Your comment that it takes two years of adding compost to a soil before a visual difference can be seen is exactly what I experienced here in the Desert Heights area of 29 Palms. I have also learned, the hard way, of the importance of crop rotation. I now keep a simple diary of what was planted where each year. The statement that the increase in a plant food's impact on plant growth goes hand in hand with the soil's organic content is enlightening and increases my understanding of what's going on in my sand based growing beds. I enjoyed your discussion.
Thanks for validating some of my thoughts. I was told this by a very good desert gardener years ago and it has proven true to me as well. It is important to keep these discussions going and in my opinion why desert horticulture can be so different from other types of horticulture.
And your comment about crop rotation. I was pretty mad when this guy on youtube said it only applied to commercial farmers with lots of land and not to worry if you had raised beds. This is one reason people have to be very careful about social media. Glad to hear what you are doing. You might get by with no crop rotation for a few years but it will catch up to you. Probably what happened to this guy on youtube. Slowly plants produce less, more disease problems and then its a big problem. It can be a big problem for raised bed gardeners and small scale growers. Pay me now, or pay me later.
Your comment that it takes two years of adding compost to a soil before a visual difference can be seen is exactly what I experienced here in the Desert Heights area of 29 Palms.
ReplyDeleteI have also learned, the hard way, of the importance of crop rotation. I now keep a simple diary of what was planted where each year.
The statement that the increase in a plant food's impact on plant growth goes hand in hand with the soil's organic content is enlightening and increases my understanding of what's going on in my sand based growing beds.
I enjoyed your discussion.
Thanks for validating some of my thoughts. I was told this by a very good desert gardener years ago and it has proven true to me as well. It is important to keep these discussions going and in my opinion why desert horticulture can be so different from other types of horticulture.
DeleteAnd your comment about crop rotation. I was pretty mad when this guy on youtube said it only applied to commercial farmers with lots of land and not to worry if you had raised beds. This is one reason people have to be very careful about social media. Glad to hear what you are doing. You might get by with no crop rotation for a few years but it will catch up to you. Probably what happened to this guy on youtube. Slowly plants produce less, more disease problems and then its a big problem. It can be a big problem for raised bed gardeners and small scale growers. Pay me now, or pay me later.
Delete