Forum:

soil

Is it true that the healthiest soil grows the best plants? Or Not?

Gilbert Fritz

pollinator

Posts: 1762

Location: Denver, CO

128

posted 10 years ago

Number of slices to send:

Optional 'thank-you' note:

Send

Some say that when everything is growing best the soil must be fairly well balanced. Others say that plants will actually grow fastest and biggest in a soil with too much potassium compared to phosphorus, but eating from this kind of soil will give you all kinds of degenerative problems.

Which is correct?

https://happyareyoupoor.com

John Wolfram

pollinator

Posts: 1000

Location: Porter, Indiana

171

I like...

posted 10 years ago

Number of slices to send:

Optional 'thank-you' note:

Send

I doubt you can make blanket statements about a certain soil type producing the best plants. Highly acidic soils may be good for blueberries but lilacs would not do well at all. Soil high in nitrogen may be good for growing corn, but would be terrible for wine grapes.

R Scott

pollinator

Posts: 4163

Location: Kansas Zone 6a

332

posted 10 years ago

1
Number of slices to send:

Optional 'thank-you' note:

Send

It depends!

Many plants will grow best in balanced soil for them, but won't fruit. They actually need to be stressed to put on fruit.

Some, like pioneer species, grow when the soil is out of balance in a certain way.

I have come to believe that the biggest factor in how good the plant or fruit is for you depends on the LIFE in the soil and not the chemical composition.

"You must be the change you want to see in the world." "First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win." --Mahatma Gandhi
"Preach the Gospel always, and if necessary, use words." --Francis of Assisi.
"Family farms work when the whole family works the farm." -- Adam Klaus

Bryant RedHawk

gardener

Posts: 6829

Location: Arkansas - Zone 7B/8A stoney, sandy loam soil pH 6.5

1694

I like...

posted 10 years ago

Number of slices to send:

Optional 'thank-you' note:

Send

In my opinion, neither is correct. The best statement would be "It Depends". Even in the vegetable world, it's different strokes for different folks. So you need to know the plants needs and desires and place them in the soil they will be happiest in.

List of Bryant RedHawk's Epic Soil Series Threads We love visitors, that's why we live in a secluded cabin deep in the woods. "Buzzard's Roost (Asnikiye Heca) Farm." Promoting permaculture to save our planet.

S Bengi

pollinator

Posts: 3828

Location: Massachusetts, Zone:6/7 AHS:4 GDD:3000 Rainfall:48in even Soil:SandyLoam pH6 Flat

559

I like...

posted 10 years ago

Number of slices to send:

Optional 'thank-you' note:

Send

The fattest human you see might not be the healthiest human. The same goes for a plant. If you give a human/plant no work or stress and alot of empty 'food' they will grow very big quickly. But if you give a bit of exercise/stress and a more balance diet they will be a bit 'healthier' but perhaps not at massive. Each person values different qualities, I mgith think that the best one has a bit of meat on it, while you might think that the better is the one that will be a bit smaller but with less long term sickness.

I

Iterations are fine, we don't have to be perfect
My 2nd Location:Florida HardinessZone:10 AHS:10 GDD:8500 Rainfall:2in/mth winter, 8in/mth summer, Soil:Sand pH8 Flat

You would be much easier to understand if you took that bucket off of your head. And that goes for the tiny ad too!

The new purple deck of permaculture playing cards

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/paulwheaton/garden-cards