I've been gardening for about ten years in the foothills of NC (zone 7), where we have rich red clay soil. Initially, I mixed in some topsoil, manure, humus, and peat moss about a decade ago, and since then, I've added more humus and manure along with some Miracle-Gro through the hose. My garden consists of 5x3' metal raised beds that sit on top of the clay without mixing it in, as that seems to retain too much water. While herbs thrive, other crops like tomatoes, peppers, and squash tend to die off by July. Cucumber yields are decent but on the smaller side. I'm considering whether I need to amp up my amendments beyond just a bag of manure and humus per plot. Any suggestions?
1 Answer
Have you thought about doing a soil test? North Carolina offers subsidized tests which are often free. It can really guide you in identifying what your soil needs. Based on the results, you can make more informed amendments to help your garden thrive. It's worth checking out!
I appreciate the tip! I actually heard some amendments take time to break down, so I was unsure if I should do the test now or wait until fall. Should I just go ahead with it?