Kevin Goedeke wrote:Alright, let me have it! What do you like, dislike, and where am I way off with these instructions?
Hi Kevin, since you opened the door, I'll let myself in with my critique.
I applaud your willingness to create a timeline and guidelines. I believe the guidelines are restrictive, and while may work for you in your local area, are not a prescription for success for someone living in a different region. In the "till the bed" section, the instructions may not be necessary for other growers, like those growing in raised beds with soil that has been stewarded for years. It also notes instructions "for best results" and I ask, best results according to who? There are many ways to approach nurturing soil. In the "heat the soil" segment, plastics are recommended, and plastics are not necessary in permaculture, where gardening is done aligned with nature. In the three sections that "test your soil, treat your soil, and re-test your soil", any results of soil pH adjustment will not be yielded within a span of a few days. Using lime to raise or sulphur to lower takes many months to an entire year or more, depending on the climatic conditions where the soil is being tested. I think the advice to water a full gallon every two days after transplanting may be ok in a sandy soil, but may be excessive, depending on the soil type a gardener is using, as this much water in a heavier soil can often result in saturation and anaerobic soil conditions.