| Careful soil preparation is always at the top of the | | | | free of stones, rocks, sticks and other debris. When |
| pile in a vegetable garden design tips list. It takes a | | | | you are working and digging into your soil, please do |
| lot of effort and time involved in gardening and yet | | | | only when it is dry or moist. Soils should not be |
| you can only know if you have been doing it right or | | | | worked on when it is wet as it will compact the soil |
| wrong in at least a few weeks. So preparation and | | | | when it gets dry. |
| proper planning is critical, unless of course you want | | | | To know if the soil is too wet, grab a handful and |
| to learn through experience and you have time to | | | | clasped your palm to make the soil stick together |
| spare. | | | | into a ball. If they stick and does not collapse when |
| Like they always say, learn from your experience but | | | | slight pressure is apply using your thumb and finger, |
| most importantly, learn from others' mistakes. | | | | that would mean they are too weak for working. A |
| Your garden spot must have at least 5-6 hours of | | | | compacted soil will stop root from growing. |
| sunshine everyday. Though it is nice to have your | | | | Be careful not to walk on the soil that you have |
| garden nearer to your house but please observe | | | | already worked on or intend to work on, as your |
| where the shades from your house gets to in the | | | | weight will compact them even more and requires |
| daytime. Take note also of shades coming from | | | | more digging. Once you found your good soil, keep |
| trees or tall bushes. | | | | them on top of the sub-good soil. When manure is |
| Remember no chemicals, spray or water can replace | | | | added to the soil, it must be composted prior to |
| sunshine, so that would be your number one priority. | | | | planting, because fresh, hot manure will also burn |
| Next if your garden has already been cultivated | | | | your plants. |
| before and used in the months before then there is | | | | Only after the site has been prepared, and the soil |
| not much to do other than to mix in additional organic | | | | and conditioners mixed, watered well and settled |
| material and fertilizers. The soil should be very fertile | | | | should you test the pH of the soil. You will know that |
| and with good irrigation. To check on this, make sure | | | | you are working with the wrong soil when you get |
| there is no water puddles forming after a douse of | | | | poor crops and small harvest. The nonexistence of |
| rain. Wet soil causes poor rooting. | | | | earth worms is also an indication that your soil is not |
| Apart from good drainage, the soil should also be | | | | suitable as vegetable garden soil. |