How about that down pour we had last week! The force of nature really is awe inspiring, don't you think? Here at Flying Blue Dog Farm we got torrential hail followed by more torrents of rain. We had a lot of damage but I'll take that over another summer like last year's, we needed the precipitation even if it came down as frozen pellets. We hope you all fared well and that your gardens are enjoying the after effects of being well watered.

Let's talk about fertilizer this week. Do plants need fertilizer to grow? I guess the answer depends on which plants we are talking about. Obviously plants in the wild don't get fertilized, or at least they don't get fertilized by people. They are fertilized though, by nature. Fallen leaves, dead plants & animals and their feces are broken down by other animals, bugs and microorganisms releasing nutrients back into the soil and providing lots of organic matter in the form of humus. Humus acts like a sponge absorbing water and oxygen and holding them in the root zone for plants to take advantage of. That's why when you take a walk in the woods the ground feels so soft; you are stepping on years and year's worth of fallen and decayed plant an animal matter. It's a beautiful cycle that nature has developed.

In your garden at home this cycle can be mimicked by employing one or more of several methods. The application of good quality compost is the traditional organic method of replacing soil organic matter. This is just good common sense, if we are taking something out we need to put something back, nature always does. Usually compost is spread on the garden in the early spring and worked into the soil before it is planted. I like to do a second application in the fall and let it just sit there and rot all winter long, that is if I am not going to cover crop.

Cover cropping is a second way to help replenish soil, it's easy and inexpensive. Cover crops are usually sown in the late summer and fall after all the veggies or flowers have done their thing. Clear the garden or beds and scatter your chosen cover crop seed. There are lots to consider depending on what results you are looking for, some common cover crops are hairy vetch, fava beans, oats, rye and so many more. A good resource of figuring out which one to use can be found at groworganic.com. The winter rains water them as they grow. In late winter or early spring these can be cut down and turned into the soil. Do this several weeks before you plan to plant so it has a chance to begin breaking down.

The third method is one that can be employed right now and it will begin to benefit the plants immediately. I'm talking about mulching. We do it to conserve and stabilize soil moisture in summer, but left in the garden it too begins to break down adding its benefit to the soil.

Good gardens and healthy productive plants are all about the soil. Only living soil can provide the vital nutrients needed for plants to grow and produce well. Organic matter in the form of compost, mulch or cover crops adds and feeds beneficial microorganisms and earthworms. These are the critters who in turn make nutrients in the soil available for plants to absorb. Some of these critters actually produce antibiotics that protect plants from disease. So feed your soil.