[Arid_gardener] Re: Concrete Blocks For Raised Beds

[Olin Miller]

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Olin Miller" <olindmiller at att.net
To: "Seann ONeill" <seannoneill at yahoo.com
Sent: Thursday, March 06, 2008 11:17 PM
Subject: Re: Concrete Blocks For Raised Beds

I have never needed to import soil.  About 4 inches of compost worked into
 the local soil the first season and 2 inches each season after that seems
to work for me.

 For many years I used bulk, composted cow manure from a local dairy but my
 needs are now much less and I find the "deodorized steer manure" from
 nurseries or Lowes/Home Depot works very well.  .  The bagged "Blended
Steer
 Manure" contains sewage solids according to their website, although it
 doesn't tell you that on the bag, so I avoid that.     I also add soil
 sulfur
 and gypsum each year.  The soil sulfur helps to lower pH and gypsum aids
 flocculation and also displaces any salts in sodic soils.

 Vegetables require nutrients not present in sufficient quantities in our
 native soil.  My preferences are ammonium phosphate (16-20-0) for roots and
 fruitng crops and ammonium sulfate (21-0-0) for the leafy vegetables.
There
 are probably organic fertilizer equivalents but the better known phosphate
 fertilizers like bone meal and rock phosphates are not effective in our
 soil.

 Olin Miller, Master Gardener Volunteer
 U of A Cooperative Extension, Maricopa County AZ
 ============================================

 ----- Original Message ----- From: "Seann ONeill" <seannoneill at yahoo.com
 To: "Olin Miller" <olindmiller at att.net
 Sent: Saturday, March 01, 2008 8:58 PM
 Subject: Re: Concrete Blocks For Raised Beds


> Another question for you. What combination of soil / compost do you
> suggest in these raised bed gardens (we'll be growing vegetables)? Could
 >you please be specific and let me know of any good deals in the valley on
 >said ingredients.  Thank you.
 >Seann