High Rocks Grow Appalachia Program kicked off in March. Our first meeting was about Garden Planning and the importance of soil health. We had a WVU Extension Agent to help guide our community on soil testing and reading testing results.
During our discussion we learned how calcium, phosphorus, potassium, and nitrogen are important to soil health and are needed for garden productivity. Its good to know what nutrients your vegetables need to grow healthy or your plants can build deficiencies. The more nutrients the plants take in the more nutrients the food produced will have.
Next to detailed observation, the best way to find out about your soil health is to take a soil sample. Soil samples are completed by taking several dirt samples from 4 to 5 inches deep, mixing them together, let the dirt dry out, and take about 3 tablespoons from the dried mixture to submit for testing.
Its also good to know what type of soil you have. Some soils can have to much sand or clay. Soils with too much sand can dry out easier and soils with clay can hinder root growth by being not well aerated.
Moisture levels of your soil are important. The amount of water needed in the soil depends on the plants.
The soil pH levels are vital for plants to be able to absorb nutrients. Having a soil pH to high or low will inhibit plant growth and the nutrients available in the soil. Ideally the pH levels should be 6.5. Lime can be used to increase pH and sulfur can be used to decrease, with both of these you want to be mindful not to over apply to the soil or you can cause the soil to have the reverse effect that you want.
At High Rocks, we test our soil on a yearly basis and use organic fertilizers to amend our soil. Vegetable scraps get put into a compost pile and will be used in the garden for organic matter when its ready.