After some effort , we get our amendment trial beds end up and planted :

The last layer layout looks like this :

We got a adequate rain decent after planting these beds so we should see sprouting short . The bed were planted on October 23rd .

Article image

Many people were concerned in the toll of amendment each seam . I ’ll see if I can give you a rough estimation on the price so far . The hardest one is Steve ’s Mix , as I sourced material from all over the place , in bulk , and have to dissever those costs up into a midget bed and cypher it out .

Bed #1: Dave’s Fetid Swamp Water

Dave ’s Fetid Swamp Water can be liberal ; however , I did throw a quart of kelp meal ( $ 1.18 ) into this batch . I will also supply a duet cup of Epsom Salts presently ( $ 1.00 ) .

DFSW is the awing amendment I cover inCompost Everything .

Total Price for 12 weeks of app : $ 0.54

Article image

Bed #2: Worm castings

Worm casting are n’t cheesy , but many gardeners rely by them .

We paid $ 17.99 for a 12 lb bag at Tractor Supply .

I will start my own worm bin soon . It ’s been a while since I hold back them and I calculate frontward to advance cherry-red wiggler again .

Article image

If you do n’t want to raise worm , the louse castings arecheaper on Amazon .

It cost $ 30 to improve this bed with 20lbs of worm castings .

entire Leontyne Price : $ 30.00

Article image

Bed #3: Biochar charged with Dyna-Gro

I made my own biochar , so that part was free .

The less - diluted Dyna - Gro soak ( 4 times normal software program rate ) we used to charge it be $ 0.75 for this bed .

full Price : $ 0.75

Article image

Bed #4: Dyna-Gro

Dyna - Gro isaround $ 57 a gallon .

app to a bed this sizing , however , is just a teaspoon per gallon of water . 768 teaspoons are in a Imperial gallon and I would use two teaspoon per two diluted gallon diligence , think the Leontyne Price per software is $ 0.15 .

toll per 2 - week app : $ 0.75

Article image

Total Price for 12 calendar week of software ( 6 doses ): $ 4.50

Bed #5: Urine (diluted 6-1)

Urine and water are gratuitous .

Total cost : $ 0.00

Bed #6: 10-10-10

8.99 a 40 lb bag . Amount used 1/4 pound . ( $ 0.06 of 10 - 10 - 10 )

If we have a mid - season program , it takes us up to a whopping 0.12 over the season . No wonder masses use 10 - 10 - 10 …

entire toll : $ 0.06

Article image

Bed #7: Control

Nothing to see here , folks . And nothing to spend . Just utter Bama shit .

full price : 0.00

Bed #8: Steve Solomon’s fertilizer mix

This is by far the most complicated amendment to calculate , due to the many factor and the tiny amounts of some of them . I will do my good . This is based on what Steve Solomon and Erica Reinheimer cover inThe Intelligent Gardener , and is an acute mix of micro and macro nutrients with the goal of growing the most alimentary - slow produce possible .

The next formula is for a 100ft2 of garden seam , so all Price at the terminal of each communication channel assume dividing by 4 .

4 quarts cottonseed meal ( Cottonseed repast : $ 13.99 per 40 lb bag ) ( $ 0.69 per 1 quart apply to bed)1 quart garden lime ( Lime is $ 6 per 40 lb bagful ) ( $ 0.15 of lime)2 cup pelletized gypsum 7.99 per bag . ( $ 0.08 of gypsum )

Article image

3.5 cups bonemeal , $ 8 for 4 lb . ( $ 1.00 of bone meal)2/3 cup potassium sulfate ( $ 6.50 for 5 lb at AlphaChemicals.com ) ( $ 0.25 of K2SO4)1.5 tbsp borax $ 7.99 for a 4 lb corner ( $ 0.04 borax)2 tbsp manganese sulfate ( $ 10.50 for 5lbs ) ( $ 0.01)2 tbsp zinc sulfate ( $ 0.01)2 tsp copper sulphate ( $ 0.01)1 quart kelp meal ( $ 85 per 50 lb traveling bag ) ( $ 1.18)1/8 tsp sodium molybdate ( $ 17 per lb )   ( $ 0.01 )

Total monetary value : $ 3.43

Bed #9: Neptune’s Harvest Seaweed and Fish

$ 35.99per gallon(9lbs ) 1 oz added to 1 gallon of pee covering rate . $ 0.24 per app .

full Price for 12 weeks of practical app ( 6 doses ): $ 1.44

Bed #10: Lasagna garden

This bed is base on Patricia Lanza’sexcellent book .

This layer was innocent with the exception of $ 1 worth of alfalfa . We hunt down the mulch , manure and other ingredients without outcome .

full terms : $ 1.00

Article image

Bed #11: Alfalfa

$ 19.99 a bale , used 1/10 of a Basle .

full Price : $ 2.00

Bed #12: Rye and peas cover crop

Price of rye and pea come was about $ 0.75 , maybe . I buy both in bulk amounts for cheap .

And the Story Continues…

Now we get to see what bechance next . Seeds should pour down up any day , then we ’re off to the race . Hopefully we ’ll get a balmy winter so we get faster growth and an earlier crop . I do n’t want these beds to keep too far into leap , as I ’d like to maturate warm - time of year crops in them then .

Which bed do you think will do the effective ?

The Great Amendment Experiment

Growing Smilax on Purpose

A Watermelon Pumpkin Cross?

Better Gardening Through Experimentation

Pushing the Zone – with Starfruit!

Intensive Gardening: The Pros and Cons

Planting a Cover Crop/Green Manure Mix to Add…

Beautiful results in Saudi Arabia at the Al…

18-Day Compost?

Inga Alley Cropping

Article image

Article image

Article image

Article image