Wanted to get some feedback on my plans for the garden.
My veggie beds were a mix of native soil (clay-dominant), mixed in mushroom compost, steer manure and peat moss. No drainage. That didn’t seem to hurt me too bad, but I definately want to add some this year. My cannabis was grown in 30g airpots, a mix of Miracle Grow (before I started asking these questions) “raised bed soil” and normal potting soil. The nutrients in this seem to be the main objection to using it, and the plants started in May, transitioning to compost teas and microbe-rich organic feeding mid-summer. So I’m considering using it as a base for next season, I think by now it’s just a medium with some organic goings-on after running it last year.
Anyway, going forward, looking at the best things I can do to prepare for next season. 2023 I’m only planning on 3x 30 gallon big plants. Maybe I’ll get bigger bags, 50g.
I’d like to go more organic this time. My off-the-cuff plan is to take the potted soil out of the bags, mix with worm castings, some pumice and maybe something like BAS craft blend. I’ve got access to the forest half an hour to the west, and the river 10 minutes to the east. Forest is pinyon-juniper down low transitioning into spruce-fir-pine at the higher altitudes (basically I have an easily accesible 5K foot elevation all the way to almost 10K), the river is very sand/silt dominant. I was considering mixing in a few cu ft of both forest soil and river soil for biodiversity. I’ll either feed via top-dress or compost teas as I did most of the season last year.
Planning on doing the same with my veggie beds. My understanding is that it would be hard to over-do some pumice and worm castings, and I’d follow instructions on any organic nutrient to be added. Is this a solid plan? What is the best timing to do this? Now? March? April? Planning to start the majority of the garden early-mid-May again.
I’ve got a company Amendments – Soilutions up the river with worm castings and ammendments I’ve heard good things about. I’d probably just take the truck up there to get whatever bulk stuff I need.
Appreciate any input, hopefully this new year I’ll learn even more.
