Dirt...

[SelphLogging]

Can all soil that isnt sandy at al, just plain ole timber dirt, be turned into good food pot soil? Grow clover, brassicas, soybeans, oats, and peas?

 

[8 POINTS OR BETTER]

With enought lime, fertilize, and water you can grow just about anything.

 

[8 POINTS OR BETTER]

These plots where grown on chert ridge tops.

And two of the key ingredients.

 

[richmanbarbeque]

If I couldn't grow food plots in crappy soil I would be screwed. That's all I have.

 

[Bayou Buck]

I am always amazed how nice my plots come up considering how the soil is on my place.

 

[BSK]

Yes, you can add enough lime and fertilizer to grow crops in nasty soil, but they will never be as productive and certainly not as drought resistant, as plants grown in naturally fertile soils.

 

[SelphLogging]

My soil im planning to sow is cleared timber ground. Stumps removed. I know the ground will be acidic pretty badly

 

[PickettSFHunter]

Ive grown some dandies in some bad stuff. Lime and fertilizer are important but building organic matter is the most important thing.

 

[Football Hunter]

Keep in mind,8pts is only 3' 6'' tall

 

[SelphLogging]

LOL yea they're pretty nice!! I have a couple bad rocky places but its topsoil. Just where timber had been. How long to kind of make those rocks disappear? I know the plants will cover, but how long before compost will?

 

[BSK]

My soil im planning to sow is cleared timber ground. Stumps removed. I know the ground will be acidic pretty badly

In my region, ridge-top logged area pH runs as bad as 4.3 to 4.9. In theory, that's acidic enough to melt the bottoms of your shoes.

 

[BSK]

How long to kind of make those rocks disappear? I know the plants will cover, but how long before compost will?

Due to the processes of freezing and thawing, rocks will work themselves to the surface forever. But small rocks aren't the problem. Big, equipment-busting rocks are the problem, and once you've removed them with a chisel or ripper, you shouldn't have too many future problems with big rocks.

 

[jmb4wd]

How long to kind of make those rocks disappear? I know the plants will cover, but how long before compost will?

Due to the processes of freezing and thawing, rocks will work themselves to the surface forever. But small rocks aren't the problem. Big, equipment-busting rocks are the problem, and once you've removed them with a chisel or ripper, you shouldn't have too many future problems with big rocks.

8 points brings up a great point with his pictures. By planting a rotation of crimson clover, buckwheat, or such and turning it under every spring, adding chicken litter, lime, and fertilizer, and returning your summer crops back into the soil every fall, and repeating the cycle, you can only improve your plots. Add in the occasional deep tillage, or ripping up of the hard pan. Yes, it takes along time, but over the course of a few years, you will notice a improvement in your plots.

 

[8 POINTS OR BETTER]

How long to kind of make those rocks disappear? I know the plants will cover, but how long before compost will?

Due to the processes of freezing and thawing, rocks will work themselves to the surface forever. But small rocks aren't the problem. Big, equipment-busting rocks are the problem, and once you've removed them with a chisel or ripper, you shouldn't have too many future problems with big rocks.

8 points brings up a great point with his pictures. By planting a rotation of crimson clover, buckwheat, or such and turning it under every spring, adding chicken litter, lime, and fertilizer, and returning your summer crops back into the soil every fall, and repeating the cycle, you can only improve your plots. Add in the occasional deep tillage, or ripping up of the hard pan. Yes, it takes along time, but over the course of a few years, you will notice a improvement in your plots.

I have not found anything that will build the soil like Crimson Clover, and chicken litter.

 

[SelphLogging]

TY

 

[BSK]

I have not found anything that will build the soil like Crimson Clover, and chicken litter.

Agreed. Although I also like grazing rye and buckwheat as soil builders. But composted chicken litter takes the cake.