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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