Another experiment

[Silentrunning]

Since moving to North Carolina I have been amazed at what grows out of the red clay that is so predominant up here. I see large farms with no top soil having great fields of cotton, tobacco and corn. I decided to till up a 6’ X 24’ area in the back yard and plant some sweet corn. There is nothing but clay there so I don’t have high hopes but I love to try new things. In case you were wondering, it is no fun trying to till wet clay.

 

[treeguy]

Corn is wind pollinated, so it is best grown in a block with the outer rows having concurrently fewer pollinated kernels.

 

[zigs]

I've gardened on clay in the past, not much fun when it's wet and like trying to grow on broken bricks when it's dry.

But it is usually packed full of nutrients. If you can add any organic material and sand you'll have a very good growing medium.

This Rhubarb was a 2 year old plant grown in clay with added crushed lime mortar from an old wall.

 

[treeguy]

Acidic clay?

 

[Silentrunning]

Acidic clay?

According to my gage it is extremely alkaline. Depending on if the corn starts to grow I may have it tested by the county.

 

[treeguy]

This Rhubarb was a 2 year old plant grown in clay with added crushed lime mortar from an old wall.

...Which is very alkaline. It needs sulfur?

 

[zigs]

...Which is very alkaline. It needs sulfur?

About ph 8 when it's dry. Rhubarb usually likes a slightly acidic soil so it may have just been the improved drainage it liked.