[Community_garden] Tossing clay

Thu Mar 27 14:48:26 EDT 2008

I agree.  Clay is good soil; full of valuable minerals and nutrition.  The
clay is so tightly bound that it will not give up the nutriants easily.  The
compost and gypsun [ I have used old seet-rock tillered in the garden ...
some call sheet-rock' "gypsun board"] anyways it helps loosen the clay
platelets up so they give of their richness.  Work organics into the soil
and watch it grow a great garden!
Harold Haas
On Thu, Mar 27, 2008 at 12:03 PM, Mike McGrath <MikeMcG at ptd.net> wrote:

> I only remove the big clumps of stuff that are better suited to making
> pots
> than growing plants.
>
> Although almost total excavation IS the prime advice in Mel Bartholomew's
> Square Foot system....
>
>                                                            ----McG
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Ray Schutte" <rayschutte at comcast.net>
> To: "'Mike McGrath'" <MikeMcG at PTD.net>; "'Susannah Evans'"
> <susannahevans at hotmail.com>; <community_garden at list.communitygarden.org>
> Sent: Thursday, March 27, 2008 1:01 PM
> Subject: Re: [Community_garden] Soil Amendments
>
>
> > Why remove soil that is full of valuable minerals and nutrition.  Mix it
> > with the compost and gypsum,  It is some work but no more than removing
> > the
> > clay.   I have successfully done this and the resulting garden was well
> > worth the time.  It will be a few years before you can grow great
> carrots,
> > but you can condition an area for that.  Keep in mind sandy loam one of
> > the
> > most desired soils is clay based.  The best advice has been to add
> organic
> > material, add organic material and add organic material.   You will
> admire
> > the results.
> >
> > Ray Schutte
> >
> > "The truth of the matter is that the flower has cleverly manipulated the
> > bee
> > into hauling its pollen from blossom to blossom." The Botany of Desire,
> > Michael Pollan
> >
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: community_garden-bounces at list.communitygarden.org
> > [mailto:community_garden-bounces at list.communitygarden.org] On Behalf Of
> > Mike
> > McGrath
> > Sent: Thursday, March 27, 2008 8:29 AM
> > To: Susannah Evans; community_garden at list.communitygarden.org
> > Subject: Re: [Community_garden] Soil Amendments
> >
> > What Ken said: Get a big load or two of compost and/or well aged
> mushroom
> > soil delivered.
> > I'll add that physical removal of large deposits of clay is very
> effective
> > and emotionally satisfying.
> > forget the gypsum--all the books recommend it, but in 30 years I have
> yet
> > to
> >
> > hear a farmer or gardener say it worked as promised. And 10-10-10 id
> pure
> > unbalanced garbage.
> >
> > Remove as much clay as you can, mix in lots of good compost and you
> won't
> > need any added food the first year.
> >                                                    ---Mike McG
> >
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: "Susannah Evans" <susannahevans at hotmail.com>
> > To: <community_garden at list.communitygarden.org>
> > Sent: Wednesday, March 26, 2008 1:12 PM
> > Subject: [Community_garden] Soil Amendments
> >
> >
> > We have a communal community garden in Columbus, OH - 40' by 80' with a
> > clay
> >
> > based soil. Our group has had several conversations about amending the
> > soil
> > to help break down the clay. Gypsum was suggested and I was wondering if
> > there was a good source of gypsum that would be considered organic? We
> are
> > not a completely organic operation, but we try to consider everything we
> > add
> >
> > to the soil to make the best decision. Also, we are interested in
> starting
> > some of our vegetables within the next month. Would gypsum be ok to
> apply
> > now and till in or should it be applied in the fall.
> >
> > It was also suggested to add some 10-10-10 fertilizer to boost the soil.
> > We
> > are going to have a soil test done soon to see if we have specific pH or
> > nutrient deficiencies. Any recommendations on some good organic soil
> > amendments that could be added in the spring (or suggestions for fall?).
> > We
> > are looking to grow potatoes, tomatoes, green peppers, zucchini, bush
> > beans,
> >
> > lima beans, peas, lettuce, broccoli and celery.
> >
> > Thanks,
> > Susannah Evans
> > Epworth Veggie Garden
> > Columbus, OH
> > _________________________________________________________________
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