April 5, Pennywise – Castlegar, Slocan Valley

Groom &
Bloom
kind of native soil you have.
Chances are, you will have to
amend the soil if your plants
are to grow vigorously. If
you’ve had a garden in the
same place for years and
years, you may have much the
same problem.
The ideal type of soil for your
kitchen garden is loam. It
contains a balance of all three
soil materials—silt, sand and
clay – plus humus, the organic
component of soil, which is
formed by the decomposition
of leaves and other plant
material. Loam has higher pH
and calcium levels because
of its previous organic matter
DO YOU KNOW
YOUR SOIL ?
There are five different soil
types that gardeners and
growers usually encounter.
Each soil type is a combination
of just three types of
weathered rock particles that
make up the soil: sand, silt,
and clay. How these three particles
are combined defines
your soil’s type—how it feels
to the touch, how it holds
water, and how it’s managed,
among other things.
If you are turning over a patch
of ground for the first time,
you will need to know what
SOIL GOAL - LOAM
The type of soil that gardens and gardeners
love is loamy soil. Loam is dark
in colour and is mealy – soft, dry and
crumbly – in your hands. It has a tight hold
on water and plant food but it drains well,
and air moves freely between soil particles
down to the roots. The feel test for loam
yields a smooth, partly gritty, partly sticky
ball that crumbles easily.
Although loamy soil is the ideal material to
work with, don’t despair if you don’t have
it in your garden – yet. Luckily, we can add
the things we are missing...
What do plants ‘eat’?
Soil texture is an important factor in making
nutrients available to the roots of the
plant. So what nutrients do plants need if
they are to grow vigorously?
The Law of the Minimum is a reminder
that a plant’s ability to flourish is limited
by the nutrient or mineral in shortest
supply.
content.
This guide is a basic outline
to the type of soils you may
have, and how to correct it so
that your garden flourishes.
1. SANDY SOIL
Sandy soil is dry and gritty to
the touch, and because the
particles have huge spaces
between them, it can’t hold
on to water.
To test, roll the slightly wet
sandy soil in your palms, no
ball should be formed and it
crumbles through your fingers
easily.
IMPROVE SANDY SOIL:
ORGANIC COMPOST
PEAT MOSS
BIO-CHAR (CHARGED)
2. SILTY SOIL
Silty soil has much smaller
particles than sandy soil so it’s
smooth to the touch. When
moistened, it’s soapy slick.
When you roll it between your
All plants need nitrogen, phosphorus and
potassium to grow. Nitrogen (N) – nitrogen
is largely responsible for the growth
of leaves on the
plant. Phosphorus
(P) – Phosphorus is
largely responsible
for root growth
and flower and
fruit development.
Potassium (K) –
Potassium is a
nutrient that helps
the overall functions
of the plant
perform correctly.
If you buy packaged
fertilizer you
have probably noticed
a numbering
system that follows
this pattern: 15-10-
5. These are also
Funk
Farm
fingers, dirt is left on your skin.
Silty soil retains water longer,
it’s fairly fertile, but can’t hold
on to its nutrients as long as
one would like.
IMPROVE SILTY SOIL
ADD HUMUS
ADD SAND
3. CLAY SOIL
Clay soil has the smallest
particles among the three
so it has good water storage
qualities. It’s sticky to the
touch when wet, but smooth
when dry.
Due to the tiny size of its
particles and its tendency to
settle together, little air passes
through its spaces. Because
it’s also slower to drain, it
has a tighter hold on plant
nutrients.
Clay soil is cold and in the
spring, takes time to warm
since the water within also has
to warm up.
known as NPK values. The three-number
series describes the relative concentration
of Nitrogen (the first number, or 15 here)
to Potassium (the 10 above) and Phosphorous
(the 5.)
If moistened soil feels sticky,
rolls up easily, and forms into
a ball or sausage-like shape,
then you’ve got yourself clay.
IMPROVE CLAY SOIL
Hanging Baskets
• Fruit & shade trees
• Roses
• Bedding plants
• Vegetable & flowers
• Hanging baskets
• Shrubs & evergreens
• Hedging trees
• Raspberries, strawberries
• Wasabi & horseradish root
• Many small fruits
Soils, manures,
fertilizers, grass &
clover seeds
ADD HUMUS
ADD SAND
(Never work in wet clay soil as
it will compact!!)
Over 300
Perennials
starting at
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6.99
New shipment of
ceramic & plastic pots
Friendly, knowledgeable
advice backed by 36 years of
growing experience.
Four Seasons
Greenhouse & Nursery
5531 SLOCAN RIVER RD, WINLAW 250-226-7254
Turn left at Mama Sita's Café, left off Winlaw bridge 1.5 km
Only 45 minutes from Nelson or Castlegar
OPEN 10-5 DAILY
SOIL
TYPING
TRICK
To know what soil
type you’re working
with, fill a jar
half full with soil.
Add water till near
the top, shake
vigorously and let the soil settle overnight. Next day, you’ll see
distinct layers. Sand stays at the bottom, clay at the top and silt in
between. Their percentages will be your clue on your soil type.
143 Meadow Creek Road
OPENING APRIL 24!
Open 7 days a week, 10am-5pm
Bedding plants including flowers, herbs, veggies
Hanging baskets • Selection of pots
Covid protocols will be followed.
facebook.com/FunkFarmGreenhouse 250-366-4417
Nelson Farmers Supply
for your
SEEDS
TOOLS
SOIL
TRAYS
DOMES
PEAT POTS...
started )
524 Railway Street, Nelson • 250-352-5375 • Serving the Region for over 80 Years
Come in and explore
KOOTENAY
CRITTERS
CASTLEGAR
Discover the Tranquil
World of Ponds and
Water Gardening
502 Columbia Avenue
Castlegar 250-365-7370
WATER
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~ Pumps, Filters & Lights
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Knowledgeable Staff
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Time to call
the TURF EXPERTS!
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Kootenay Ground Maintenance
Commercial & Residential
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250-304-4675
kootenaygroundmaintenance@gmail.com
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