Franklin County Master Gardener Training 2016
Single most important ingredient of gardening
Affected civilization Can be improved and kept healthy
Get in there! Has many parts
• Mineral • Microbes • Animals • Organic matter • Pore space
Individual layers • A horizon- topsoil, living layer • B horizon- subsoil, stores water • C & R horizon- parent material
Formed by parent material • Water & weather • Shape of land and vegetation • Will revert back to parent soil
Texture • Particle size Sand- biggest Silt- size of talc Clay- microscopic
• Textural classes Mixture of particles Affects water, nutrient
and air movement
Structure • Caused by physical forces • Air & water movement Root development Tilth- how easily the soil can be tilled
• Biological impact Organic matter- worms, microbes Nitrogen fixing plants Continue to improve with organic matter
Structure • Drainage Affect availability of nutrients to plants Capillary action & gravity Optimum moisture = 50% of pore space is water Wilting- plant cannot absorb moisture Soil texture and depth effect drainage Organic matter aids in moisture retention
pH • Scale 1.0-14.0 with 7.0 being neutral • 1.0-6.9 is acidic (sour) • 7.1-14.0 is alkaline (sweet) • At pH extremes, nutrients are less available chlorosis
• Adjusting pH Acidic: fertilizer, iron sulfate, aluminum sulfate Alkaline: lime, wood ash
Mechanical • Dig it! Stay out of wet soil!
• Compaction Reduces pore space Reduces microorganisms Reduces earthworms
• Double dig Labor intensive Amendments should be added
Amendments • Improve the soil structure • Organic matter Compost, manure, worms, peat moss, cover crops, etc. Increases drainage and moisture holding
• Nutrients Fertilizer, sludge, manure, cover crops Adds some nutrients
• Soil conditioners Gypsum, sharp sand
Composting • Easy, inexpensive and beneficial • Kitchen waste, leaves, grass, old potting soil, etc. • Not an exact science • Humus Improves soil structure, water & nutrient holding Encourages microbes Warms soils faster
Pile Composting • Need at least one cubic yard • Equal amounts of dry and “wet” material Dry: newspaper, hay, leaves, sawdust Wet: plant material, kitchen scraps, manure, coffee
grounds, tea bags • Pile, wire, snow fence, pallets, bins, trash can • Small pieces are better • Turn frequently • 140º must be reached to kill weed seeds &
disease
Trench Composting • “Cold Composting” • Dig a trench- add material • Do not add diseased/ infested material • Cover with a few inches of soil • Takes about a year to complete • Plant beans or peas
Green Manures aka Cover Crops • Organic matter • Reduces erosion • Can add N (legumes) • Improves tilth • Plant in fall, turn into soil 2 weeks before
planting • Plant legumes in spring on fallow ground
Needs to grow quickly Needs to be easy to plow under Plant immediately after harvesting vegetables Need at least 4 weeks before cold weather
• Some kinds will die after frost • Winter-hardy crops will resume growing in the
spring Legumes = nitrogen fixers Grasses = organic matter & erosion control
Annual • Need at least 4 weeks grow-time before frost • Mow after frost and leave on the garden ‘til
spring • In the early spring, till residue into soil
Winter-hardy • Will resume growth in spring • Mow (weed-eat) before it goes to seed • Till into soil when ground can be worked • Allow 3-6 weeks before planting vegetables
Non-legumes • Ryegrass • Barley • Wheat • Buckwheat
Legumes • Crimson Clover • Hairy Vetch • Austrian peas • Alfalfa
Add certain elements for growth Organic & Inorganic
• Plant or animal or mineral Natural & Synthetic
• Found in nature or produced chemically Micro & Macronutrients
• The “Big 3” and more!
Plant Nutrients • Nitrogen Chlorophyll, leaf production Leaches out of soil
• Phosphorus Roots, shoots, flowers Moves slowly out of soil
• Potassium (K) Fruit production Moves slowly out of soil
N-P-K Ratio • Numbers by weight • 20-10-5 100 lbs = 20 lbs N, 10 lbs P, 5 lbs K • Filler provides “buffer”
Formulation • Granular • Water soluble • Liquids • Pellets, spikes, tablets...
Complete • Contain N-P-K
Incomplete • 1 or 2 of the 3 • Can mix to make complete
Special Purpose • Used for specific plants • BUT read the label!
Inorganic • Non-living or mineral • WIN Release Slow - releases over time, longer lasting, can apply
higher rates Be careful around trees & shrubs
• Liquid fertilizer- WSN Release May also be powder added to water Use at ½ rate, twice as often
Organic • Remains or by-product of living organism • May be low in N-P-K • Microbes break down to release nutrients Require moisture & warm soil May not be available(released) when needed
• Increases organic material • Improve soil structure • Increase microbial activity
Organic • Cottonseed meal- 7-3-2, good for acid-lovers • Blood meal- pure N, use only as directed • Fish emulsion- great but smelly… • Manure- better composted, ratio usually 1-1-1
Sewage Sludge • Composted and Activated • Read label- may not be for edible crops • Heavy metals
Soil Test! • Every 3 years • Gather soil from many locations in the area • Garden- 6-8” down, Lawn- 2-4” down • Mix together for average • Test pH and nutrients, gives recommendations
Foliar Testing • Nutrient deficiencies • Not normally for the home gardener
Application Rate • More is not better • Know your area size • Irrigate after applying
Application Timing • Timing is everything • Consider
Application Methods • Broadcasting- large areas, equipment • Banding- narrow bands (or circles) near planted
seed • Starter Solution- transplants, stimulate root
growth • Side Dressing- applied in bands to veggies
flowering, rake in & water • Foliar Feeding- spray on leaves, not for regular
application • Injection- don’t try this at home
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