Here we are, and finally putting those seedlings in the ground that we lovingly nurtured for weeks. :8}

I have done many things for the first time this year, and I have to say that I couldn't have done any of it without all you folks. Whether you're asking or answering the questions, you've all had input in my garden.

You will also have an impact on it for some time to come; I have learned that composting and mulching are much more important than I ever imagined, and I definately have a soil tilth (?) problem (Soil very crusty after planting and watering) I know I have a high clay content, my black soil only goes about 6-8 nches down, and then it's solid clay. :O

I will get in gear with the composting and mulching (compost bin full but not cooking), but I am also wondering if adding sand or something else will make it better? I'm looking for a quick fix for this year. I want to try this Swiss Chard I hear so much about, and I'm hoping that my other directly seeded crops can bust through. I can do something, can't I? Should I dig a trench and pour in baged soil and plant in that? Help?!?

My seeds finally went in, too. Now if it would just warm up so they could grow!

I've gardened on clay for 15 years and have never added sand. It can be tricky. Sand plus clay equals cement so if you don't do it in the right proportions you could make things worse. Organic matter is the answer. Until your compost is ready, you could buy bagged manure or peat moss and add to your soil to help with the tilth.

As for the crusty top, you could spread a very light layer of grass clippings on top of the areas you seeded. This will help keep the soil moist and prevent the crust. Another trick I use is to use seed starting mix or bagged soil to cover the seeds instead of the native soil. No need to make a whole trench, just cover the seeds with it.

Clay soil actually can grow great plants. It holds water and nutrients well. Those little seedlings are stronger than you think and can break through the crust, especially if you moisten it frequently.

Thanks much! I am glad to hear that it isn't as serious as all that!

sand is good. but.... remember sand + clay is the clasic building material adobe (w/ some fresh straw thown in). finished compost is the key, finished in the pile or the ground..... compost.
you're on your way w/ what you have now. if your compost isn't cooking it needs nitrogen. I if you buy bales of straw remember to wet it while it's still baled so the sprouts die. otherwise you'll be weeding all those seeds out by hand.

Ok, cool. Of course, now this raises new questions. How much do I wet a bail of straw? and how long do I leave it bailed before I'm sure the sprouts are dead? Wouldn't it be better to just get some hay? or Is hay much more expensive?

OK, I'll stop now. I could drive a saint nuts with my confusion and questions.

Thanks so much!
Browngorker

hay is lots more expensive.
you'll see the sprouts on the outside. when the ones on the outside have all come & you've pulled tehm off. the ones on the inside whould have done the same. one of eth ways i used to compost was to pile bales of straw & put my pile between them. put water in the pile w/ the manure & it washed into teh straw & got them to composting as well. i may well do that again this year. i'm gonna need SO MUCH compost in this new yard. there haven't been any pesticides since the late 50's, but no compost either.

Holy cow muxed, you have your work cut out for you! I can't imagine doing that much composting, but I really have nowhere to do it. I barely got my husband to agreet o let me set up a bin by the garden.

We are wide open with a bean field to our North and East, and a County Road on our South and West. We live on a corner in a pretty busy area, and a very neat appearance is very important to my husband. I guess I'll have to try composting right in the garden and see how that goes.

Anyway, thanks a lot for the info, and
KEEP ON COMPOSTING!

Browngorker

i had the county get after me re my pile. so i buried it. you can try that as well. get a sealing trash can & put everything in it. or you can go w/ a 2 container system. i use this where i am now, an apt building.
i have a coffee can in my oven for kitchen scraps. the piolet light keeps it dried out so it doesn't smell. if your oven doesn't have a piolet light then you can use a sealed container under your sink, or you can lookup lindap who is our resident "earthworm under the kitchen sink" composter.
then i have a can outside for yard waste. the outside can has wheels so i can take it whereever i go in the garden. i put all the yard waste in it & put the lid on. i own the apt building (i own it so i can control this type of thing, sorta.) i keep redworms in it so the composting begins as soon as it goes in. i have holes drilled in teh side for ventilation & drainage of excess water.

when either fills up i dig a hole in the yard & bury the contents of the can. no one ever sees it & it fertilizes the soil.