Small Yard Big Garden Gardening in New Mexico Soil

Living on the sandy side of town in New Mexico can be a challenge, but through hard work this sandbox was transformed into a ...

This article is a summary of a YouTube video "Small Yard Big Garden Gardening in New Mexico Soil" by Blossom Flower Delivery

Key insights about video Small Yard Big Garden Gardening in New Mexico Soil

🌱 Planting tomatoes deeper in the soil encourages the growth of additional roots along the buried stem, leading to stronger plants.

🏡 Amending New Mexico's challenging soil is a common practice due to its tendency to be either too sandy or too compact with clay.

🌳 Mulching with wood chips and leaves can mimic natural processes, helping to improve soil structure and fertility over time.

🍅 Incorporating crushed eggshells and antacid tablets (like Tums) into planting holes provides calcium, which can prevent problems like blossom end rot in tomatoes.

🌞 Timing planting activities during cooler parts of the day, like the afternoon or early morning, reduces transplant shock for new plants.

📐 Laying out plants before planting allows for thoughtful placement and avoids the need to move plants later, reducing stress on them.

💧 Using raised beds with quality topsoil can help overcome the challenges of poor native soil conditions.

🐛 Certain wildlife, like the mentioned "good bug," are beneficial for gardens and should be welcomed rather than feared.

🎵 External factors, like a neighbor's loud music, can sometimes intrude upon garden tranquility but don't necessarily impact the gardening activity itself.

📋 Keeping a variety of plants, including both familiar and new ones, adds diversity to the garden and provides opportunities for learning through experimentation.

Timestamped Summary

00:32 Host introduces Gimli and Winkie, their pets.

01:11 Observation of birds having breakfast.

01:24 Winkie is commended for not chasing the birds.

02:37 Host explains why they didn't start planting in the morning.

03:36 Method of laying out plants is discussed before putting them in the ground.

05:00 Strategy for attaching tomatoes to a trellis for future growth.

07:00 Host reflects on historically struggling with hard New Mexico soil.

09:07 History of soil improvement efforts on the host's property since 2002.

11:51 The secret of mimicking nature for soil nutrition is revealed.

14:04 Results of mimicking nature with wood chips and leaves are shown in plant growth.

17:01 The host shows the Kellogg's organics filled beds and the added wood chips.

19:49 Planting honey suckle that may look drab but is growing new leaves.

20:28 Demonstration of planting a Genovese tomato with eggshells and Tums (antacid tablets) for calcium.

23:41 Finishing up the planting of the tomato and addressing the sandy nature of New Mexico soil.

24:44 Signing off message from the host, encouraging viewers to ask questions in the comments.

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Q&A

What can you use to add calcium to the soil for tomato and pepper plants?

You can use crushed eggshells and antacid tablets like Tums to add calcium to the soil for tomato and pepper plants.

When is the ideal time to plant in order to minimize shock to the plants?

It is best to plant in the late afternoon or very early in the morning before the sun can beat down, as this allows plants to fight just one battle - getting used to the soil - rather than two, including the sun.

What should you do before planting to ensure you don't have to move plants later on?

Before planting, it's a good idea to lay out your plants in the area where you think they will go. This way, if you change your mind, you won't have to dig up a plant and cause it extra stress.

How can you tell if a plant is going into shock after planting?

Signs of a plant going into shock may include the plant looking drab, not growing new leaves, or shedding flowers/petals. However, if new leaves are growing bigger since the day it was planted, that is a good sign.

Why is it important to consider the long-term growth and space requirements of plants in a garden?

You need to consider how the plants will grow and the space they will require in the future. For example, if grapevines and honeysuckle are expected to sprawl through an area, you may not be able to plant certain crops there the following year.

Why is New Mexico soil challenging for gardening?

New Mexico soil commonly consists of sand, hard ground, clay in certain areas, and is often nutrient deficient, leading to hard soil that can be challenging for plants.

How can you improve New Mexico's typically hard soil for gardening?

You can improve the soil by amending it with horse manure, cow manure, compost, mulch, and by avoiding tilling which can bury important nutrients. Adopting methods like raised beds, adding wood chips, leaves, and other organic materials can also help feed and soften the soil naturally.

Small Yard Big Garden Gardening in New Mexico Soil

Key insights about video Small Yard Big Garden Gardening in New Mexico Soil

Timestamped Summary

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