How Many Inches of Compost per Bed, and Which Kind?
Compost goes on at 1 to 2 inches, aged manure at about an inch, leaf mold at 2 to 3. A practical guide to amendment depth in inches per bed, not bags.
Soil and Nutrition
Soil preparation, testing, pH adjustment, nutrient diagnosis, composting, and fertilizing.
What Extension Soil Guides Say About Rotation Order
Extension soil guides sequence heavy feeders, light feeders, and legumes to balance nutrients, plus how to fit cover crops into a garden with no spare bed.
Your Old Potting Soil Is Quietly Costing You Germination
Most seed starting failures come from the medium, not the seed. Here's how compaction, crusting, and old potting soil quietly cost you germination.
Organic Fertilizers Need Weeks Before Roots Need Them
Organic amendments need warm, moist soil and two to four weeks of microbial mineralization before roots can use them. Here's how to time the clock.
Don't Replace Container Soil Between Crops—Do This
Don't replace container soil between crops. Remove roots, loosen compacted mix, top-dress with finished compost, and soil test before fertilizing.