The productivity of any survival or homestead garden largely-depends on the quality and nutrient content of the soil. The composition of soil can change from year to year for a number of reasons, and this can have a detrimental impact on future harvests with little or no warning. Fortunately, there are a some simple steps that can be taken in order to help the soil retain its nutrient-level and overall quality. Let’s look at a few things that we can all do in the fall to maximize the chances of having a successful crop next year.
Reduce Tilling
A common misconception is that tilling the soil will loosen it up and allow more oxygen and moisture to permeate through the material. It’s also an efficient way to clear a harvest and prepare the garden for the next crop. However, tilling also produces some side-effects that can be detrimental to soil health over the course of time. Some of these effects are particularly-concerning for those who are trying to conserve resources.
Tilled soil will use a lot more water as it will flow faster through aerated potions before running off. Tilled soil also tends to develop pieces that are compact and dense as the organic matter that keeps it nice and porous gets moved to the surface where rain and wind will cause erosion. Not only will the soil require more work to prepare in the future, but you will also need to add more nutrients to the material for plants to grow properly. All of this translates into more work over the long-term while gardens become less-productive.
Compost and Mulch
Compost represents the single, best form of natural fertilizer that has few, if any harmful side-effects. Composting is also an important component of waste disposal on any homestead. The only drawback to composting is that it takes time for organic material to break down, which means that you need to plan ahead in order to take full-advantage of this method. However, adding compost to soil will provide it with all the nutrients it needs to support productive and healthy crops for years to come.
Using mulch helps to protect the soil from extremes in temperature and moisture over the winter. It acts as insulation while still allowing air to pass through and oxygenate organic material that is essential for healthy plant growth. You also don’t need to use bags of expensive wood chips for mulch, because grass clippings, straw, newspaper and even broken-up leaves can be just as, if not more effective.
Rotating Crops
The logic behind crop rotation is to balance nutrient depletion from soil and give it time to rest. The simplest way to benefit from crop rotation is to plant deep-rooted crops in one section one year before replacing them with a shallow-rooted alternative the next. You can still grow the same crops year over year, just put them in different spots. Since different plants require different nutrients at various soil depths, this approach can help to minimize loss while encouraging plant diversity.
Cover Crops
A cover crop is essentially a blanket over soil that helps to replenish nutrients, minimize erosion, conserve water and produce food that can be grown in the off-season. Common cover crops include legumes or beans, peas, alfalfa and clover. Cover crops can also inhibit the growth of weeds and keep the soil nice and soft so that it’s easier to work with during the next season.
Learn more about these and other ways to tend to your soil so that you can maximize the health and productivity of your garden. While this may not seem important now, taking some of these steps can produce innumerable benefits that will help you to be more self-sufficient over the course of time.
