Soil Preparation is Critical ....

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Soil preparation is a critical step in getting your garden ready for cultivation and ideally this step should be done in the fall. This gives the soil time over the winter to enrich itself after you have dressed and tilled it. Excellent results can still be achieved if this preparation timetable is not feasible, so this timing is not absolutely critical.

If your plot is fairly large, it would be advisable to rent or borrow a rotary tiller if you don't own one. Loosen the soil thoroughly and pick out the sticks, stones, rocks and any other debris. Remove any existing sod and vegetation, shake out the dirt and place the waste sod or vegetation into your compost pile. You don�t have a compost pile? Give thought to building or buying one. You will be doing you and your garden a huge favor.

In the soil preparation process, this is also a good time to test your soil PH for its value. Vegetables normally do well in a slightly acidic soil condition. Check with your local extension service for more advice on this subject. Soil testing kits are quite inexpensive and will give excellent results.

Mulch with a dusting of lime or fertilizer, 2 or 3 in. of manure, and any organic materials such as leaves, peat moss, straw, hay, grass clippings etc. and till in to a depth of 8 to 10 inches The decomposition of these organic materials over the winter, will add valuable nutrients to your garden. After this is done, plant with a cover crop of winter rye; which will create an environmentally friendly green manure.

Now you have all winter to read the seed catalogs and look forward to spring!!
In spring as soon as it is dry enough, till in the cover crop to a depth of 6 to 8 inches. Retest the soil for the soil PH values because some leeching may occur over the winter; and the PH level may have to be adjusted. Try not to till soil when it is too wet. If the soil is sticking to the tiller or any other tools, it is too wet to work. A shiny surface on the turned earth is another indication of a dangerously wet soil condition. Why is this important? When the soil dries it will create hard rock-like clumps, which are extremely difficult to return to a friable state and to work into good loam.

A word of caution, do not over till the soil because it may become too fine and will not hold oxygen, water or nutrients. If the soil does become overworked, more organic material such as peat moss, manure or compost will have to be worked into it. Your soil preparation is just about done and now you ready to plant. Rake the plot to even the surface and apply fertilizer shortly before you seed or set plants.

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