Soil ?

My Foot Smells · February 23, 2016

About 5 years ago I made some raise beds (20" high) and filled with a "super soil" mix of 30% sand/silt & 70% compost. Every other year I have topped them off with the same mix, as I have a supplier that I get the stuff pretty cheap. This maybe a "rookie move," as I now am seeing a lot of the sand silt - but haven't tilled or anything.

The soil has lots of life and have no problem growing anything. The loose composition helps drain. Previously I used a top soil mix with bad results (thus the move to the super soil), as we get a heavy wet spring and things became too damp for too long - producing lots of disease - esp. w/ tomatoes.

It is that time again to do a light "topping." Thinking about mixing it up, but then again, the super soil has been a great performer and can just add another layer.

Has anybody here ever just gone with the supersoil? It does breakdown some, but drains well. I live on about 2 acres of heavy clay in the river valley where water can pool - thus the raised beds.

Figure it would be a good time to ask before I add, LOL. TIA

Worth1 · February 23, 2016

If you are happy and it is working why mess with it.
My beds have decomposed granite mixed in them.
Worth

My Foot Smells · February 23, 2016

Quote:

Originally Posted by Worth1

If you are happy and it is working why mess with it.
My beds have decomposed granite mixed in them.
Worth

True. But you always think "something" could be better. I do compost in small batches and add periodically (couple of tumblers). The sand is a river silt.

IDNK that granite decomposed, but guess there are a lot of fillers to create air space. Did you just put a headstone in a paper shredder?

Worth1 · February 23, 2016

Quote:

Originally Posted by My Foot Smells

True. But you always think "something" could be better. I do compost in small batches and add periodically (couple of tumblers). The sand is a river silt.

IDNK that granite decomposed, but guess there are a lot of fillers to create air space. Did you just put a headstone in a paper shredder?

We have granite quarries here and it is the sawdust so to speak from sawing the slabs.
It is loaded with minerals.
They sell it in the nurseries for a crazy high price in little bags.
I buy it from the landscape stone people for around $32 a cubic yard.

Worth

My Foot Smells · February 23, 2016

That's awesome. Have a friend who pays an arm & leg for azomite, but swears by results.

AlittleSalt · February 23, 2016

It's that way here with Limestone. My next door neighbor who works at a quarry comes home from work white as a ghost because he's covered in Limestone dust.

TightenUp · February 23, 2016

the organic material breaks down but the sand stays. Maybe add just compost?

that being said its hard to argue with good results.

I used mels mix which is 1/3 peat 1/3 vermiculite 1/3 compost. His instructions are to add compost only going forward. Very happy with results

My Foot Smells · February 23, 2016

That's what I was thinking, tightenup; as we are only talking about a 4" layer. Maybe till it in on top to mix it up a bit. always scared of straight compost coming in too hot, but the years show more sand in the mix, like grey hairs on the head. Don't see how that would screw things up too much...... thx

Worth1 · February 23, 2016

You will be fine adding more compost and mixing.
Just remember it is a wives tail that compost is fertilizer it isn't, it is a soil builder.
Also compost is a generic term for anything broken down.
If it is wood and leaves you are going to have almost zilch nitrogen.

Worth

PureHarvest · February 23, 2016

Quote:

Originally Posted by Worth1

You will be fine adding more compost and mixing.
Just remember it is a wives tail that compost is fertilizer it isn't, it is a soil builder.
Also compost is a generic term for anything broken down.
If it is wood and leaves you are going to have almost zilch nitrogen.

Worth

AMEN, Worth!
I can't tell you home many people I consult with think the opposite.

MFS, if you wanna geek out a tad, and layering on top has worked for you over time, I'd keep doing that. Reason is, you are gonna destroy the soil food web that has been building in this existing bed all these years. Plus the second you till/turn/ dig into it, you introduce oxygen. This burns up any organic matter that is still in there.
Just something to consider.

Farmette · February 24, 2016

Quote:

Originally Posted by PureHarvest

AMEN, Worth!
I can't tell you home many people I consult with think the opposite.

MFS, if you wanna geek out a tad, and layering on top has worked for you over time, I'd keep doing that. Reason is, you are gonna destroy the soil food web that has been building in this existing bed all these years. Plus the second you till/turn/ dig into it, you introduce oxygen. This burns up any organic matter that is still in there.
Just something to consider.

I am confused here, but appreciating this thread. I thought it was common practice for raised bed gardeners to turn over the soul in spring, with most of them adding compost, etc. Are you saying they should not turn the soil over? I know it is not good to rototill an in ground bed, but what about turning over by hand to mix in additives. Thanks!

Worth1 · February 24, 2016

Quote:

Originally Posted by Farmette

I am confused here, but appreciating this thread. I thought it was common practice for raised bed gardeners to turn over the soul in spring, with most of them adding compost, etc. Are you saying they should not turn the soil over? Thanks!

I am going to answer for him if you dont mind and that is for the both of you.

You are tearing up the house so to speak.
If I turned over my beds and mixed everything back up I would be killing some really nice beautiful snake sized worms and ruing the structure of the soil.
It is a living organism that is best left undisturbed.
There are critter and webs of fungus you cant see that will be destroyed these are what help break down nutrients so the plants can feed.
It is like setting a bomb off in a factory.

Worth

sjamesNorway · March 30, 2016

Quote:

Originally Posted by Worth1

You will be fine adding more compost and mixing.
Just remember it is a wives tail that compost is fertilizer it isn't, it is a soil builder.
Also compost is a generic term for anything broken down.
If it is wood and leaves you are going to have almost zilch nitrogen.

Worth

I wonder if somebody could explain to me why "compost isn't a fertilizer"? I'd like to know where all the nutrients from all that vegetable-matter are going. When a whole years waste becomes maybe 4 square feet of finished compost, there must be an accumulation of nutrients.

Steve

PureHarvest · February 23, 2016

Also, do you fertilize at all at any point?

My Foot Smells · February 23, 2016

Quote:

Originally Posted by PureHarvest

Also, do you fertilize at all at any point?

Yes, tomato tone several applications.

If no nitrogen, what is best way to boost. Meant to do a cover crop, but did not.

February 23, 2016	#1
My Foot Smells Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: Pulaski County, Arkansas Posts: 1,239	Soil ? About 5 years ago I made some raise beds (20" high) and filled with a "super soil" mix of 30% sand/silt & 70% compost. Every other year I have topped them off with the same mix, as I have a supplier that I get the stuff pretty cheap. This maybe a "rookie move," as I now am seeing a lot of the sand silt - but haven't tilled or anything. The soil has lots of life and have no problem growing anything. The loose composition helps drain. Previously I used a top soil mix with bad results (thus the move to the super soil), as we get a heavy wet spring and things became too damp for too long - producing lots of disease - esp. w/ tomatoes. It is that time again to do a light "topping." Thinking about mixing it up, but then again, the super soil has been a great performer and can just add another layer. Has anybody here ever just gone with the supersoil? It does breakdown some, but drains well. I live on about 2 acres of heavy clay in the river valley where water can pool - thus the raised beds. Figure it would be a good time to ask before I add, LOL. TIA

February 23, 2016	#7
TightenUp Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Jersey Posts: 1,183	the organic material breaks down but the sand stays. Maybe add just compost? that being said its hard to argue with good results. I used mels mix which is 1/3 peat 1/3 vermiculite 1/3 compost. His instructions are to add compost only going forward. Very happy with results __________________

February 23, 2016	#2
Worth1 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Den of Drunken Fools Posts: 38,539	If you are happy and it is working why mess with it. My beds have decomposed granite mixed in them. Worth

February 23, 2016	#6
AlittleSalt BANNED FOR LIFE Join Date: May 2014 Posts: 13,333	It's that way here with Limestone. My next door neighbor who works at a quarry comes home from work white as a ghost because he's covered in Limestone dust.

February 23, 2016	#14
PureHarvest Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Mid-Atlantic right on the line of Zone 7a and 7b Posts: 1,369	Also, do you fertilize at all at any point?