skip to main content

Vegetable Gardening

need help with soil

trees_in_winter

10 years ago

I saved wood chips (from tree co.) leaves and grass cuttings for four years. I broke new ground in the yard and mixed in the humus with the soil. Then I spread 10-10-10. I planted radishes, beets, and green beans. All the foliage is good green, but after a month and half, there is no radish or beet developing underground. I seem to remember this indicates the lack of something in the soil. I need some help.
Thanks, Steve

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (2)

digdirt2
10 years ago
Rather than a lack of something (phosphorus) it more often indicates and excess of something - nitrogen. When there is excess N in the soil root crops often produce lovely big bushy healthy green tops - but no roots.

The same is often the case with green beans - legumes don't tolerate high soil levels of N. Lots of bean plant with few beans.

Normally I wouldn't consider 10-10-10 to be high in N unless it was excessively applied. And while humus is nutrient rich it normally isn't high in N either.

Dave
woohooman San Diego CA zone 10a
10 years ago
Agree with Dave... Also, were the chips and grass FULLY composted?

Kevin
Related Professionals
Maple Valley Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Garden City Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Clermont Landscape Contractors · Athens Landscape Contractors · Brockton Landscape Contractors · Essex Landscape Contractors · Kailua Landscape Contractors · Madera Landscape Contractors · Methuen Landscape Contractors · Norristown Landscape Contractors · North Richland Hills Landscape Contractors · Plymouth Landscape Contractors · Shoreview Landscape Contractors · Sun City Center Landscape Contractors · Canton Driveway Installation & Maintenance

Related Stories

CONTAINER GARDENS Container Gardening Basics: The Dirt on Soil

Learn the types of potting soil available and the best mixes to help your containers thrive

GARDENING GUIDES Have Acidic Soil in Your Yard? Learn to Love Gardening Anyway

By Falon Mihalic

Look to acid-loving plants, like conifers and rhododendrons, to help your low-pH garden thrive

GARDENING GUIDES How to Pick a Mulch — and Why Your Soil Wants It

By Jocelyn H. Chilvers

There's more to topdressing than shredded wood. Learn about mulch types, costs and design considerations here

FARM YOUR YARD How to Get Good Soil for Your Edible Garden

By Abundant City

The nutrients in your soil feed the plants that feed you. Here are tips on getting it right — just in time for planting season

GARDENING GUIDES 5 Prairie Wildflowers That Can Heal Your Soil

By Benjamin Vogt / Monarch Gardens

Get free, organic soil fertilizer with nitrogen-pumping plants that draw pollinators too

GARDENING GUIDES The Poop Scoop: Enrich Your Soil With Good Old Manure

By Noelle Johnson Landscape Consulting

Get over the ick factor already — this natural super-ingredient for soil has so many benefits, you'll wonder why you ever went chemical

GARDENING GUIDES Gardening Solutions for Heavy Clay Soils

By Falon Mihalic

What’s a gardener to do with soil that’s easily compacted and has poor drainage? Find out here

GARDENING GUIDES Grow a Beautiful Garden in Alkaline Soil

By Noelle Johnson Landscape Consulting

Got alkaline soil? Learn how to manage it and the many beautiful plants that will thrive in this ‘sweet’ soil

LANDSCAPE DESIGN How to Shape a Rain Garden and Create the Right Soil for It

By Falon Mihalic

Learn how to grade, lay out and amend the soil in your rain garden to support your plants

GARDENING GUIDES How to Stop Worrying and Start Loving Clay Soil

By Benjamin Vogt / Monarch Gardens

Clay has many more benefits than you might imagine

More Discussions

Veggie Tales - April 2024

49

Best Way to Enclose Existing Raised Beds?

11

What will leftover leeks from last year do?

3

What are rabbits favorite veggies?

11

Corn seeds during a frost?

4