From

Location

Message

Date Posted

Buffalo, New York

How thick is your soil for your plants?
Last year at my stump, i made a hill of compost so it was higher there, but where the plant spread out, it was only a few inches deep and not the best soil, this year i will be spreading compost out throughout the whole patch, how thick should i pile this compost on throuhout the patch?

10/9/2007 11:32:06 AM

Berlin,mi.([email protected])

I think mine goes all the way to china?lol. really my top soil is at least 18 inches deep and i amend the top 12 inches.

10/9/2007 11:40:44 AM

Buffalo, New York

by amend, you mean til up the top 12"?

10/9/2007 12:02:07 PM

[email protected]

Tilling is tilling which is just a physical turning of the soil. Amending means that Steve is altering the chemical &/or physical properties of the top 12" by adding organics (manures, leaves, compost, etc) & minerals (lime, fert, etc). These are usually tilled in but can also be ploughed.

10/9/2007 12:33:48 PM

Minnesota

One way of never forgeting what tilling means is like I did yesterday, tilled my garden with a shovel, the only thing that will be going threw your mind will be, I wish I had a tiller/plough.

10/9/2007 1:55:24 PM

Berlin,mi.([email protected])

I couldn't have said it better myself. lol. thanks tremor.

10/9/2007 2:25:37 PM

Anamosa, IA [email protected]

I made hills for my pumpkins for several years, due to the soil being just a little bit wet. I ran into lots of problems with the main vines cracking when they lay down. I would try ot avoid that if possible. This fall I removed the mounds, dug drainage ditches and raised the whole patch for drainage.

You didn't say what you have below the topsoil? Is it sand, clay,or rock? It would help to know what you have. If possible till as deep as possible to make a good loose rooting zone. Perhaps you can dig out a deep pit for the main roots and fill it with good soil. Then get as much depth of good soil over the rest of the patch as possible.

10/9/2007 10:33:07 PM