Fall is quickly approaching and most people are harvesting their
crops from their gardens. Taking all that fresh produce from your own vegetable
garden can be very rewarding, but did you ever think about the plants? With each
veggie you are taking off the vine, you are taking nutrients that were once in
the soil along with it. Fall is a great time to replace some of the less soluble
nutrients that plants need to thrive.
Calcium- One of the most important nutrients for tomatoes. Without enough calcium
plants are prone to blossom-end rot and numerous other diseases. In my garden I like
to use broken up shellfish shells. Crab, lobster, clam, and oyster shells. After a
seafood feast I throw the shells back into boiling water for a few minutes to make
sure they're clean, as not to stink up the yard and attract critters. When the shells
are cool I double bag them in a Ziploc bag or old pillow case and crush them up (I
use a soil tamper, but since most people don't have a tamper, a board or rolling pin
will work fine). Scatter the crushed shells over the garden. Calcium will slowly
leech out of the shells as they decompose over the years acting like a time release
calcium capsule.
Nitrogen- This is a soil additive that is best added in the spring prior to planting.
Nitrogen tends to wash out of the soil during heavy rains and snow melts of winter.
Composted cow manure or compost are wonderful additives for soil. Too much nitrogen
will cause lots of plant growth, but not a lot of vegetable production.
Phosphorus and Potash- Both these nutrients are needed for strong, healthy, disease
free growth of plants. We recommend using a soil test kit to determine if your soil
needs a boost. Too much of either of these can negatively effect crops. Too little
will hinder seed germination, slow the production of seeds and fruits, and cause
plant sugars to be low (i.e. corn that's not very sweet). There are powder and
granule products that can be purchased to add to the soil in the fall.
Most people think of spring as the time to deal with the garden soil. Taking a little
time in the fall instead will give the additives a chance to work deep into the soil
and be there in the early spring when the plants need the energy most to get off to a
healthy start. |
