Testing Soil Drainage: Quick & Easy

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Posted by Stephanie | Posted in Gardening Tips | Posted on 26-08-2009

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Testing Soil Drainage

One of the most specific demands your new plants will have is soil drainage. You want soil that will hold moisture but drain quickly – soaking wet soil will lead to rotten roots. Follow these simple steps to test your soil drainage:

(You will need a stop watch)

  1. Dig a small hole, just a few inches.
  2. Fill it with water.
  3. Start timing.

If your soil drains less than 1/2 in. per hour, your drainage is pretty bad.

If it drains more than 2 in. per hour it may be a little too fast.

You can easy regulate high or low drainage by amending your soil with some high-quality compost. It's that easy. Now all of your plants will have evenly moist, perfect soil!

If you check out Park's tools and supplies we offer plenty of things to keep your soil and your garden healthy. If you want to ensure that you have the best soil possible try using our electronic soil tester or the sturdy, efficient 90 gallon compost bin.

Water Your Garden Regularly

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Posted by Stephanie | Posted in Gardening Tips | Posted on 21-08-2009

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Twisted Carrot
This sprawling, shallow carrot root system was obviously
not on a regular watering schedule.

I have mentioned it a few times this summer – if you are going to have healthy productive plants, you must keep your garden on a strict watering schedule. Water deeply to ensure that roots grow down into the ground, not sprawling along the surface like this carrot (pictured above) that I pulled out of my mother's garden (she is so afraid of wasting water.)

If you water sporadically, allowing plants to wilt and swell, they will buckle – your tomatoes will split and crack if they ever manage to ripen at all. Your gourds and melons will ripen off early, producing tiny little fruits. Your greens will wilt and scorch.

Summer Watering tips:

  1. Try using a soaker or drip hose in your garden – sprinklers tend to only give a superficial watering, and they leave your foliage wet which might lead to fungus. (Sprinklers are perfect for lawns, but not for vegetables).
  2. Make up a regular watering schedule, and keep it – start out with two waterings a week, and adjust with the weather. If you are getting plenty of rain, water less frequently – If it is near a hundred every day and you haven't seen a drop in weeks, you may want to water 3 or 4 times a week.
  3. Use a water soluble fertilizer with every other watering to grow strong resilient plants that will be more hardy to climate changes.
  4. Use mulch to regulate soil moisture levels, weeds, and temperature.
  5. Pull competing weeds and grass – ensure that your garden plants are benefiting from your hard work, not mooching, unwanted interlopers.
  6. Keep harvesting and dead-heading throughout the summer to keep your plants vigorous and productive.

Small Plot Farmers Becoming More Popular

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Posted by Stephanie | Posted in Uncategorized | Posted on 06-08-2009

During the SC Festival of Flowers (Thanks again to everybody that stopped by for Flower Day!) I had an opportunity to browse the throng of vendor tables that swamped our Main Street (the widest Main Street in the US) for the weekend. Coming out the other side I realized that I had loosed all my pocket money on an armful of pickles, jellies, preserves, and fresh produce all with labels and insignia that represented a great number of local farmers.

I had not realized that there were so many local small plot farms in the area. But, after a little research, I have discovered a new trend sweeping the country: small plot farmers are a growing population. They haven't become a significant threat to the commercial farms, yet, but they have been noticed.

Maybe, riding down the highway, you have also noticed the growing number of fresh produce stands and organic farms popping up in the rural areas of your own state. Many of these new farmers are very young, some in their mid twenties, people who have found a niche in the growing demand for locally grown organic products. I personally know a few couples who have decided to forgo the corporate world and embrace the oldest source of revenue in our history, and they have found it very rewarding.

In my experience so far, the products from the local growers are top quality, with variety and character that you just can't find in a supermarket. The growing market competition for big commercial farms should also stimulate better prices and quality all around.

Here is an article with a little more information: Small Plot Farmers.