Anyone got any tips on making a vegetable garden with red dirt?  Will it take a year with compost and everything to rejuvenate the soil?

Any recommendations?

Thanks!

Anyone got any tips on making a vegetable garden with red dirt?  Will it take a year with compost and everything to rejuvenate the soil?

Any recommendations?

Thanks!

Yeah: don't.



How much area do you plan on working with?

Around a 3x6 area.  Kinda small.

I was thinking dig in with some compost and rich soil. 

Buying compost and rich soil is stupidly expensive. 
Buying dirt is like buying water. 

Make your own dirt and compost.
Now is not the best time to plant and you've got till spring to build up the soil.
Start your compost pile right in your proposed garden area then till/turn it into the red dirt soil before planting. 

Buying compost and rich soil is stupidly expensive. 
Buying dirt is like buying water. 

Make your own dirt and compost.
Now is not the best time to plant and you've got till spring to build up the soil.
Start your compost pile right in your proposed garden area then till/turn it into the red dirt soil before planting. 

Exactly why I want to start doing soil stuff now...

How long does it take to make adequate compost? 

Around a 3x6 area.  Kinda small.

I was thinking dig in with some compost and rich soil.

Where do you live

Where do you live

Waikele area.

Waikele area.

Go to the Menehune Magic processing facility in Kapolei and pick up a cubic yard of soil. If you can't pick it up all at one time, they sell it in 1/4 cubic yard.

If you can afford it, I suggest mixing in cinder rocks at a ratio of 5:1, compost:cinder

Build a (2) 3x3 raised beds, 8-12 inches deep. You can use wood or cinder block; whatever floats your boat.

Till the soil under the beds about 6-12 inches down, and mix in an equal part of compost.

Fill the beds with the rest of the compost until it is approximately 2 inches from the top.

Let this sit for 2 weeks before planting, watering once a week if dry.


I build gardens for people, and raised beds are the best bet for people with clay soil.


Making compost can take up to a year and must be done correctly; just go buy some already made stuff to get going, and then start making your own.

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You can also make your own bio char fairly easy and cheaply. Just "season" it, I know that's the wrong term, before you throw it into the garden so it doesn't bind any nutrients for your plants

Q:  Thanks!  What's the recommended ratio of soil to compost to start off with?

bass monkey:  I had to google what biochar is... but makes sense since the old "slash and burn" worked back in the day.

Q:  Thanks!  What's the recommended ratio of soil to compost to start off with?

bass monkey:  I had to google what biochar is... but makes sense since the old "slash and burn" worked back in the day.

Just make a raised bed and fill it with pure compost. Another option to look into is the Mittleider Method, which is essentially hydroponics using a special growing media. Personally, I prefer option one because it's more"natural" and better for the aina.

I've been making biochar for about 3 years now, and you really need know what you are doing if you plan on using it. It's not so forgiving during the first season, but line wine gets better with age. Also, it's a long term investment in your soil, so build right the first time so it lasts as long as possible.

Just make a raised bed and fill it with pure compost. Another option to look into is the Mittleider Method, which is essentially hydroponics using a special growing media. Personally, I prefer option one because it's more"natural" and better for the aina.

I've been making biochar for about 3 years now, and you really need know what you are doing if you plan on using it. It's not so forgiving during the first season, but line wine gets better with age. Also, it's a long term investment in your soil, so build right the first time so it lasts as long as possible.

Pure compost as soil?  Would I need to reinforce it with NPK, calcium, sulfur, or magnesium?

And I want to for sure do this right from the beginning.

Tree trimmers dump shredded material near city gardens/parks and it is free for the taking. Look for the the stuff that has been sitting a while. Watch out for the centipedes.

Tree trimmers dump shredded material near city gardens/parks and it is free for the taking. Look for the the stuff that has been sitting a while. Watch out for the centipedes.

There are usually piles at the SGT Smith community garden across Kamehameha Hwy. from Wheeler AAF also.

Pure compost as soil?  Would I need to reinforce it with NPK, calcium, sulfur, or magnesium?

And I want to for sure do this right from the beginning.

 Usually don't  plant in straight compost, too "hot" with ammonia, nitrogen and bacteria.
Immature compost can also rob nitrogen from the soil
Compost is  generally used as an additive to enrich soil and to hold moisture or as a topping around plants to further enrich soil, hold moisture and deter weeds from growing around plants.
(ever notice when compost is placed around plants, nothing grows in it?).

  We make our own compost with our yard clippings / cut grass (sans weeds or seeds), chicken coop poop and pine shavings.
   Some kitchen scraps that don't go to worms or chickens are also added.

  We "Hot Compost" which means we actively water, turn and aerate our pile (pile #1) to keep the pile "Hot"and get decent compost in 3-4 months.
The heat comes from the bacteria/bacteriea and chemicals and resulting in heat
Tilling the pile, making things are cut as small as possible and managing the green to brown ratio makes it quicker.

  "Cold" or "Lazy" composting is just throwing everything in a pile and letting nature take it's course which will take about a year.
After Pile #1 reaches a decomposed, wet yet separable state, it is usable for tilling into soil or as a topping or our pile #2.

  Pile #2 goes into an aerated garbage can for a while to cook for a couple months more.
It's then spread out on the driveway and separated further and allowed to dry slightly
This gives you what you buy bagged in the store.

  To be even further opcd'd,  I might add a little of our worm poop, (vermacast) and maybe a bit of sand and back into a container that is not ventilated and let that sit covered for a couple months more.
Now I have dirt and feel as though i have actually created earth, how Godlike.
(How's that working for you DL ?)
This dirt should still be "cut" as it is nutrient omnipotent.

  Yes, you can cheat and buy soil and that may be a good way for you to start and get plants in the ground or raised bed OFF of the ground.
We usually dig the hole, fill with good soil and plant.
When the plant has cycled thru life, the soil is further enriched when we till the soil to repeat the process.

Having a good a compost system backed by a worm farm to me is essential for gardening.
I'l be damned if I ever "BUY" dirt or compost again.
Your compost pile and dirt should never smell bad, but "earthy"?)

You might also be interested in the bucket method, depends on what you are planting.
Bucket method is AWESOME for greens like spinach, Kale, lettuce etc...

Thanks guys!

Rocky:  Someone had mentioned the bucket method to me.  That may be the way I am going. 

I went to Lowe's last night just to take a look at what they have there.  I noticed the bagged soil and soil mixes they had there, had lots of wood chips in them... I am planning to mix whatever soil I use (bought or not) with menehune magic compost.  Would I be able to mix the red dirt I have in my yard with compost and use that with some vegetable fertilizer?


All you guys talking about compost and biochar seem to have a pretty good operation going on.  Haha.

Thanks guys!

Rocky:  Someone had mentioned the bucket method to me.  That may be the way I am going. 

Actually, the bucket method I was talking about is a cheap & lazy type of hydroponics.
2.5 gallon bucket with holes in top and filled with fertilized water 
Posted some where here in this topic or maybe Off Topic.

Actually, the bucket method I was talking about is a cheap & lazy type of hydroponics.
2.5 gallon bucket with holes in top and filled with fertilized water 
Posted some where here in this topic or maybe Off Topic.

What kind of fertilized water do you put? Do you have a home blend?, cause I'm sure you could also buy hydroponic type stuff.
This looks like a great idea though, I might have to do this in another location where there is no yard, just lanai/balcony space.

What kind of fertilized water do you put? Do you have a home blend?, cause I'm sure you could also buy hydroponic type stuff.
This looks like a great idea though, I might have to do this in another location where there is no yard, just lanai/balcony space.

You can use hydroponic stuff, worm juice, your own blend.. whatever is specific to what your growing.