ページ

Oct 2, 2010

Buying soil.

 I've mentioned soil in my garden is less nutritious and have been trying soil improvement in some ways like adding fertilizer.
 A few days ago I was hinted by a blogger saying "Why don't you buy soil?. Well, I'm convinced that that idea could be in my option since I'm not familiar with soil nutritions. The idea would be "a short-cut".

 Changing a whole of soil into new one is quite difficult for me and I'm not sure the idea would really work out. So I decided to test the idea with purchasing some packs of soil and transplanting it into small part of a ridge. 
 I went to a home-depo near my house, found some packs of "soil", which are produced by a famous seed & plant supplier and bought 4 packs of it for about 5 dollars per pack.

 I dug a 10inch and 10foot trench and transplanted the soil into the trench.
 The test which I'll do is planting young plants of the same kind of Chinese cabbage which had planted on another ridge.

 If difference in how they glow is found, I could make sure that idea works out and can be quick method for beginners.


6 comments:

Malay-Kadazan girl said...

Hi! Why not try green manure or animal manure rather than buy soil much cheaper that way. When you dig in the soil do you find any earthwor? My patch soil was heavy clay soil and I hardly find any earthworm when I dig in. So I keep all of my kitchen or garden green waste and dig it in to the soil. It break the soil, bring in nutrient and many earthworm (no need to purchase them). Now I also have a place where I can get free horse manure. But it is a neat experiment you are doing now.

takaeko said...

It's very lucky for you to get free animal manure.

I know a manure is effective but I can't get that around my house in Osaka. And manure and compost can not be used in my garden since those can smell strongly especially in a hot summer and I've got some complains from neighbors.

I usually use fertilizers blended with fermented animal manure and other nutritions. That is less smelly.

Buying soil is just a experiment I'm interested in.
Experiment can give us result. That process is needed for pursuing more delicious and productive vegetables, I believe.

Bangchik and Kakdah said...

I did small size compost heap, and within a month or two, the soil change colour becoming darker and and worms love to camp underneath! ~bangchik

Autumn Belle said...

I do composting in a big flower pot, using the layering method. Put in kitchen waste and cover with burnt sandy soil, and repeat for a few layers. The soil will cover the smell and rot. Later turn the soil around to speed up composting. Good luck in your latest experiment!

takaeko said...

Bangchik>

Well, the soil where worms love to habit means it's a good soil to vegetables too, because it seems to be much nutritious.

Autumn Belle>

Your method sounds it can deal with smell which is my concern about using compost in my garden.
I'll tell my wife about your method and seek if we can make compost in your way. Thanks!

Ellada said...

Hello Takaeko
Don't be afraid, compost don't smell, and it's good for your garden.