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Stanwood, Washington

Well The Puyallup Fair Weighoff is two weeks from Friday and I am already making plans for what to do when the fruit is out of my patch. I would like to add about a foot of depth to my soil which would essentially double my soil volume. I have already talked to a few local growers for advice but I figure more input won't hurt so I figured I'd ask the peanut gallery....

If you were looking to double your soil volume what would you add and in what ratios?

8/20/2013 12:16:25 PM

Little-TON - Colorado

Balanced tested soil..... in thoZe amounts you want to be exact...

8/20/2013 3:31:48 PM

South Hero, VT

Lots of well aged compost, get a soil test on patch after tilling, amend, add cover crop, have a great fall/winter planning seeds and watching pumpkin videos/movies.

8/20/2013 9:00:15 PM

Mnt.pleasant ,tennessee

Hate to intrude but just aint the same.seen couple words mizzzing zz's

8/20/2013 9:11:29 PM

Mill Bay, British Columbia

Hey Captain...I'd be carefull not to be a more-on as that is alot of depth (too much) to be adding at one time. 3 or 4 inches a year for the next few years would be way better than adding a foot of depth all at one time.

Get in contact with the other Washington State growers and tap into someone who will let you know the best local sources of manure and compost mixes....whatever it is...you are gonna have to pay to truck it to the Island anyways!!

Jeff Uhlmeyer, Ron Barker, Stan Pugh, Joel Holland, Geneva Emmons, and those are the names just off the top...there are many other very good and accomplished growers in your State...go to them for advice....that is my advice!!

8/21/2013 11:12:36 AM

Stanwood, Washington

Hi Glenn,
I have already talked with both Ron and Stan on the issue. They gave me some good advice, Just trying get as much input as possible before I do anything drastic.

I have a source for lots of well aged manure from a nearby dairy and a local source for good compost. As of now my plan is to dig all of my existing dirt out of the patch. (I can do this since my patch is so small). Then I am going to lay down alternating layers of manure, compost and existing soil and till it all together as I go. Then I will get a soil test on the whole mixture so I can ballance out anything needed from there. Anyone see any red flags with this strategy?

8/21/2013 11:36:51 AM

Boscawen, NH

Captain, Guess that I will be the one to wave the red flag. Adding that much composted manure at one time will be a lot like playing Russian roulette with your NPK levels and macro/micro nutrient ratios. Manure and compost in general has low % of NPK and micro nutrients and works great when used in moderation (1/2"-1"). When applying as much as you are considering you will likely shoot your K levels of the charts as well as possibly getting into the toxic range with some micro nutrients. Would suggest getting a true compost nutrient test (more expensive than soil test) and then calculate how much you can add without getting you soil levels too high.

8/21/2013 12:00:23 PM