Hello,
I am in my second season of clumsily fumbling my way through learning how to grow vegetables. I have had some moderate success by just jumping in, but I am now wanting to learn more and I thought soil management would be a good place to start. I was hoping for some recommendations of online or book resources (or guidance from an expert community) on the topic of soil management for vegetable gardening. Here are some of the specifics of my situation:

- I'm in central Florida (Sarasota area)
- I grow in raised beds, pots, and hanging baskets.
- I cook my own compost.
- I have built shade barriers.

Here is some information I'm specifically looking for:

- Are there general guidelines for how often to fertilize during a grow cycle?
- What is the best way to rebuild soil after a growing season? (do I just add fertilizer? Add composted soil? if so, how much? Do I have to start with all new soil? etc)
- Are there resources that provide both a step-by-step process (I learn best by doing ) as well as more in-depth discussions of soil management?
- Do any of the experienced veggie gardeners on this forum have systems that you use in between plantings to rebuild your soil? If so, would you share them?

Thank you in advance for your help.

-C

p.s.
If I missed a forum post on this topic, I'm apologize. I don't mean to clutter up the forum with a conversation that has already happened.

You might have already, but you might get alot more help with this on the veggie forum. Hello and good luck.

Caustic, I've wanted to help, but I've been busy. I'm a Master Gardener with Volusia County. A long time ago, but I've added a lot of info to my brain since then! This may

You have raised beds, etc. I have raised beds that are suspended 6-8" above the soil due to nematodes. I'm beachside in Volusia County, on the other side of the State. I have had my raised beds for 8-10 years so I think I can help. I permanently grow daylilies in most of my boxes, but 2 boxes are now vegetables.

I never replace the soil; I add to it. For me, the vegetables turn over twice a year and the daylilies don't move.

Do you want me to send you a treemail? Would that help? And not bore other people.

OK. I will continue.

For long-term plants. I remove each every year. I put them in clumps in the shade. Then to the boxes I add fertilizer, usually slow release. Palm fertilizer from Lesco is good. Depending on the plants, I can mix in 10-10-10 or lawn fertilizer (no weed control). Now I use 360 fertilizer that is 18-6-8 (same as lawn fertilizer but 360-day slow release). Some of this is on Amazon. I have a friend who goes to Apopka as gets 50 lbs for $60. He sells it to me for $60. I add new new Jungle Growth to the boxes, turn in the fertilizer and replant.

For the veggies. I have to move plants around so they don't transmit diseases--think tomatoes, peppers, etc. I add soil and fertilizer to the boxes. Sound familiar? When we get torrential rain or hurricane rains, the soil gets compacted. That means adding something like Miracle-Gro with light ingredients, perlite, and fertilizer. Add, then turn the soil over. I do still add slow-release fertilizer depending how long I expect the plants to grow.

I am growing peppers and tomatoes both in boxes and pots. I dump the pots and maintain the boxes. If you have any questions, just ask or tree-mail.

Good luck!