UNDERSTANDING SOIL
Without good soil, it will be difficult to grow good, healthy plants. Remember that soil is not only the provider of a plant's food and water supply, it is also its support system-so improving your soil is always important.
There are several types of soil, which isbasically composed of weathered rock. Soil type depends on local geography and, to anextent, how the soil has been treated over the years of cultivation.
Clay soil has tiny particles packed tightly together with few air spaces between them.This makes it is difficult for water to find away through, so clay soil does not drain freelyand is prone to waterlogging. It is slow to warm up in summer, sticky and heavy, anddifficult to cultivate. However, clay soil usually contains good nutrient supplies.
In contrast sandy soil has large particles that create plenty of air spaces between them,so water can drain through this type of soil freely. Sandy soil is light and easy to dig, and it warms up quickly in spring. However, it is also prone to drying out and often is not fertile, because its soluble nutrients drain away with the water.
Silt is a type of soil with particles that area little larger than clay, but much smaller than sand. Silt soil is moisture retentive but does not waterlog as easily as clay. It is also usually fertile with good quantities of nutrients.
Garden soil is composed of a mixtureof clay, sand, and silt in varying proportions,and this mixture is known as loam.
You can classify soil according to the different proportions of its constituents—sandy, clay loam, silt loam, silty clay, and so on.
Homegrown has different soil types for sale including: Garden Soil, Sandy Loam and Soil with Vermicast. We also have different soil augmentors like Charred Rice Hull and Soil Conditioners.
Click here to view our available soil and plant products:
https://homegrownfreshfoods.com/collections/soil-products
TESTING SOIL TEXTURE
A simple "touch test" will usually give you agood idea of what type of soil you have. Take a small handful of moist soil, and rub a little between your fingers.
Sandy soil will feel gritty, silt will feel smooth and slippery, and clay will be sticky.
Next, squeeze the handful of soil into aball. Soil with a high proportion of clay will form a tight ball and can be rolled into along snake without breaking. The more easily it can be molded and the longer the snake,the higher the clay content. Soil with a high proportion of sand may form a ball whens queezed, but it will fall apart easily, and the soil cannot be molded into other shapes.The ideal soil for perennials is a sandy clayloam, which can be molded into a ball that clings together reasonably well and will roll into a short snake.
At Homegrown, we recommend Garden Soil for most plants (indoor and outdoor), Sandy Loam for Lavender and Rosemary, Soil with Vermicast for Fruits, Vegetable plants and Other Herbs.
For a full List of Soil, Nutrient and Plant Products, click here: