If your soil isn’t deep, well-drained, and fertile, a little work is needed~ If your soil is heavy, like clay, then you need to add organic matter (humus) in the form of well rotted or bagged manure, grass clippings, dried leaves, compost, and also sand or gypsum. Or if you have sandy soil, the organic matter will also improve it.
Do you have thin, sandy soil? Your plants will probably like extra nitrogen and potassium (the “N” and “K” when looking at a fertilizer label). Fertilize more often using lighter doses. Want a double bonus? Try manure- you get fertility plus organic matter! Just be sure to mix it in well so it doesn’t burn the plants.
Samples of typical soils: Sandy ------- Loam ------- Clay
Now the fun part…Planting!
Wondering what to plant? Try these for fall/winter gardens: beets, broccoli, cabbage, carrots, chard, lettuce (head and leaf), green onions, peas, potatoes, radishes, rutabagas, spinach, and turnips. You can also try tomatoes. Most can be grown from seed, but broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, and tomatoes can be transplanted.
How to Plant-
Space the seeds evenly and plant them at the proper depth - small seeds about four times the diameter of the seed and only ¼ to ½ inch soil covering them.
Large seeds can be 1 to 2 inches deep. Gently firm the soil over the seeds with your hands or back of a shovel or hoe.
Irrigate by sprinkling soil lightly - seeds need moisture to germinate. Water enough to keep the soil from drying around the seed. After plants sprout you can reduce the water- less watering but deeper. Irrigate carefully- plants don’t like too much or too little water.
That's it! Now pull a chair up in the garden, sit back and enjoy the beautiful Yuma weather- oh, you can also keep an eye out for insects on your plants while you're out there!
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