Soil Problems

by Veggie PAK
(Virginia)

Soil Problems for growing root crops

In 2009 I had a soil analysis performed through the cooperative extension service. The results showed that everything was within range, except that I needed to add 125 pounds of lime to my 1,500 square foot garden. Prior to adding it, crops such as beets, turnips, onions and even radishes were difficult if not impossible to grow. After adding the lime, the situation persisted and still does. I produce a LOT of compost as I pick up bags of lawn clippings and leaves, and even use the coffee grounds from Starbucks. I track all my gardening information on Microsoft Excel spreadsheets, so I can keep up with what's what. In addition to my own leaves and lawn clippings, I composted many others, but was careful to not get walnut or elm leaves in the compost. I added a total of 2,037 pounds of coffee grounds alone to my compost pile in less than a four month period. I would turn the compost about every second or third day. I distributed the cured compost throughout my garden before planting in the spring of 2010. So, the soil is in good shape from that perspective.

I planted the seed from the same beet seed package into a 1/2 barrel filled with commercially available organic topsoil. Within 4 days, it appeared that ALL the beet seed had germinated.

Consequently, I don't know what is wrong with my soil. I plan on having it analyzed again this coming spring, and will tell them of the problems I am having with my root crops. We'll see what happens. Any suggestions on this situation?

Thanks,

Veggie PAK
please visit my blog at: www.backyardorganicvegetables.blogspot.com/

Greetings Veggie PAK
Your soil problems sound pretty unique if you are actually having a hard time even germinating the seeds. I have grown beets in soil with an acid PH and had no problem with germination but the beets were small. I limed the soil and got much better beet crops turnips and radishes and onions don't need a particularly alkaline soil and potatoes like an acid soil. I am wondering if you might have some problem with animals such as mice eating your seeds or possibly some unhealthy soil organism or nematode? It is hard to diagnose without knowing more. How do your other veggies grow? There are some things that just effect certain plant families but onions, beets, radishes and turnips are all in different families. Do they grow at all, is their any visible problems or bugs? When you get your soil analysis done I would have them look for unhealthy fungus, bacteria, nematodes and other microscopic critters. Sounds like you have great compost although if you are all organic you may want to make sure to get organic coffee grounds.
Keep me posted and never give in!

Farmer Dave