Sure, you have dirt in your backyard, but here’s why good soil really matters for success in your garden.
Things we often hear when working with clients or would-be gardeners:
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“My veggies just aren’t producing.”
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“Why do I have so many pests?”
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“Why is my garden doing poorly this year? It did great last year.”
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“What am I doing wrong?”
Soil is the solution to so many problems in the vegetable garden. In fact, some gardeners might argue soil is second only to sun in the success of your plants.
Good soil, that is. We’re not talking about the dirt you already have in your backyard.
Unfortunately, Central Texas does not provide us with naturally fantastic soil. Most of what you’ll find in your backyard is filled with clay or too many rocks. While that may be good enough for some flowers and shrubs, the majority of edible plants you’ll want to grow in your kitchen garden need something a little bit better to stay happy.
The Best Soil for Veggies
Your veggies need soil rich in organic matter. Soil with good drainage that also holds moisture. Soil free of herbicides, pesticides, and other stuff you probably don’t want leaching into them before you harvest them and eat them.
Wait, you might be thinking, does such a magical soil even exist?
Why, yes. Yes, it does. And it’s actually a combination of organic matter (compost), garden sand, and topsoil.
How to Have Healthy Garden Soil
Growing our veggies in raised beds allows us to fill our garden with the best soil from the start. It would take you years of amending and working the soil in the ground here before it would be as healthy as the soil in a raised bed from day one.
If you’ve done a bit of gardening already, you’ll know how important good drainage is to plant health. The ideal soil for a raised beds has a loose texture that retains moisture without letting roots sit in a bathtub of water for too long (because they really don’t like that). In addition to holding moisture for longer than dirt, this soil also keeps the surface of your garden cool longer (which your plants really do like, especially in the extreme heat of a Texas summer).
Plus, using organic soil means you have complete control over what’s going into your food garden.
Trust us: When it comes to soil quality, don’t skimp. It’s worth the extra money to ensure the ultimate success of your garden.
Start Your Veggie Garden the Right Way
At Lettuce Grow Something, we fill every client’s beds with our special blend of soil that’s guaranteed to keep plants happy and healthy.
With excellent-quality soil, you don’t have to worry about dumping out dirt and starting fresh every year. You just add some nutrients to the soil you already have to replenish what your plants take out of it and then bing bang boomβyou’re ready to plant your next batch of healthy herbs, flowers, and veggies.
Start your garden the right way by booking a one-on-one coaching or design consultation session with us. We’ll help you determine how much soil you’ll need for your dream vegetable garden and fill your beds with the best stuff possible.
Our goal is to leave you with a productive and beautiful kitchen garden space that will flourish and bring you joy for years to come.
If you’re ready to make this year your best gardening year yet (or your first gardening year ever), schedule an onsite or virtual consultation, and lettuce get started!
