How to Get Oklahoma Soil Ready for a Vegetable Garden

Vegetable gardens are a healthy source of fresh produce.

Gardens are popular in homes across Oklahoma. For optimum vegetable growth and yield, home gardeners should prepare their soil so that the plants have favorable conditions for growth and the production of high quality vegetables. In general, vegetable plants need organic-rich soil with proper drainage, pH, and nutrients. A simple soil test will help you prepare your soil for a successful garden.

Things You'll Need

• Glass jar
• Stainless steel spoon
• Soil amendments such as sulfur, lime, organic matter
• Tiller
• Fertilizer

Instructions

1. Test a soil sample from your garden area to determine the need for soil amendments. Contact your county extension office for assistance with conducting the soil test. The state of Oklahoma has over 2,500 varieties of soil, so it is important to perform a test to understand the type in your garden. Collect the soil sample using a clean stainless steel spoon from several locations at the depth of the root zone, to obtain the most representative information. You can mix the soil from each of the sample locations to make a composite sample. Place the sample in a clean glass jar, and submit it to the extension office or their preferred laboratory.

2. Adjust the soil pH to approximately 6.5, which vegetable plants prefer. Most soil types in Oklahoma have a pH between 5.2 and 7.7. You can add sulfur to lower the pH or lime to raise the pH. Follow the manufacturer's instructions for proper application for your garden.

3. Add organic matter to improve the soil drainage, increase soil moisture, control erosion, and add nutrients as necessary. Oklahoma soils include silt, sand, loam and clay across the state, and the organic content and drainage ability will vary based on your location and soil type. Organic matter such as peat moss, sawdust, mulch, bark, grass or leaves can be beneficial to the garden soil. Use a tiller to combine the organic matter with the native soil. Soil low in organic content and gardens with high clay or loam content will require more additives.

4. Apply fertilizer to the soil to provide nitrogen, potassium and phosphorous to the garden as necessary. In general, Oklahoma soil tends low in nitrogen and phosphorous across the states while only the eastern soils are low in potassium. Phosphorus helps the plant begin growing quickly and boosts root development, while nitrogen helps the plant grow rapidly throughout the growing season. Potassium benefits vegetables because it helps the plant develop disease tolerance and aids in the ripening of the vegetables. Use the results of your soil test to help guide your choice of fertilizer. Some fertilizers contain all three nutrients, while others contain only one or two. Follow all of the manufacturer's instructions for application rates to ensure optimal plant growth.

References

• Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service: Improving Garden Soil Fertility
• United States Department of Agriculture: A Look at Oklahoma Agriculture
• Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service: Oklahoma Garden Planning Guide
• International Plant Nutrient Institute: Fertility of Oklahoma Agricultural Soils
• The Oklahoma Water Resource Board: Vulnerability Assessment