Can I Grow Successfully in Hard Clay Or in Worn-Out Soils?
What Can I do to Grow In My Heavy Clay Soil? You do NOT have to replace your heavy clay soil with something better, nor do you need to add tons and tons of sand and/or compost. To start off you simply eliminate all weeds, dig or till the soil, measure and stake your garden area into 18″-wide beds with at least 3′-wide aisles, and make raised, level, ridged beds, as described in the FREE ebook, in the Learn section of the Food For Everyone Foundation website and in all the vegetable gardening books by Dr. Jacob R. Mittleider. That and just a little bit more. Just add three simple steps beyond the above procedures that apply to ANY soil, and you can have excellent success with your clay soil – without amending it! 1) When you plant seed, use the handle of your hoe or rake to make a straight shallow furrow along the inside edge of the ridges. For small seeds the furrow should be only ½” deep, and for large seeds it should be 1″ deep. Mix the seed you’re planting with 100 parts sand and ap
