Quote:
Originally Posted by Dartgod
I built a raised bed for my tomatoes and peppers this year. I finally found a great spot in my front yard last year, the back is just too shady. But you hit clay fairly shallow in that area, so I built the raised bed to give me another foot or so of depth.
Now I just need to fill it in with dirt and other material so I can plant. I'm planning on some compost, manure and top soil to fill it in. I'll turn the existing soil into all that and should have a pretty good place to grow.
Any suggestions on what else to mix in with the soil that's good for tomatoes?
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I'd probably try to test the pH of the soil. I don't know what the acidity tolerance of tomatoes are, but I'm sure it's googleable.
If your pH is low, lime. If you have clay under there, organic matter is your friend. Id get into the clay as much as you're tough enough to do and mix in some 50/50 manure and something like sawdust and cedar chips. And then do your topsoil/manure whatever mix for your bed. Organic matter is your friend in clay.
I'd also plant some sort of brassica in the fall when you're done. If you can get roots to penetrate it, you'll gain a shitload of water infiltration in wet spells.
God ****ing clay.