I am wondering if I can use the same dirt in my vegetable garden again

Viccie
by Viccie
I have garden spots about 4 x 4’.

  11 answers
  • Yes but you must mix in fresh compost, the previous crops have most likely depleted the nutrients in the soil.

  • Christine Rayward Christine Rayward on Feb 07, 2018

    Yes, you can but, I suggest fertilizing it with a organic manure. Turn the soil over when doing this or putting green crop plants in and on it to get more minerals into it. Another idea, set up a worm farm if you can, the worm juice is fabulous for this sort of thing

    • Viccie Viccie on Feb 08, 2018

      Don’t you have to be careful of burning crops with manure?

  • Janet Pizaro Janet Pizaro on Feb 07, 2018

    you can but you have to add more garden soil, lime,peatmoss,mix it together and turn over, rotate your crops as well

  • Nancy Turner Nancy Turner on Feb 07, 2018

    All you have to do is add to your existing soil, if you don't have compost available, potting soil or garden soil will do, but you will definitely have to fertilize. You are adding in the nutrients that were used up with the last years plants, you do not have to take out any of the old, most of the time gardens will need more soil anyway. If you can't till the plots, make sure you mix it in well, or dig at least twice the size hole to plant as usual and use fresh soil for the plants to get a healthy start.

  • William William on Feb 07, 2018

    I agree! Just fortify it. Compost, peat moss, extra soil if needed. Till or turn everything over

  • Chubby58 Chubby58 on Feb 07, 2018

    Yes, just add some compost to it and maybe a couple shovels full of garden soil.

  • Cindy Cindy on Feb 07, 2018

    I agree with the above comments. Till the area first. Break up any big clumps by hand. Add compost and sand. Till it again. Compost will put nutrients back into your soil and the sand will help with water retention. The sand will also help when you till the following year. Plant as usual.

  • M. M.. M. M.. on Feb 08, 2018

    As long as none of your previous plants were sick or suffered an insect affliction, it should be fine with breaking up the soil and adding any extra treatments, like gardening soil,sand, etc. as needed by your area's soil.

  • 2dogal 2dogal on Feb 08, 2018

    You need to rotate your vegetables. Different vegetables in different spots. That helps keep the soil balanced and keeps nasties that lurk in the soil away. Do you have a compost pile? If not, learn how to make one. Dig some of that good dirt from the compost pile into you soil in the spring before you plant.

  • 2dogal 2dogal on Feb 08, 2018

    I forgot to add: get a soil test done to see just what your soil needs. Don't guess. Plus different vegetables need different nutrients. As an example, tomatoes are heavy calcium users. The test can be done for under $10.00 through your County Agricultural Extension Office.

  • Le' Le' on Feb 08, 2018

    Yes but you must amend it every three or so years....add chicken poo that has dried.....sawdust.....nut shells...some potting soil