Planning a Vegetable Garden

Posts Tagged ‘Sandy Soil’

So, is watermelon a fruit or a vegetable. While the answer may seem obvious, it’s actually a good question, because there are quite a few fruits masquerading as vegetables.

Botanically Speaking…

…watermelon is a “fruit of the vine”.  By that it means that seeds are surrounded by the “meat” of the fruit.  But here’s where it gets interesting; many of what we term vegetables are actually fruits!  Here are just a few:

• Cucumbers
• Eggplant
• Pumpkins
• Peppers (sweet and chile)
• Squash (Summer and Winter)
• Tomatoes

So there are quite a few vegetables that are really fruits.

What Makes a Fruit a Vegetable?

Fruits are “legally” termed vegetables if their primary use is with a main meal.  A fruit is a fruit if its main use is as a dessert course.

Yes, this did actually go to court at one point, back in the late 1800’s (the “defendant” was the tomato).  The reason it went to court was because there was an import tax on vegetables, but not on fruits.

Is Watermelon a Fruit or Vegetable…the Answer Is…

Because watermelon is used primarily as a dessert course, it’s termed a fruit in the legal sense.  Sure, there are pickled watermelon rinds and such, but who can deny the utter pleasure of a sugary slice of watermelon on a hot day?

It’s nice to know that a fruit can actually sometimes be a fruit!

Growing Watermelons

If you’re interested in growing your own watermelons, it’s really pretty easy.  But beware, the vines are long and the plants take up a lot of room.  They aren’t the kind of plant to grow if you’re short on space!

Watermelon are happiest in warm, sandy soils.  Of course, some compost worked into that sandy soil will make the plants even happier.  Clay soils can produce watermelons, but it’s tougher on the plants.

You can start the seeds indoors around the last frost date.  The seeds sprout pretty fast, so they will be ready to plant out in just a week or two.  But if you can hold off, wait until the soil reaches at least 65 degrees (your watermelon plants will thank you).  Watermelon prefer warm soil and warmer weather.

Plant the seeds about 1 inch deep, and allow two feet between plants.  Allow 4 feet between rows.  If you plant in hills, allow 2 plants per hill, with hills 4 to 6 feet apart.

Fertilize at planting out time (for transplants) or when first true leaves apear (direct sowing).  Keep the plants well-watered until fruits start forming, then keep them a bit drier thereafter (but don’t let them wilt).

Watermelon aren’t wildly productive, but especially if you’re growing the larger varieties, it doesn’t seem to matter as much — ’cause there’s plenty to go round!  (And as a side note, the smaller varieties are a bit more productive in general.)

There are several different types of soils that you might encounter in your garden.  Most have advantages, as well as disadvantages.  No soil type is a total loss — you can grow vegetables with a little help.

Sandy

The first type of soil I’ll talk about is sandy.  If you have it, you know it; light soil that sifts through your hands easily.  Dig a hole a foot deep and fill it with water.  Come back and hour later and check for any standing water; if the hole is dry, you have sand.

• Advantage:  The good thing is that this kind of soil is very well-drained; water doesn’t stand for long (if at all).
• Disadvantage:  Because water drains so well, it doesn’t keep nutrients near to the plants.  Nor does water stay accessible, and it dries out fast.

Solution:  Add humus to sandy soils; compost, sphagnum moss, earthworm castings all help to hold water and fertilizer closer to the roots.

Clay

Clay soil is the flip side of sandy.  Clay drains slowly, which can be a real problem in wet climates, as standing water can be the death knell for vegetables.  Dig a hole a foot deep and fill it with water.  Come back an hour later and if there is still water in the hole, you know you have clay.

• Advantage:  In a dry-ish climate, clay helps to hold water closer to the roots.
• Disadvantage:  In a very dry climate, clay can bake in the sun and prevents water from getting to the veggies.  In wet climates, clay drains so slowly that plants can drown.  If it’s a really heavy clay, root vegetables such as carrots and potatoes will have a very tough time growing (if they grow at all).

Solution:  Incorporate a small amount of sand and a goodly amount of humus to lighten the clay.  Compost is tops.

Thin / Rocky

In some parts of the country the soil cover is thin and rocky.  If you have it, you know it right away!  Just try digging and you hit rock within a few inches.

• Advantage:  This is a case where there isn’t much of an advantage, unless the soil you have is a nice loam (see next soil type).
• Disadvantage:  Roots can’t go very deep before they hit rocks, so it makes it very difficult for vegetables to get a decent foothold.  This means they are extremely vulnerable to drought.

Solution:  Grow your veggies in containers or raised beds, and incorporate plenty of humus.

Loam

If you have a loam soil type your are blessed indeed!  Loam is a just-right mixture of sand, clay and humus — vegetables love it and thrive.  There are no disadvantages to this type of soil.  Pick up a just-damp handful and squeeze it; it holds its shape briefly before crumbling.  Gorgeous!

Types of Soil for Your Garden

There really isn’t any soil type that can’t be used for growing a vegetable garden, with a little help in most cases.  Compost can be used to enrich any soil, even if it doesn’t seem to need it (like loam). 

You can make your own compost or buy it in bags.  If you have a small garden, buying a few bags may be the way to go.  If you have a larger garden, you’ll want to make your own compost, as buying enough bags every year can get pricey.