Cross post

EBCIII · April 16, 2015

I got my soil yesterday for my beds, My question is this. DO I put the soil in level to the bed height or mound it to allow for shrinkage? They are calling for rain all day This coming SAT. Thanks in advance Beale.

kath · April 16, 2015

If I have enough material, I mound them up a bit to account for settling.

**Lee** · April 16, 2015

I think you would be OK with either method. Depends on how much soil you have.

Lee

EBCIII · April 17, 2015

Right now?I am worried about running out of soil. Heck I dropped $200.00 as it is, Beale.

kath · April 17, 2015

Do you have access to any free material, like manure, spoiled hay, etc. that you could layer in the bottom of the beds and then top with a few inches of the soil? A bit like the lasagne gardening method, only with more soil on the top.

greyghost · April 19, 2015

Kath's idea is a very good one. The worms will love all of that organic stuff
and as it decays, they will mix it into the soil for you.

If you've already filled a bed, do you think this would help:

Don't worry about the soil level too much; in the spot where you want to plant a tomato plant, dig down below your soil, dig into the original ground, mix with your new soil and then plant into this hole. Then, over the summer, add mulch like grass clippings, etc. In the fall, add on top leaves and the stuff Kath mentions. You could also plant your tomato plant in more of a trench rather
than planting it straight down. I guess some of this will depend on how tall
your plants are when you receive them.

I'm glad you're thinking about all of this before you get your plants.

April 16, 2015	#1
EBCIII Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: South East Va Zone 7A Posts: 306	Cross post I got my soil yesterday for my beds, My question is this. DO I put the soil in level to the bed height or mound it to allow for shrinkage? They are calling for rain all day This coming SAT. Thanks in advance Beale.

April 16, 2015	#3
Lee Tomatopalooza™ Moderator Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: NC-Zone 7 Posts: 2,188	I think you would be OK with either method. Depends on how much soil you have. Lee __________________ Intelligence is knowing a tomato is a fruit. Wisdom is knowing not to put one in a fruit salad. Cuostralee - The best thing on sliced bread.

April 16, 2015	#2
kath Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: zone 6b, PA Posts: 5,664	If I have enough material, I mound them up a bit to account for settling.

April 17, 2015	#4
EBCIII Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: South East Va Zone 7A Posts: 306	Right now?I am worried about running out of soil. Heck I dropped $200.00 as it is, Beale.

April 19, 2015	#6
greyghost Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: southeastern PA Posts: 760	Kath's idea is a very good one. The worms will love all of that organic stuff and as it decays, they will mix it into the soil for you. If you've already filled a bed, do you think this would help: Don't worry about the soil level too much; in the spot where you want to plant a tomato plant, dig down below your soil, dig into the original ground, mix with your new soil and then plant into this hole. Then, over the summer, add mulch like grass clippings, etc. In the fall, add on top leaves and the stuff Kath mentions. You could also plant your tomato plant in more of a trench rather than planting it straight down. I guess some of this will depend on how tall your plants are when you receive them. I'm glad you're thinking about all of this before you get your plants.