notes on soil type, pH, and other components of successful gardening: layout, protection, weed & water, fertilizer, & harvest

1. Planting a Garden PPT. by, Robin D. Seamon

2. What are things you need to do to start and keep a garden?

8. SOIL: P: Phosphorous (root growth) N: Nitrogen (green) K: Potassium (flower) PH: soil acidity or alkalinity 0------------7--------------14 Acid Neutral Alkaline Acid Acid up down Sulfur calcium Aluminum lime sulfate http://www.biconet.com/testing/GIFs/st-t2.jpg

9. Color: tell us soil history, fertility, content Horizon profile: layers Infiltration: how well does water flow through? (sand=easy, loam=spongy, clay=hard) Temperature: different seeds need different temperatures to germinate (warm, cool) Structure: what is IN the soil? Texture: tells us the sand, silt, clay ratio http://susty.com/image/soil-cross-section-side-by-side-carbon-rich-depleted-eroded-earth-rust-colored-deep-black-grass-photo.jpg

10. CL, o, r, p, t Cl: climate O: organisms living in it (earthworms, fungus, microbes R: relief, slope of the land (think erosion & deposistion) P: parent material (decayed material: plants/animals; compost; rocks) T: time (young, old soils) http://www.hylandseeds.com/images/soil%20photo.jpg

11. SOIL COLOR: Red: iron oxides (rust) Grey: elevated water tables & reduced iron Black: organic material, manganese, iron sulfides White: carbonate or salts Yellow: goethite (type of iron) or pure sulfur (rare) SOIL

14. LAB Activity: Design a garden using these plants. Remember to think about layout, pest-protection, fertilizer, weed & water schedule, & harvest times. 8 tomato plants (stakes & ties) 16 corn seeds 3 squash plants (mound) 4 cucumber plants (vine) 12 carrot seeds 4 cabbage plants 6 legumes (peas/beans… bush or vine) bean cabbage corn tomato carrot cucumber squash

16. 1. Chlorophyll absorbs light from the sun 2. Sun’s energy splits water molecule into hydrogen & oxygen 3. Hydrogen joins carbon dioxide to make food (sugar/glucose) 4. Sugar carried through the plant; oxygen is released into the air H 2 O O 2 CO 2 = + + C 6 H 12 O 2 6 6 6