Soil Hygiene?
As a woman of a certain age, my doctor recently introduced me to the idea of “sleep hygiene” and as a professional accountant turned business owner, I also had a recent conversation with someone about the importance of “data hygiene” in the workplace. This got me to thinking - Do hygiene and soil belong in the same sentence? As a gardener, when I start to think about the importance of healthy soil to the vegetable garden (which is very different than that of an ornamental garden in case you were wondering, and not the subject of this post) and the definition of hygiene, I think I am warming up the idea.
Let’s see what Merriam Webster has to say about the word hygiene - “a science of the establishment and maintenance of health; conditions or practices conducive to health”
I think we could be on to something here, garden friends. So let’s look at what we should know as future soil hygienists.
The best vegetable gardens have a nutrient-dense, loamy soil. How do you know if your soil is nutrient-dense? There are tests for that - you can grab a soil sample and send it off to a lab or work up your own using at home soil test kits. There are lots of DIY tests you can also do that can be especially fun with kids, (check out this one about Soiling Your Undies) or you can rely on the experts just down the road at Texas A&M who will run an extensive panel of tests and send you back a multi-page report with all kinds of data. Don’t worry, they are great about knowing their audience and summarizing the results for you.
DO NOT DISTURB! Beyond the top layer of soil we see, there is an entire living ecosystem that has a symbiotic relationship with the plants we grow. Did you know the earthworms, snails, and other slimy, tiny organisms produce aggregates - biological glues that are excreted from their little bodies - that trap air and help your soil clump together. Aerated soil that also has structure is needed for healthy roots and water retention. When gardeners change over from season to season, it’s a good idea to work on minimizing the digging. and leave roots behind from the plants removed as they break down and add needed nutrients back to the soil. Amending your soil with nutrient-rich compost or other needed concentrates is the best way to go. But remember, there is no need to turn the soil over between seasons.
Know your plant nutrient needs and feed accordingly. That may sound daunting, but all of the plants fall into a handful of plant families (think about those 9th grade science tests). Plant families in large part have similar preferences with nutrients and climates. This not only comes in handy with soil health, but know their temperature preferences is the biggest clue on when to plant what crops. For instance, most of our favorite warm season plants like tomatos, eggplants, potatoes, and peppers are heavy nitrogen feeders, sucking much of that particular nutrient from the ground and they LOVE warmer temperatures, which is why they grown best during summer months. Brassicaes include broccoli, cauliflowers, cabbages, kales, thrive in cooler temps and follow most nightshades in the planting cycle. They also thrive on nitrogen, so adding nitrogen through a healthy organic compost layer in the garden sets you up for a successful fall garden season.
Are you bought in yet to the idea of “soil hygiene?” I’m there. Adopting the language and adding it to the growing list of hygiene practices in my life! How about you?