No matter what vegetables are planted, whether they grow well or not, the most important thing is the soil, the soil is the foundation of crop growth, the soil is good, what grows well, and what grows if the soil is not good. For example, the soil is barren, hard, compacted, etc., such a soil root system is not well developed at all, because the root system needs to continue to develop and grow in the soil, if the soil is hard like a stone, how can the root system develop well? Poor root development not only weakens crops, but also easily causes the invasion of various germs. Therefore, if you want to grow vegetables well, you must first condition the soil well, so that the soil is loose, breathable and fertile, and only such soil can make the vegetables grow robustly.
1. Pine needles
Pine needles are the leaves of pine trees, and many of them fall off in autumn, on the mountains, in parks, on both sides of roads, and so on. Friends who have often raised flowers should know that pine needles and pine needle soil are very good materials for raising flowers, since pine needles can be used to raise flowers, it is naturally the best to improve the soil. Pine needles are not only natural soil looseners, but also rich in organic acids and humus, which can improve and loosen the soil at the same time, but also increase the beneficial bacteria and organic matter of the soil, which not only replaces part of the fertilizer, but also makes the crops grow luxuriant. For areas where conditions permit, you can usually collect more pine needles, pile them up for fermentation, and when the color is black, it is easy to break with your hands, and you can mix it into the soil.
2. Cow and horse manure
Cow dung and horse manure in the planting although low fertility, but is a good thing to loosen the soil, if the soil is hard and compact, before turning the soil, sprinkle a thick layer of cow dung or horse manure on the surface, and then plough the ground, it will not take two years, the soil will become loose and breathable and fertile. Because cow and horse manure is full of plant fiber, it is an excellent material for improving the soil, because the nutrient content in cow and horse manure is low, even if there is no fermentation and application, there is no need to worry about burning roots and seedlings, I used to use two-thirds of the soil to mix one-third of the unfermented cow manure, and planted cucumbers in pots, and cucumbers grow very well.
3. Coir
Coir is a shell fiber powder processed by coconut, which is a natural organic material, which is very popular in the horticultural industry, such as: coconut brick, which is a horticultural boutique made of coconut peat compression, and some use coconut bran as the main medium for soilless cultivation. Coir has very good air permeability, is also a good material for soil conditioning, but also can retain water, protect the root system, and reduce root diseases. Therefore, if the soil is hard and compacted, it is a very good choice to use coir.
4. Coffee grounds
Coffee grounds are a kind of natural organic fertilizer, which can not only loosen the soil, but also be used as organic fertilizer, and more importantly, coffee grounds also have an anti-insect effect, such as snails, slugs, etc. do not like coffee grounds. For example, when growing vegetables, sprinkling coffee grounds around the roots can prevent the invasion of pests such as snails. Mixing coffee grounds into the soil loosens the soil and also enriches the soil. However, when used as fertilizer, it should be fermented in a barrel or bag for a period of time before use.
5. Rice husks
The air permeability of rice husk is very good, it is a good material to improve the compacted soil, and the rice husk also contains nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and trace elements, such as: when fermenting chicken manure, human manure, soybean cake and other fertilizers, mixed rice husks are fermented together, not only the effect is good, the fertility is sufficient, the fermented fertilizer is soft and breathable, which not only loosens the soil, but also fertilizes the soil, killing multiple birds with one stone.
In fact, in addition to the above materials, there are many things that can be used to improve the soil, such as: dried leaves, sheep manure, bean pod skin, peanut shells, etc., as long as you are diligent in collecting, these things can be turned into a good loose fertilizer, used to grow vegetables and why not grow well?