In this video of the month, Lars Lund shows how you can make your own potting soil and how to get success in your vegetable garden.

 

 

Sandy soil

Soil is 20 percent water, 20 percent air and 45 percent mineral. What is most important is the 5 percent of organic matter, which is crucial for success or failure in the vegetable garden.

If the soil is very sandy, the water and nutrition will sink into the ground. A few vegetables can be cultivated in sandy soil. This is for instance carrots, salad and potatoes. Although what applies to all kinds of vegetables are that they prefer soil with a good structure, soil with good drainage abilities, soil that can retain water and soil that is nutritious.

Compost should be added to sandy soil, especially to be optimal for vegetable cultivation. There are billions of micro-organisms in the soil and with compost added, they got something to eat. In return they provide fertiliser to the soil.

 

Clay soil

In Denmark, a lot of the soil is partly clay soil. To break up the clay particles you can mix in brown sand. In some cases, you need a lot of sand. Also, add compost to the mixture of clay soil and sand. This will give you some great soil for your vegetable garden.

 

Find the right pH-value

We measure the pH in alkaline soil and acid soil. If the pH is 7, it is a neutral soil. Most vegetables like soils with a pH from 6,5 to 8. In some areas, the pH may be more alkaline. Acid rain makes the soil more acid. And if you want to measure the pH of the soil, you can measure it by getting some litmus paper and dip it in water with soil. But if you want a more reliable result, go to a plant nursery that can make the tests in a laboratory.  

 

The mole is your friend

For some the mole is an unwanted creature, but they are also a sign of healthy soil. Moles live in soil that is full of life and food. Consider the small bumps on your lawn as a present for when you want to make some ideal potting soil. Find out why in the video (please accept cookies to watch the video).

 

 

 

Note that the video is in Danish, but it is possible to choose English subtitles in settings.

1. Open the video on YouTube by clicking on the YouTube-logo in the right corner
2. Click settings
3. Click on ‘Subtitles/CC’ and then ‘Auto-translate’ to choose your preferred language