When it comes to organic gardening, the wisdom seems to boil down to “add compost”. So the previous year, 2013, I added a TON of compost from various sources, along with several other healthy soil amendments to lighten and improve the soil. All in all, I added three inches of material over all the beds. I prepared for a bumper crop.
In 2014 I rubbed my hands together in anticipation of the payoff. Figuratively. I did some home tests to see the results of my efforts. I also sent soil to a lab, which is for another post.
The home tests were disappointing. Low nutrients in all four areas I tested. Clearly there was more to the story.
Why so much phosphorus in one corner? Not sure.
So I went about, over the course of the season and the next, adding more compost, more organic nutrients, and other amendments.
Lesson learned: get the soil tested, and get it tested way before you need to plant.
These kind of photos, showing the location and date, are handy to have in coming seasons as something to refer to. I have a little spreadsheet which helps me keep track of the nutrients and other factors over time.