I've been working with a copyeditor on a book I'm writing and I'm always surprised at how many things I take for granted everyone knows. "Direct seed as soon as the ground is able to be worked" is one of the statements she called me on. I know I use it fairly often, so let me give you a better idea of what it actually means.
Most seed packets will give you some idea of when you can plant the seeds directly in the ground. But weather can be unpredictable and soil often needs a few weeks at the start of the season, to warm up and dry out a bit. Seeds planted in cold, wet soil will simply rot. So here are two ways to tell if your soil is ready to be worked.
- The Shovel Test: The simplest test is whether the soil sticks to your tools. If you put your shovel in the ground and it comes up clumped with mud, you'll have to wait.
- The Crumble Test: A more accurate test is the crumble method. Form a handful of soil into a ball in your hand. If it crumbles apart with a slight touch of your finger, it's time to plant. If it holds together and requires pressure to break apart, it is still too wet. (And if it won't form a ball, you can plant, but you'll need to water.)
This is a good rule of thumb for when you are preparing potting soil for indoor starts too. Water the potting soil to crumble consistency, before you will your pots.
I'm sure many of you have a test you rely on, too. Care to share?
Photo: © Marie Iannotti
Comments
Congratulations on the new book you are writing. I feel the same way when I’m talking to my customers and realize I am getting a blank look back at me when I think they are understanding everything I am saying. I really try to remember some of my customers come in to see me to give them the answers they do not know and are looking for.
Congrats on your new book. I would like to ask how you know when to plant your seeds in Florida. I would love to have a very large handful (truck full lol) of that nice soil you had in your hand. The sand here is driving me nutz. By the way if you could also tell me how to keep your chickens out of garden that might also ease my grief,
Patty, your store looks lovely. I wish I lived close enough to use your plant pampering service.
I always appreciate when someone at a nursery takes the time to answer my questions. When I worked at Cooperative Extension, I got to know a few regulars and it was really nice to see, over time, how much they had learned. I’m still working on striking a balance when I talk to or write for a group.
Cecelia, it sounds like you have your work cut out for you. I actually have very sandy soil too, but I brought in some better soil for my vegetable garden and I mulch and compost a lot. A whole lot.
Florida Extension has a really nice sheet on vegetable gardening. Scroll about 1/4 of the way down and there are charts on when to plant what, for Northern, Central and Southern Florida.
I’m not experienced with chickens, but someone suggested putting wire fencing over the ground, when planting. Chickens do the most damage when the plants are small, and they don’t like walking on the fencing. If the mesh holes are large enough, you could probably lift it when the plants fill out, so the chickens can hunt for insects around them.
Thanks for the clarification! As a beginning gardener I assumed it meant as soon as the ground isn’t frozen – and since my dirt is in pots that pretty much meant any time there’s not snow on the pots – which can happen many times during the winter.
Ruth, your note made me think about something someone wrote in recently. They said the traditional test in their area was if you could sit bare-bottomed, on the ground, and not be cold. I can’t see myself doing that.
Thank you Marie. I love all your columns and advice.