Start of the season: how to prepare your plot

by Dorothy

First of All: PREPARE THE SOIL
Nothing is more important to the season-long health and productivity of your crops—whether flowers and herbs or vegetables—than carefully preparing the soil in your beds. Well-aerated soil, enriched with organic material, gives seeds the best chance of germinating and seedlings the best chance of rooting firmly. Throughout the season, carefully prepared soil holds moisture better, is easier to weed, and gives your plants at least some defense from pests and blights.

  1. Clear away all dead plants and winter debris.

    The Oasis traps all kinds of trash over the winter, so be thorough.

  2. Use a fork to turn over the top few inches of soil.

    If you have been adding good compost over the years, you’ll have an easy time. Take out any weeds, roots, stones.

  3. Dig in lots of good organic material.

    The pile the Park District dropped off last fall by the Metra tracks is one source of fairly decent compost. If you buy bags of compost or soil, as many of us do, make sure it is free of chemical fertilizers. The Oasis is an entirely organic garden. This means, skip the many Scott’s products that include fertilizers. Also pass by anything labeled “top soil.” It is too heavy for raised bed gardening.

  4. If you are interested in “core gardening,” read the notes here from former Oasis director Hal Cohen.

  5. When you have raked your bed flat and smooth (but in no way packed down), you are ready to seed or plant.

    NOTE ON WATER: Seeds need constant light moisture to germinate well. Seedlings need consistent light watering to establish their root systems. If you are seeding early (e.g. lettuces, spinach, radishes, peas in April) you will have to depend on rainfall or bringing water from home. The Park District doesn’t turn on the water that we use to fill the water barrels until May.

We’d love to hear from you. If you have any questions about any aspect of gardening, email us.