For many hobby gardeners who are starting a vegetable patch for the first time, the question arises: What kind of soil do vegetable plants need? What should the substrate be like so that abundant vegetables can be harvested in summer?
Which soil is optimal for a vegetable patch?
For a successful vegetable bed you need medium-heavy soils that have a balanced mix of sand and clay. Soil improvements with compost, manure, mulch and organic fertilizer promote nutrient absorption and plant growth.
You can feel and smell good soil
Fertile soils are finely crumbly due to their high humus content and smell pleasant, somewhat like forest floor. This structure is important so that air and water can circulate well, the plant roots can find support and absorb nutrients.
The earth should be heavily populated because beetles, millipedes and earthworms, together with millions of soil creatures, ensure the fertility of the earth.
What should the earth be like?
Medium-heavy soils that offer a balanced mixture of sand and clay are ideal for growing vegetables. Light, sandy soil dries out quickly and nutrients are quickly washed out. Heavy soils with a high clay content store nutrients and water very well, but they compact too much.
Tip
The best soil improvement agent and at the same time a very good fertilizer is compost (€43.00 at Amazon). Manure, mulch and organic fertilizer also serve as food for soil organisms and are good sources of nutrients.
