I give up! Okay, well not completely. Much of my garden is doing spectacular. However, this past Spring my husband and I dug up an unused area of the yard (actually he dug it up -- I supervised, husbands need so much of it). It was very sandy, so we added some top soil and manure to it. After we were done, I planted okra and acorn squash. And here I am, two weeks later, and everything I planted is growing great, except what I planted in that back corner. I suspect that it's still too sandy. I can soak the area, go out an hour later, and the soil will be bone dry while the rest of the garden remains moist. I think it's time to give up... at least on this planting. I want to salvage some of the growing season, so what's the best way to amend sandy soil quickly? Do I just keeping throwing top soil into it or is there a GardenStew secret remedy?
The Okra and Squash are the plants in trouble? I would think that in your area they would be very slow growing at this time of the year anyway since they are both hot weather crops. The best amendment you can add to soil of any kind is compost. Top soil sometimes doesn't have the nutrients needed for veggies but good rich compost will.
Be patient, okra loves hot weather, and squash won't thrive in temperatures much under 75 degrees. Keep the seedlings watered and wait. If nothing is coming up, and it's a "back corner", you may want to get that soil tested. Previous occupants may have dumped something there.
Thank you, Toni. People underestimate how hot it can get here. Last Saturday was in the high 90's. Mid to high 80's to low 90's is not uncommon. Humidity can be very, very low (16% right now). My okra gave me more than I could handle last year, so I think it's my soil. I guess I just assumed that top soil was adequate to get things started. I think I'll have to visit the nursery for some compost, since I don't have any of my own yet.
You may try a test of the soil to establish a baseline for the percentage of silt, sand and clay. A quart glass jar, teaspoon dishwasher detergent (do not use laundry detergent it foams), water and dry soil. Fill the jar 1/4 soil, 3/4 water, leave space for shaking, add detergent, shake for awhile, the more shaking the better. first level is the amount of sand, about a minute or two. A couple of hours later the next level is the silt. Lastly in a couple three days as the solution clears, the clay. Keep a accurate reading and then as you augment your soil with compost you can retest to measure your progress. Jerry P.S. Do you have a compost bin? P.S.S. You do have a garden log book to keep track of your problems and solutions? Maybe?
I know when I lived many years ago in Colorado it could get pretty hot during the day but it was the low night time temperatures that slowed my plants down. I just gave up.
Miss Liberty? Ain't Wyoming growing a grand thing? DO try mulching your plants..really HELPS here! Despite what's said about grass clippings from treated lawns, I have found if you let them SIT and "perk" a bit, use them after around ESTABLISHED plants (to 3-4 inches in depth)they really WORK! All I can say is IF anyone THINKS they are gardeners, they should live in Wyoming..LOL!!!
