raised bed soil mix

[tryno12]

i was planning on a manure(compost) / topsoil / fine bark mix roughly equal mix 18" deep to fill and cover my new raised bed over the tilled clayish soil. does this seem about right? maybe cover with black plastic and water around the plants as needed? wondered about further amendments/fertilizers etc - all tomato's maybe a pepper or 2?
Thanks this type of gardening is all new to me

[Gardeneer]

Your mix sounds very good, to me. If the native foundation soil is half decent, you can do with less dept, like 12".
By fine bark, I hope you mean Pine Bark fine ? That should be best with largest about 1/2". I have done it that way : Purchase garden mix, compost, manure and pine bark. I buy the stuff sold as "Pine Bark Mulch". I have also found Kellogg's Raised Bed mix very good. Also MG Organic garden soil.

[tryno12]

Thank You, what i am buying is what is called a "Garden Mix / Raised Bed Mix" but not certain of the sellers knowledge of Tomatoes - sounds a lot like what you mentioned and suggested.

[Gardeneer]

Originally Posted by tryno12

Thank You, what i am buying is what is called a "Garden Mix / Raised Bed Mix" but not certain of the sellers knowledge of Tomatoes - sounds a lot like what you mentioned and suggested.

Garden mix is just plain vanilla or all purpose soil . To make it suitable for tomatoes just add the nutrients that tomato needs/requires. Soil is basically a medium to balance moisture retention and drainage. It can be already rich in certain nutrients too but if not just supplement it.

[tryno12]

Can I just take some of the soil, add water, and test the water with a ph tester like a pool drop by drop method? am I looking for like 6.8 or so?

[tryno12]

yes, the substrate is hard clay so I went more depth to be safe...............

[Gardeneer]

For pH test I bought this kit from PetsMart. It is very good.

I take couple TBS soil sample, add water to make about one cup. Stir, shake well !!
let it sit for couple of hours so the soil has settled.
Take some the solution/water (try not to disturb ). About 2 TBS will do. .
Pass it thru coffee filter. Now you have almost clear sample solution.
Take about 3 CC . (test tube comes with the kit ).
Add 2 drops of test material to the sample you have prepared. Stir.

Now the color of sample can be anywhere from yellow (highly acid ) to deep blue ( alkaline ).
Compare it to the color chart that comes with the kit. Voila !!
You can pretty much tell it to a fraction on the pH scale, lets say 0.5 accuracy. That is good for all practical intent and purposes.

[tryno12]

Thanks much! Are we looking for around 6.8?

[Gardeneer]

Originally Posted by tryno12

Thanks much! Are we looking for around 6.8?

From What I know 6.8 is the most optimum for maybe 95% of garden vegetable. But most will do ok/fine in the range of 5.6 to 7.6.
I would be happy within 6 to 7.

[tryno12]

Great, Thanks!