Hi Kasey, Sarah's comments are quite valid. We have had a large number of samples submitted to our lab this past season, from both homeowners and community gardeners, with requests for assistance because of poor plant performance. For the most part, the available nutrients, levels of soluble salts, and amounts of organic matter in the soil were higher than typical crops would prefer them to be because of overabundant compost applications. It is usually a good thing to increase the amounts of organic matter by adding compost but keep in mind that a 4 to 8 % soil organic matter is a recommended amount to strive for. More than that, in wet years (which we will be seeing more of in the northeast and midwest because of climate change) creates giant spongelike conditions in the soil.
Soils high in organic matter from compost or other organic matter applications can absorb great quantities of water. This is good in dry years but in wet years, like we in the Northeast have been experiencing, this may present a problem as plant roots require oxygen to be able to take up water. If all of the pores in the soil are filled with water, the oxygen is displaced and plants can take up neither water, nor the plant nutrients dissolved in that water, so they appear small and nutrient deficient, regardless of how much fertilizer, either organic or synthetic, is applied. Also, check that the pH, soluble salts and nutrients are in the range that the plants you are growing prefer or can tolerate. This drainage/saturation issue is one reason that commercial potting mixes were created - to give plants growing in container or container-like conditions, a good physical and chemical rooting medium to grow in. Compost is a great soil amendment but it is not made with these specifications in mind. I would try one of the Cornell mixes, an already prepared container planting mix, or at least mixing your compost with various other amendments to reduce the typically high salts, pH and nutrients found in many composts. Many successful home and community gardeners do view soil testing as a tool to assess their gardens' chemical properties so that environmentally sound nutrient management decisions can be made to ensure good plant production as well as to minimize adverse affects of adding excessive and unwarranted amounts of compost or manures (just for the sake of adding something each year) to their gardens, community garden plots, or small scale production plots. Keep in mind that dark chocolate is good for some people because it contains anti-oxidants. However, if copious amounts are consumed, the weight gain can lead to more serious medical issues like high chlorestrol, diabetes and heart problems. So, like compost, it is best consumed in moderation. Dawn Pettinelli Extension Instructor Department of Plant Science and Landscape Architecture 6 Sherman Place U5102 Storrs, CT 06269-5102 Phone: 860.486.4274 Fax: 860.486.4562 email: dawn.pettine...@uconn.edu<mailto:dawn.pettine...@uconn.edu> blog: www.uconnladybug.wordpress.com<http://www.uconnladybug.wordpress.com> UCONN Home & Garden Education Center.........Knowledge to Grow On! UCONN Soil Nutrient Analysis Lab........Does Your Soil Pass The Test? The nation that destroys its soil destroys itself. Franklin D. Roosevelt ________________________________________ From: community_garden-boun...@list.communitygarden.org [community_garden-boun...@list.communitygarden.org] On Behalf Of Bailey, Sarah [sarah.bai...@uconn.edu] Sent: Thursday, October 20, 2011 9:49 AM To: 'Kasey Henneman'; community_garden@list.communitygarden.org Subject: Re: [Community_garden] Trouble shooting wheelchair accesible beds Kasey - If the beds were filled ONLY with fresh compost, you may have significantly unbalanced soil - too much of anything, even compost, is not good. Have you done a soil test to see what the nutrient make-up is? Soil tests are generally available from your local Cooperative Extension office for a nominal fee, and the results usually come with advice on any modifications that may be necessary. Sarah Sarah Bailey Master Gardener Program Coordinator Pesticide Safety Educator Cooperative Extension Service 1800 Asylum Avenue West Hartford, CT 06117 Ph: 860-570-9023 Fax: 860-570-9008 Email: sarah.bai...@uconn.edu An Equal Opportunity Employer and Program Provider. -----Original Message----- From: community_garden-boun...@list.communitygarden.org [mailto:community_garden-boun...@list.communitygarden.org] On Behalf Of Kasey Henneman Sent: Wednesday, October 19, 2011 4:19 PM To: community_garden@list.communitygarden.org Subject: [Community_garden] Trouble shooting wheelchair accesible beds Hello Everyone, Here in Dayton Ohio we have a one year old accessible garden at the local Access Center. We have 4 roll-under beds and 2 raised beds. The garden did pretty well for its first year but we have had trouble keeping the roll-under beds watered. The beds were purchased kits and the bottom of the bed is just lattice, landscape cloth, and plastic mesh. The depth of the beds is only about 6-7 inches deep. This depth Is important for the bed to be tall enough to roll under and low enough to reach over. We have done some heavy mulching and installed some slow watering milk-jugs to encourage water absorption. We did this late in the season can't say yet if this will be enough to keep water in the beds just yet. I have the feeling we might need to rebuild the bottom of the beds but would like to avoid doing this if possible. We have also had issue with growing anything in the beds. The beds were filled with fresh compost and we only attempted to grow shallow rooted things like lettuce and annual herbs. The crops were not successful the first time (most likely) due to lack of water, however, most recently they were planted with mustard, lettuce, and maybe peas and watered often and still did not produce. Any ideas?! Thanks! Kasey Kasey Henneman Grow With Your Neighbors Program Assistant Five Rivers MetroParks 1375 E. Siebenthaler Ave. Dayton, OH 45414 O // 937-277-6545 x1617 F // 937-277-6546 kasey.henne...@metroparks.org [cid:image001.jpg@01C884F1.7AFDB050] Visit http://www.metroparks.org and get out for an adventure in your parks! P Please consider the environment before printing this e-mail ________________________________ This email and any files transmitted with it are confidential and intended solely for the use of the individual or entity to whom they are addressed. If you are not the named addressee you should not disseminate, distribute or copy this e-mail. Please notify the sender immediately by e-mail if you have received this e-mail by mistake and delete this e-mail from your system. Please note that any views or opinions presented in this email are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of Five Rivers MetroParks. 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To learn more about the ACGA and to find out how to join, please go to http://www.communitygarden.org To post an e-mail to the list: community_garden@list.communitygarden.org To subscribe, unsubscribe or change your subscription: http://list.communitygarden.org/mailman/listinfo/community_garden_list.communitygarden.org _______________________________________________ The American Community Gardening Association listserve is only one of ACGA's services to community gardeners. To learn more about the ACGA and to find out how to join, please go to http://www.communitygarden.org To post an e-mail to the list: community_garden@list.communitygarden.org To subscribe, unsubscribe or change your subscription: http://list.communitygarden.org/mailman/listinfo/community_garden_list.communitygarden.org _______________________________________________ The American Community Gardening Association listserve is only one of ACGA's services to community gardeners. To learn more about the ACGA and to find out how to join, please go to http://www.communitygarden.org To post an e-mail to the list: community_garden@list.communitygarden.org To subscribe, unsubscribe or change your subscription: http://list.communitygarden.org/mailman/listinfo/community_garden_list.communitygarden.org
