How does your garden grow? August….hot, miserable August. It’s pretty much the end of the summer garden and the beginning of the fall garden!

Fall gardening is my favorite! Fall means root veggies like turnips, parsnips, radishes, beets, and CARROTS!!   However, if you want to have a successful root vegetable crop, you need to make sure you have the proper soil for it.

You need mostly sandy soil for your root crops to thrive in.  Not sure what kind of soil you have?  Here is a simple way to test your soil’s content!

All you need is the following:

• • 1 mason jar with a lid–pint or quart size
  • 1 tablespoon of detergent(dish or laundry, liquid or powder is fine)
  • soil from your garden and water

Directions:

1.  Fill jar 1/3 full with soil, add 1 tablespoon of detergent, then fill most of the jar with water, leaving some room at the top.
2. Seal and SHAKE VIGOROUSLY.   Set on the counter for several hours, or better yet, over night.

Results:

• First, if water is mostly clear, with a good layer of soil at the bottom,  you have sandy soil.
• Second, if your water is murky with some chunks suspended, you have mostly loam soil.
• Third, if your water is murky with a visible line of sediment, you have mostly clay soil.

In conclusion, NOW is the time to amend your soil for your fall planting. How does your garden grow? Hopefully better with these soil testing tips! Happy planting from Arcola Feed!