Every gardener knows that fertile soil is the key to a good harvest of vegetables, fruits and berries. If the land is scarce, too acidic or heavy, then such gardening is unlikely to bring pleasure and results. Vegetable crops develop poorly, bushes grow weak and not resistant to diseases. Such plants bloom a little, most of the inflorescences fly around without leaving ovaries. Root vegetables are small and tasteless.
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What to do in such a situation? There are few options - if growing vegetables in the country is necessary for you, then you will either have to constantly fertilize the soil or import black soil.
Benefits of soil enrichment with chernozem
The advantages of black earth are obvious:
- Fertility. Chernozem contains a lot of nutrients and trace elements necessary for active growth and fruiting of horticultural crops. In addition, a sturdy plant is less susceptible to disease and rot. Having enriched the land in the beds with black soil, summer residents can count on a bountiful and tasty harvest.
- Moisture retention. Chernozem soil is more dense than, for example, sandy loam and slowly evaporates moisture. Thanks to this property, all plantings more easily tolerate drought in the summer heat and require less irrigation. This property should be taken into account and the plants should be irrigated only as necessary, since some crops are prone to decay when there is an excess of moisture.
disadvantages
- Weeds. New fertile soil is always new weeds and, possibly, new pests. If you are applying black soil in the fall, be prepared for weed control in the spring. Treatment against pests can be carried out already in the fall. Usually in the first year there is a lot of weed, and it is very powerful, with a well-developed root system. If the beds are weeded in a timely manner, the amount of weed will decrease over time.
- Heavy soil. Black earth is denser and may seem more labor intensive to cultivate. To lighten the soil, it is recommended to mix it with sand. Such measures will be beneficial for plants too, as the soil becomes looser and the flow of air to the roots increases.
- High price. Buying black soil for a plot of even medium size will not be cheap. Such investment will pay off only in 2-3 years. But, if you are seriously going to grow vegetables, berries and fruits at the dacha, then you cannot do without such a purchase.
Conclusion
Whether to bring black soil to the summer cottage or not is up to you. First, it is better to decide right away whether you will be engaged in gardening, whether the cultivation process will bring you satisfaction. It may be sufficient to have only a small greenhouse for early vegetables and herbs. Secondly, you need to correctly assess the condition of the soil and the need for its enrichment. Thirdly, before buying a pair of trucks with black soil, try to calculate its expediency.
If you have found answers to all these questions, then you can decide on such radical measures as soil enrichment. In this case, 20-25 years, until the land is completely depleted, it will be possible to harvest a good harvest of fresh, environmentally friendly vegetables and fruits every year. And, importantly, to get pleasure from this process!
Do you use black soil on the site?
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Read about fertilizing strawberries in spring in the following article:How to fertilize strawberries in spring to get a good harvest