Homemade Fertilizer

[Chic Rustler]

You are in Texas, I'm sure the soil is a lot different there, than here in southern IL. We get a lot of rain and need fertilizer to keep up with what the rains make less abundant in the soil, expecially at the beginning of growing season. The best approach here is to flip the soil over by plowing deep. That way the good black top soil is covered down deep to rot, for the roots to find and the clay is at the top to help get things established without washing away the seedlings during down pours. Think of it like a clay pot almost filled with black dirt, covered in clay with and slow drainage. My current garden spot was plowed deep, like a good 12 to 14 inches deep the good stuff is at the bottom rotting away.

Jesus is Lord and Christ 🙏❤️🇺🇸

one thing about Texas soil is its different everywhere. i have beach sand for a foot or so and then red clay. a few miles over its all a thick black soil thats sticky and heavy. a few miles the other way and theres white clay like stuff. i think maybe decompossed lime stone or something.

my garden soil is what ive built with mulch, compost, manures and other organic matter. ive FINALLY got a few worms. the mulch has been great for me. i dont have to water or weed as often and i can plant as close as i like and still get good harvest. 5 years in the making. 5 years of feeding the soil and countless wheel barrows of woodchips and manure.

 

[Chic Rustler]

This is I believe my best onion I've got growing in both rows. I gave each 50 foot row about 18 gallons of ammonia mixed at a rate of 1 tablespoon per gallon of water I have 6 1/2 gallon brew buckets. I'll know in a week or so if the ammonia and water worked or not. The leafs should turn dark green if it worked.
View attachment 19050

But in the mean time I can say my hands are very clean at the present moment anyways.

i bet youll see darker greens in a couple days.

 

[CrealCritter]

one thing about Texas soil is its different everywhere. i have beach sand for a foot or so and then red clay. a few miles over its all a thick black soil thats sticky and heavy. a few miles the other way and theres white clay like stuff. i think maybe decompossed lime stone or something.

my garden soil is what ive built with mulch, compost, manures and other organic matter. ive FINALLY got a few worms. the mulch has been great for me. i dont have to water or weed as often and i can plant as close as i like and still get good harvest. 5 years in the making. 5 years of feeding the soil and countless wheel barrows of woodchips and manure.

I hit a patch of that white clay here where my wife wanted to plant flowers. That stuff is like a rock. The only thing I know to do is bust it up with a pickaxe, work in some organic matter and hope her flowers take. The holes where I dig are very slow to drain. Your right it's like rotted lime stone or something. I'm so glad it's not in the garden or I would have to dig it out of there and replace it with dirt. White clay is the worst to try and grow in. Give me a little red clay and I'm ok.

I've not had a garden in sandy soil, I can see why you would want to work in massive amounts of composted organic matter. I would do the same.

Jesus is Lord and Christ 🙏❤️🇺🇸

 

[Trying2keepitReal]

i wonder if epsom salts is any good? i always hear about it for tomatoes

I am using it for the 1st time this year. I am not sure if it is working or not but I have TONS of blossoms and tiny green tomatoes on my cherry and grape tomato plants already.

 

[FarmerJamie]

@flowerbug

Thank You.

Different area, I'm in NE Ohio.

The Coorked Creek name comes from the creek that runs through most of the farms around here.

Hi and welcome, neighbor! Northern Portage County here.

 

[crooked-creek-farm]

Hi and welcome, neighbor! Northern Portage County here.

Hello and thank you.
I'm in Stark County, not too far from Hartville.

 

[Finnie]

@flowerbug

Thank You.

Different area, I'm in NE Ohio.

The Coorked Creek name comes from the creek that runs through most of the farms around here.

There is a Crooked Creek here too. (Indianapolis)

And welcome!

 

[CrealCritter]

We had a neighbor in NC that would just toss out kitchen scraps into his garden, he didn't bury them. It brought in rats, obviously not good.

Jesus is Lord and Christ 🙏❤️🇺🇸

 

[Chic Rustler]

Wood ash, my understanding it's a substitute for lime, used to raise the soil PH and aid in the breakdown of organic matter. Am I correct?

Jesus is Lord and Christ 🙏❤️🇺🇸

yes but i use it for potassium

 

[Okiepan]

Wood Ash can be also used to make Lye for making Soaps