A Gardener's Prayer

Now I lay my garden to sleep.
At least I have some salsa to keep.
But if a store-bought tomato should cross my plate,
Bleh—
I pray the Lord my soul to take.

Sad day.

But on a positive note, it's a good time to get ready for next spring by getting some sulfur and fertilizer tilled in to the garden. Give it some compost if you have it. Here's the cocktail that you can give your soil (per 180 square feet):

3 cups 16-16-8 fertilizer
1 cup ironite

Also add sulfur. This lowers the pH of your soil to a more optimal level for your plants. This only applies to our Rocky Mountain soil here in Utah along the Wasatch Front. In other areas the pH is already too low and adding sulfur would be the wrong thing. Optimal level is 6.5. The first year you treat your garden with sulfur you should add 8 cups per 180 square feet. The second year add 4 cups sulfur, and each year after that add just 2 cups. You'll notice a difference.

If you don't add in the sulfur now, you can try adding humic acid in the spring, or loads of Miracid. More in the spring on that. I recommend the sulfur.

Sigh. Bring on the soup.