is well worth the effort when you see the big, juicy and healthy vegetables growing in your yard. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
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Remove the weeds by hand or with a spade if they are dense. Dig the area with a fork to remove the weed roots and stones. Weed removal is very important in a vegetable garden as pests such as wireworms and leatherjackets live in the roots of the weeds and will pass on to your crops.
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Dig at least 10 inches deep using a large digging fork or a rototiller to loosen up the soil. Smoothen out the soil with a rake.
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3
Test the soil pH using a soil test kit. The pH of the soil determines if the soil is acidic or alkaline. The ideal pH for a vegetable garden is between 5.5 and 7. Sulfur is added to lower the soil's pH and lime is added to raise the pH.
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Add 3 to 4 lb.pounds of compost every 200 square feet of the vegetable garden. Use the compost or any commercial complete plant food available at the nurseries or the home improvement stores. The compost improves the soil condition, suppresses the weeds and retains water in the soil.
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Mix the compost with the soil gently with a rake. Till the soil one last time and smoothen it with a rake for a healthy bed for the vegetables.
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Tips & Warnings
Do not work with the soil if it is too wet. Raking or tilling wet soil will create chunks of soil as it dries hindering the plant's growth.
