On Wed, 27 May 2015 11:54:13 +1000, Jeßus > wrote:

>On Tue, 26 May 2015 18:51:13 -0600, Janet B >
>wrote:
>
>>On Wed, 27 May 2015 07:52:52 +1000, Jeßus > wrote:
>>
>>>On Tue, 26 May 2015 20:43:42 +0100, Janet > wrote:
>>>
>>>>In article >,
says...
>>>>> I guess a lot people need to visit farm equipment stores. They'd
>>>>> be amazed to see manure spreaders being sold. What do they think
>>>>> was the main fertilizer being used before all these chemical ones
>>>>> were introduced?
>>>>>
>>>>> My former next door had a lovely raised bed vegetable garden last
>>>>> year; that little plot was quite a producer! Her fertilizer of
>>>>> choice was chicken poop.
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>> My grandfather's hugely productive veg garden was fertilised entirely
>>>>by human waste from the bucket lav used by all the family. He dug a
>>>>hole, tipped the bucket, shovelled soil on top.
>>>
>>>'night soil'
>>>
>>>> My veg garden is fertilised entirely by home made compost (includes
>>>>sheep and horse manure) and seaweed.
>>>
>>>Sounds good.
>>>
>>>My soil here is very good nutrient-wise and it is basically old river
>>>bed soil, but high in clay.
>>>
>>>After some years of half-heartedly trying to fix the problem (gypsum
>>>did nothing), I've gotten serious this year. So far I've added six
>>>inches each of sheep, cow and poultry manures, same again with old
>>>sawdust and large bales of partly rotted sheep's fleece. Also added a
>>>few loads of seaweed I collected (I dumped it in the creek for a few
>>>weeks to wash the salt out first). Also three large bales of straw.
>>>And lots and lots of lime with each layer... all turned over with a
>>>cultivator.
>>>
>>>It's really starting to look good now and is already crawling with
>>>worms. Because of this I only have a small patch of broad beans and
>>>garlic in the main bed ATM, but this coming spring I will plant the
>>>whole area out.
>>
>>The bales of straw will give you a headache. I did straw one year and
>>had field weeds for years and years after.
>
>Ah-ha yes... you do need to be careful.
>The bales of barley straw I use are weed free, this is the third year
>I've bought them from the same place and so far no problems <fingers
>crossed>.
>
>>You may not have used
>>enough gypsum. Did you turn it in? It should be effective for about
>>5+ years.
>
>As I found out far too late after digging in probably *30* bags...
>Gypsum only works on some (but not all) types of clay. There is a
>simple test to find out if your clay is suitable for gypsum, which
>escapes me right now but found easily on a search.

What a bummer! Gypsum was a life saver in my garden/yard when we
moved here. Over the years I have put a lot of organics in my
gardens. The soil just eats it up.
Have a good garden year. I still have to plant beans and corn seeds.
Tomorrow maybe.
Janet US