Watch our students who do it all.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4kL1S3Cf-U0

Our students are taking  rich compost and mixing it into the garden soil

that was compressed during the winter. The garden spaces,  the

six raised beds you see in the video, produced 124 pounds of

vegetables last summer that were donated to the local food pantry.

 

Most of the vegetables were  donated but some  we were retained for

their seeds and the parts of the vegetable plants that were not eaten

produced the rich compost that the students are spreading to help replace

the nutrients in the soil. This is a sustainable vegetable garden that never

runs out of what we require to grow healthy and organic vegetables.

 

Soil Fertility Facts

 

pH         Plants need the correct pH (acidity/alkalinity) level which controls how

well plants utilize the nutrients available in the soil. All plants have a pH

preference, so it is important to know the pH level of the soil. Most plants

do well in neutral pH (7).

Plant Macronutrients

 

 

Nitrogen  (N)         Nitrogen is synonymous with plant nutrition. It is directly

responsible for producing leaf growth

and green leaves deficiency causes yellow leaves and stunted

growth. Too much nitrogen causes over abundant foliage

with delayed flowering; the plant becomes subject

to disease and its fruit quality is poor.

Phosphorous (P)       Growing plants need phosphorous. It is the major

constituent of plant genetics and seed development.

A deficiency causes stunted growth and seed sterility.

Phosphorous aids plant maturity,

increases the seed yield, increases fruit development,

increases vitamin content and aids the plant resistance

to disease and winterkill (frostbite in plants).

Potassium (K)       Potassium strengthens the plant. It helps form carbohydrates

and promotes protein production. It will improve the color and

flavor of fruit. It further aids early growth and stem strength

and cold hardiness. Plants deficient in potassium are usually

stunted  and have poorly developed root systems. Leaves are

spotted, curled and appear dried out at the edges. Fruit yields

for potassium deficiency are low.