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Johnston, Iowa

In my non-pumpkin garden, after I planted (direct seeded) most of my garden plants this year, we got a nice rain but this resulted in a hard, crusty layer of soil that my melons, sweet corn, etc. plants are having lots of trouble breaking through as they germinate.

I haven't worked with the soil in this garden as much as I have with my pumpkin patch, so I know the ultimate solution probably is to add more organic material (for next year).

In the meantime, and suggestions for how to address this issue? Should I just water frequently to melt away the crust layer and hope the plants can break through? Replant?

5/17/2012 9:33:55 AM

Baker City Oregon

I had the same(I think) problem. Mine was that the lime in my soil was at 3.1 and it should be about .3 . The lime then bonds with the clay particles and forms about a half inch crust. It also ties up the trace minerals in the soil so that plants can't get to them. Mine were almost to the point of toxicity. The soil looked like a dry cracked riverbed. The solution (not a quick fix) was to add 5 lbs. of elemental sulfur per 1000 sq. ft. This is what was recommended per my soil test by the lab that tested my soil. I have since added the sulfur at the recommended rate. Where I tilled it in it has been since rained on and is not showing signs of crusting. The guy who helped me interpret my test said that this problem is typical of western soils. Don't know about Iowa. I picked up a 20 lb. bag at a garden store here for under $20.00. Hope this helps some.

5/17/2012 12:16:20 PM

Baker City Oregon

I might add that my organic content was high and was told that adding more would not resolve the problem.

5/17/2012 12:33:25 PM

Baker City Oregon

I need to wake up before I post. I think that was more like a 40 lb. bag. It easily filled a 5 gal. bucket.

5/17/2012 12:42:31 PM

Johnston, Iowa

Thanks Whitey. I've got some sulphur at home - I may apply some to the area which isn't already planted and see what happens to the soil consistency. I've been putting off doing a soil test since I don't grow AG's in this garden.

5/17/2012 2:10:57 PM

Breslau, Ontario, Canada

I find that when you literally till the living crap out of the soil, this is the result. Obviously, soil composition is a factor. However, I observed, that when you till the soil until it's fluffy like flower, after a good rain the top crusts over.
I till a lot less now.

5/18/2012 7:58:52 AM

Bethlehem CT

Dan It sounds like you have silty and or clay soil. The corn will bust through just fine. I would imagine most of the other large seeded stuff will come up too. But it certainly wouldn't hurt to keep it moist so that it is a little softer. Things like carrots and other small sensitive seeds definitely will benefit from the increased moisture. On a parrallel note; When I hatch chicken eggs I always up the humidity for the last 3 days or so to help the chicks break out of the shell. I have heard that people with your type of soil will often scatter some radish seeds in with the other seeds when planting. The radish seed come up quickly and help too bust up the soil a little bit. This will help break up that crusty sunbaked soil and allow for better germination.

5/18/2012 8:57:54 AM

Johnston, Iowa

Thanks for the advice everybody! I had tilled a couple of weeks prior to planting, and I am dealing with a native soil that is clay/silt-loam (improving a little bit every year). Looks like I'm going to have to replant about half of the sweet corn. Started some new melons and lopes indoors so I don't have to deal with this problem again.

5/18/2012 10:10:39 AM

Breslau, Ontario, Canada

Radish is not compatible with Cucurbits.

5/19/2012 8:22:40 PM

Pataskala,OH

Entire bean field is like that by my house, the beans don't seem to mind. Although the tractor he uses places them at the perfect depth. Interesting that lime floats to the top in clay soil never knew that.

5/19/2012 9:15:51 PM