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NEPA [email protected] KB3QKV

I have a clay soil. If I used some peat moss would that help to loosen the soil a little? Would it help the pumpkin growth any? It worked in the last garden I had. Is there anything else that I could add to aid to loosen the soil?

3/7/2005 8:09:03 AM

Waquoit Mass

sand will loosen the clay then pound the compost good luck

3/7/2005 8:13:57 AM

Menomonie, WI ([email protected])

Gypsum is also good for helping breaking up the clay soil. As Dave said add as much organic matter as possible. After 6 years my clay soil is finally getting to have a good tilth.

3/7/2005 9:22:37 AM

South Western Pa

It will loosen the soil however it will also acidify it. If you live in western PA the soil tends to be pretty acidic to start with.


Mark

3/7/2005 10:26:45 AM

[email protected]

On the organic side: Manure, leaf compost, Peat Moss, humic acid concentrates, all support bacteria & fungi which help the clay "aggregate" & hold it open for air penetration & water percolation.

Of the minerals: Calcined clay, sand, fine pea gravel, perlitle, vermiculite, whatever you can get large quantities of that will aid in air & water movement is good.

All are good in moderation balance. The key is to get going on adding them ASAP & avoid fresh organic amendments in the spring(but do use some). Save the heaviest & freshest amendments for fall.

3/7/2005 10:34:09 AM

Pocatello ([email protected])

I have clay soil that is also very high in pH. I plan to try
using peat moss this year...

3/7/2005 10:41:16 AM

don't put sand in it. just add lots of OM. sand will sorda turn it to concrete unless you add enough sand to equal about 1/3 of the volume of the dirt. gypsum can help too.

3/7/2005 5:40:37 PM

Phoenix, AZ

I have clay also. ORGANIC MATTER. As Forrest Gump would say: that is all there is to say about that.

I fought clay myself but mine was also difficult because of the excessive sodium I have. OM did what gypsum only began to do.

3/7/2005 8:17:09 PM

Picton,ON ([email protected])

The most important thing with clay, is to stay off it when its wet, spring or fall. My clay soils are a real challange. Our weigh off is the second week of october. There is a real narrow window to get the crop off, manure/compost spread and tillage done before it gets too wet. Spring is another challange, especially if a late wet spring. I want to transplant out by the 10th of May but some years my soil is still too wet to work. Its better to wait untill dry and be a little later transplanting!

3/7/2005 9:34:26 PM

Montoursville, PA

Clay problems...pour in the OM and grow a cover crop to futher add OM. If it is real bad don't be afraid to use some peat moss or some mushroom compost to get going.

Manures, elements of compost and compost are the best way to fix up both clay and sandy soil. Don't forget the all important leaves that will blend in with all the other elements. Don't overlook coffee grounds as a very good way to build OM. Search the area dump sites for grass and leaf deposits. Above all else haul the poop and get it in the patch in the fall. Build compost piles to save for fall when you have little time to find all these goodies.

It has been my experience that I simply do not have time to haul and distribute much at the end of the season. I have to peck away at it all summer one trailer load at a time.
By fall there will be a couple of tons of nearly finished compost to move onto te patch and till in along with the new leaves.

To site an example our area growers each got a load of chicken poop the week before Christmas. We made a bee line to it where the farmer loaded it for us. All of us put it on top of last fall's leaves. To cull odor I capped mine with a light dusting of peat moss and watered it so it would not blow away. So far there is nothing there but a bunch of leaves and that chicken poop. The key factor is that it is there now! I will add bunches of other stuff all summer long getting ready for next fall.

3/7/2005 9:54:42 PM

Brillion Wisconsin

You may want consider building a raised bed garden. If you have real bad clay(like I do) its easier to build up rather than try to fix whats underneath.

Three years of hauling in composted manure and top soil. Tilling leaves in fall and I have 7 to 10 inches of nice garden dirt.

Now, after all the work I put into my garden soil my wife wants a bigger house. Oh well, I will have to start all over from scratch. Atleast the new house will have room for more plants :-)

3/7/2005 10:40:22 PM

In the shade - PDX, OR

Green - Do like Brett did and take your soil with you.


All info above pretty much covers it.

Last year's new patch was built in clay.
Double dug and added as much OM I could get my hands on.
This included composted manure, leaves, coffee grounds, 5 or 6 big bales of peat, cover crop etc.
I think I put in 300 lbs of Gypsum too. (per the soil test) And 3 yards of pumice and vermiculite.

The result was about a 2ft raised bed.

3/8/2005 12:43:05 AM

NEPA [email protected] KB3QKV

Thanks everyone. That was more help than I ever expected. I learned a lot here. Just one more question. What is OM???

3/8/2005 9:56:32 AM

[email protected]

Organic Matter

3/8/2005 10:31:53 AM

NEPA [email protected] KB3QKV

Thanks. I better learn some more LOL. Thanks tremor.

3/8/2005 12:56:06 PM