Top soil

[Chayna Renee]

I recently put top soil in my raised garden bed. that's the only thing in it. I wasn't the one that bought it. My dad came home with it and I don't really think you can return all of that so I put all of it in. My raised garden bed in on my deck so it's not on the ground if that matters. Anyway, this is the first year I have tried to grow anything. I currently have strawberries, cucumbers, greens beans, cauliflower, and a cabbage plant in there. I don't really have a good history with keeping plants alive so if anyone could give me any pointers on what to do so I don't murder some more plants this year i would really appreciate it. haha. Thanks in advanced.

 

[Chuck]

I recently put top soil in my raised garden bed. that's the only thing in it. I wasn't the one that bought it. My dad came home with it and I don't really think you can return all of that so I put all of it in. My raised garden bed in on my deck so it's not on the ground if that matters. Anyway, this is the first year I have tried to grow anything. I currently have strawberries, cucumbers, greens beans, cauliflower, and a cabbage plant in there. I don't really have a good history with keeping plants alive so if anyone could give me any pointers on what to do so I don't murder some more plants this year i would really appreciate it. haha. Thanks in advanced.

Depending on where you live it is most likely that it is too late for cabbage and cauliflower and probably strawberries too... How deep is the soil? And how much area? Please update your profile or what ever it is called as to where you are so we can give a better solutions to your problems and/or questions

 

[InvasiveCreeper]

I recently put top soil in my raised garden bed. that's the only thing in it.

Topsoil, that which is marketed and sold in a bag, is not what you would want. You want compost. Add compost, horticultural grit and some peat moss, all in equal measure.

 

[Chayna Renee]

I'm in Indiana. I got the plants from a local supermarket. They just started selling them so I just assumed it is the right time to grow them. I bought this on Amazon. Here is the link. I think the exact measurements are 70" L x 30" W x 31-1/2" H. http://www.amazon.com/Vegtrug-Limit...&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o04_s00

Is there anything I can do now in order for them to grow? It took about five forty pound bags to fill that thing.

 

[headfullofbees]

Worm hummus and volcanic rockdust/seaweed are the quickest and cheapest ways to increase the beneficial life in your soil, although it may already be high quality.
Over the longer term, add any worms you find elsewhere in the garden, and make them happy with a few dead leaves and a little shredded paper.
Fish blood and bone will fertilise all three types of plants, but it's a far from ideal environment for caulies, which can be troublesome..

 

[Chayna Renee]

Worm hummus and volcanic rockdust/seaweed are the quickest and cheapest ways to increase the beneficial life in your soil, although it may already be high quality.
Over the longer term, add any worms you find elsewhere in the garden, and make them happy with a few dead leaves and a little shredded paper.
Fish blood and bone will fertilise all three types of plants, but it's a far from ideal environment for caulies, which can be troublesome..

Thank you. The worms won't eat any of the plants will they? How are they beneficial?

 

[Chuck]

Thank you. The worms won't eat any of the plants will they? How are they beneficial?

Living in Indiana seaweed will be a problem to obtain. Rock dust may or may not be a help, depending on your soil make up. There are products readily available at any real nursery such as liquid seaweed or liquid kelp, both great amendments to your soil. Any good manure based compost will have a tremendous effect when incorporated into the soil. There are dozens of them. Earthworms and worm castings are extremely beneficial to your soils health and, no, earthworms do not harm plants at all. They are beneficial because as they crawl through the soil they intake soil at their head and as they creep forward the digested soil and its nutrients come out the other end. Kind of a living fertilizer factory. Any and all organic plant material will also be of great benefit when added to your soil. Learn how to make actively aerated compost tea and water with that. Always use either an organic plant based fertilizer such as an alfalfa based or a manure based fertilizer. There are many, many other things you can incorporate into your soil but seaweed extract and rock phosphate are a great start along with copious amounts of compost.

 

[Chayna Renee]

Living in Indiana seaweed will be a problem to obtain. Rock dust may or may not be a help, depending on your soil make up. There are products readily available at any real nursery such as liquid seaweed or liquid kelp, both great amendments to your soil. Any good manure based compost will have a tremendous effect when incorporated into the soil. There are dozens of them. Earthworms and worm castings are extremely beneficial to your soils health and, no, earthworms do not harm plants at all. They are beneficial because as they crawl through the soil they intake soil at their head and as they creep forward the digested soil and its nutrients come out the other end. Kind of a living fertilizer factory. Any and all organic plant material will also be of great benefit when added to your soil. Learn how to make actively aerated compost tea and water with that. Always use either an organic plant based fertilizer such as an alfalfa based or a manure based fertilizer. There are many, many other things you can incorporate into your soil but seaweed extract and rock phosphate are a great start along with copious amounts of compost.

Thank you so much.

 

[Chayna Renee]

Worm hummus and volcanic rockdust/seaweed are the quickest and cheapest ways to increase the beneficial life in your soil, although it may already be high quality.
Over the longer term, add any worms you find elsewhere in the garden, and make them happy with a few dead leaves and a little shredded paper.
Fish blood and bone will fertilise all three types of plants, but it's a far from ideal environment for caulies, which can be troublesome..

Okay, I have a problem. I told my mom about the worm thing and how it could really help and I have been researching it and I don't really think it would be that hard. There are a few places around town I could get worms and I could even order them since the weather is pretty decent now. Since the garden bed is on the deck and has legs she thinks the worms will be all over the deck. They won't will they? I could still put them in a raised garden bed with legs right? Is there any way you could possibly explain to her that it would benefit the plants?

 

[Chuck]

Okay, I have a problem. I told my mom about the worm thing and how it could really help and I have been researching it and I don't really think it would be that hard. There are a few places around town I could get worms and I could even order them since the weather is pretty decent now. Since the garden bed is on the deck and has legs she thinks the worms will be all over the deck. They won't will they? I could still put them in a raised garden bed with legs right? Is there any way you could possibly explain to her that it would benefit the plants?

No, the worms will not be all over the place unless you flood them. If you water too much they will try to escape to prevent themselves from drowning.

 

[InvasiveCreeper]

Headfullofbees,

Worm hummus

http://cdn.iowagirleats.com/wp-cont...yer-Baked-Hummus-Dip-iowagirleats-04_mini.jpg

http://www.studiomatters.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/can+of+worms.jpg

 

[Corzhens]

Topsoil, that which is marketed and sold in a bag, is not what you would want. You want compost. Add compost, horticultural grit and some peat moss, all in equal measure.

I agree with the compost because this would give strength to your vegetables. Top soil is okay but it would depend on the kind of plants. I don't know if there are composts for sale in your area but If there isn't then maybe you can make your own compost in a plastic drum or any container. Put some top soil and cover it with excess leaves of vegetables from the kitchen, fruit rind also and some other biodegradable matter. In 2 months you can mix that decayed compost with the top soild for a stronger plant bed.