Some advice on soil, please

[Wickerman]

When we moved into the new house we wanted to continue our gardening but there wasn't an ideal spot for a decent sized garden that didn't conflict with living/play space. We eventually settled on a spot that was on an incline, in between two white pines. I built a raised bed out of landscaping ties and we brought in about 12 to 18 inches of the best black topsoil you have ever seen.

The first year I thought we had got into something nuclear. Our tomatoes were abundant and the lettuce grew like weeds. Onion sets flourished, broccoli gave us some nice cuttings and the wife's flowers grew to huge heights.

Last year, complete nothing. Lackluster performance for the broccoli, to be kind. Tomatoes were spindly and poor production and the lettuce barely materialized. The flowers were poor.

We had a cooler than average Minnesota summer but in comparison to other area gardeners we did a lot worse. I think I have narrowed it down to soil.

So, my question is; are the pines depleting my soil? If so, am I fighting a losing battle with my location or should I go ahead and try to build that soil back up? If I should work with it, any thoughts on how?

Thanks!

[bvar22]

1. Pines can really mess with the Ph.

We add pine needles to acidify our soil when needed.
Ph would be the first and easiest thing to check.
You can get an inexpensive test kit at any nursery or garden dept of any large store,

OR, better yet bring a soil sample to your nearest County Extension.

bvar22
Former resident of Minnesota, and still miss it!
:hi:

[conscious evolution]

2. Not just the pine deleting your soil.

I was taught not to plant tomatoes in the same area two years running as it would seriously deplete the soils nutrients.

[Wickerman]

3. Interesting

that could do it, I suppose. Makes sense as you wouldn't plant wheat year after year, or corn, etc.

[Kolesar]

4. Feed your soil

Add manure, seedmeal, and/or compost to restore nitrogen. Buy greensand for potassium and minor nutrients if you can spend the money. Add lime and/or dolomitic lime for calcium and magnesium. The inexpensive testers at the garden store would be a good start for testing the nutrients.

The previous season's tomatoes did take away nitrogen and other nutrients.