Garden Column for the Salisbury Post

Darrell Blackwelder

January 3, 2003

    It's difficult to predict what kind of weather Mother Nature will hand us this upcoming season. The three year drought made us all aware that we are really helpless if we are not adequately prepared. Even though our soil is fully saturated, home gardeners should take time to improve planting beds for their vegetable gardens. A few simple tasks during the winter months help prepare us for successful garden projects.
    Soil testing provides home gardeners with ample information to correct nutritional deficiencies in the soil. It a service that provides growers with information that will optimize growing conditions for plants. Soil testing kits are available from the Cooperative Extension Service, located on Old Concord Road. Soil testing is a free service offered by the North Carolina Department of Agriculture. The results are often delayed for six weeks or longer when samples are sent during the spring rush. Homeowners need to avoid unnecessary delays by sending samples as soon as possible.
    Soil testing determines the rates of lime and other nutrients necessary for plant growth of a particular crop eliminating guess-work. It is also an important tool that helps maintain our environment. Soil testing is the single most useful tool in determining nutritional needs of plants.
    Freezing, winter temperatures are a blessing for reducing plant disease, insect and nematode populations. As soon as you're able, deep plow your garden area at least eight inches deep to expose pathogens and nematodes on roots and other stubble to freezing temperatures. The temperatures extremes reduce kill many fungal spores and immature insects.
    This procedure should be followed by a planting of a grain cover crop. It's late, but planting grains such as wheat, rye or barley reduce weed populations and improve the tilth of the soil by supplying organic matter. Clovers are leguminous crops, providing extra nitrogen to the soil.
    The cover crops should be turned under in early spring as a "green manure". Turning the organic matter six weeks before planting allows ample time for decomposition. Immature insects and fungal diseases can be a problem when plant debris is present. Home gardeners that elect to use compost should go ahead and till compost into the soil. Compost also improves the tilt or workability of the soil. Compost that is decomposed works best for vegetables and flower gardens. Uncomposted leaves, limbs and sawdust decompose very slowly during cold weather. Nitrogen is depleted by bacteria during the decomposition process. Extra nitrogen may be needed to expedite this process.
    Spring rains often work in home gardens and flower beds. Raised beds allow poorly drained soils to dry much quicker allowing easy access to early gardens. Go ahead and ridge the soil if possible in early spring. The planting season will be here sooner than you think.
    The excessive wet conditions have prevented many from working in their gardens. Even though it is very late in the season, try and accomplish these chores as soon possible to be better prepared for the spring or early summer plantings.

Darrell Blackwelder is an agricultural agent in charge of horticulture with the North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service in Rowan County. For archived garden columns or other information, visit the Rowan County Master Gardener web site at www.rowanmastergardener.com or e mail Darrell_blackwelder@ncsu.edu or phone at 704-633-0571.