Subcultureoftwo_small
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I don't have great garden soil. What can I get away with?

I'm gardening in a remote location, so I have to do the best with what I've got. I fertilize my garden with generous quantities of horse manure every year, but on the whole, the soil is thin and rocky and it always will be. I also have more patches of partial sun rather than full, and a shorter-than-average growing season.

I LOVE to garden, and I want to keep doing it. What types of produce would be the best-adapted to my little patch?

Historically, summer squash has done GREAT in my garden as long as I give them full sun. Our growing season doesn't seem to be long enough for other kinds of squash...frost comes when the fruits are tiny and green. Cucumbers do great. Tomatoes (except for last year) are slow to start, but produce well once they get going. ANYTHING in the Brassica genus (kale, broccoli, etc.) gets eaten down to the nub by some kind of insect in very short order. Salad does okay but bolts early.

What else can I try this year? I'll be buying my starts in mid-May and would love some guidance. I've also tended to get them in the garden sections of mega-stores (Home Depot, etc), so if I should avoid that with certain things, tell me.

Sacrelicious asked in Edibles & Herbs about 1 year ago | Report

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    Sarah Cassidy

    Dear Sacreligious,
    Soil is the soul of the garden, tis true. You gotta work with what you've got. BUT soil is truly amenable as well, as many garden gurus, from Alan Chadwick to Steve Solomon, have proven. Lots of organic matter, and good organic matter, matters. You can see the change through better yields. HENCE, I would seek out a better amendment than horse manure, which is full of weed seeds, not as nutritious as other manures, and has been known to pass on the herbicide Clopirilid (sp?), which is blamed for the die-off of nightshades and legume vegetable families. A source of goat, cow, or chicken manure, well composted, would be a better choice.

    That said, sounds like you have had good luck with many a veggie in your little plot! Good on ya. Do you have space to grow up? I mean your veggies, not you. You can train you winter squash, cukes, and some non-bush summer squash vars. along a trellis and perhaps they could find more sun upwards than outwards. PLUS this practice saves you precious garden soil space!

    As per your brassicas and lettuces, they fall under the category of "I need lots of water". Bolting of lettuce usually denotes either too hot weather or not enough water. Brassicas need coolness and rich soil. Try em again, this time with lots of moisture!

    Sounds like you are a good candidate for a little Seattle Tilth love and learning...they have THE BEST veggie starts offered in the area, along with THE SMARTEST info on how to grow your food organically, with all the best tips for food growers. Check them out. Thier killer plant sale is the first weekend in May. I would stay away from the mega-store plants, as they are not bred for sustenance. Tilth's are.

    Bon Chance!!

    Sarah Cassidy answered in Edibles & Herbs about 1 year ago | Report
    2 comments by Sacrelicious and Sacrelicious…
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