your thought - my concern (soil)

[shiloh]

I just put my baby into the ground today

i like to get your thought about the soil of my location. i test the soil with my RAPITEST METER - the meter shown in between 6.3 - 7 the soil is black and moist, i hope is rich in natural nutes. i did not add any nutes or fert not even water after i put it in the hole, just the soil from the cup it was originately in sat in. the problem i have is the soil its kinda sticky when you squeeze it it almost like clay but i doubt it the place going to dry out and turn it to clay like. could it be a problem? what do you think? thanks

shiloh Reviewed by shiloh on 04-13-2007. your thought - my concern (soil) I just put my baby into the ground today i like to get your thought about the soil of my location. i test the soil with my RAPITEST METER - the meter shown in between 6.3 - 7 the soil is black and moist, i hope is rich in natural nutes. i did not add any nutes or fert not even water after i put it in the hole, just the soil from the cup it was originately in sat in. the problem i have is the soil its kinda sticky when you squeeze it it almost like clay but i doubt it the place going to dry Rating: 5

[unclebob]

Why do you say that you doubt it will dry out? Is it a wet or low lying area or a flood plain or a swampy muddy area? If so, you will have better results in an area that does dry out between rains or between waterings. If it stays wet / moist all the time they will not thrive. Also, no matter how good or bad the soil is, you will get better results by adding some organic amendments like quality compost of some kind. PH should be OK

[shiloh]

thanks uncle - well, the place look more muddy like, i think its in the flood zone, its just the look of the ground doesnt seem like its going to be dry out not for couple of months atleast. I have some more plants to put in (the same land) i'm thinking to buy some fertilizers such as foxfarm soil to mix it. what do you think? or should i just add vermiculite? thanks

[madeline]

It might be wet now only because it's Spring. Do you have any idea what the area is like during mid-Summer? That's when it'll matter most. For now you can always build up a mound to keep the roots out of the wet soil then as it dries out the roots will grow down with the moisture level.

[unclebob]

If it seems wet all or most of the time, I would look for more of an upland spot and not a low lying spot that looks to you like a flood plain. Not only because the plant will suffer having wet feet all the time either. Also consider these two important factors. First, if its on a flood plain then eventually it will flood during periods of excessive rains. When that happens, you will most likely loose everything. Second, planting in low lying wet type areas almost gaurentees that your buds will mold before they are finished. Best of luck wherever you decide to plant.

[nitepharmer]

All it takes is the soil to be water saturated for a few days and your plants are dead. The roots need to breath, thats why the grow books stress soil with good drainage. I advise multiple locations of a few plants each not just for safety reasons but also to learn from experience how plants grow in specific locations. Gardeners often plant in the spring in a built up mound to prevent spring water saturation, then as the season gets hotter and dryer the roots spread down. Happy growing