Do you have healthy vegetable garden soil?

Why is soil important? Your vegetable garden soil supports your vegetable plants by providing warmth, air, moisture and nutrients.

Garden soil properties include:

• soil particles
  Which are mineral materials broken down into particles smaller than pebbles.
• organic matter and humus
  This includes formerly living creatures mainly plants in various stages of decomposition.

Only half of the soil is solid particles, the rest is air and water.

• air
  Space allows oxygen and carbon dioxide to move in and out of the soil which allows plant roots to grow.
• water
  If your soil has too much water it becomes saturated which does not allow in oxygen. When the soil has the right amount of moisture, the water will encase the soil particles and dissolve them. This process allows nutrients to be absorbed by the plant through the water.

Healthy soil has a balance of the above properties; it allows the plant roots to grow easily to anchor, breath, and to get moisture which brings nutrients to your vegetable plant.

Is your vegetable garden soil healthy?

Let me help you find out.

1. What's your soil type?
   There are 4 main types of soil - clay, silt, sand and loam. Each has it's benefits and disadvantages.

2. What is your soil pH?
   Checking pH of soil will let you know if you have an acidic soil or an alkaline soil. Most vegetable plants do best in a neutral pH.

3. Does your soil need added nutrients?
   Soil fertilizers are used to increase your soil fertility. The 4 main soil fertilizers are nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and calcium.

4. Does your soil have sufficient organic matter?
   Soil amendments are used to improve the texture of the soil. Manures, compost peat moss, and seaweed are some items you and dig in to build your soil.

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