KNOW THE FACTS..

Four main soil types and crops that are suitable for Cultivating in them

1. Sandy Soil

• Texture & Particles: Large coarse mineral particles with big spaces in between.

• Drainage & Retention: Drains very quickly and holds very little water or nutrients.

• Characteristics: Feels gritty warms up fast in the spring and tends to be acidic.

• Crops that can grow in sandy soil: Carrots, watermelon, potatoes and tomatoes.

2. Clay Soil

• Texture & Particles: Very fine tightly packed particles with minimal air space.

• Drainage & Retention: Holds a large amount of water and nutrients but drains very slowly.

• Characteristics: Feels sticky and heavy when wet bakes hard and cracks when dry and compacts easily.

• Crops that can grow in clay soil: Lettuce, pawpaw, spinach and pumpkin

3. Silty Soil

• Texture & Particles: Medium-sized particles smaller than sand but larger than clay.

• Drainage & Retention: Retains moisture better than sand and holds plenty of nutrients.

• Characteristics: Feels soft smooth and powdery or soapy to the touch prone to compaction and erosion.

• Crops that can grow in silty soil: thyme, onions, eggplant and cherries.

4. Loamy Soil

• Texture & Particles: A balanced mixture of sand silt and clay particles.

• Drainage & Retention: Provides ideal drainage while retaining just the right amount of moisture and nutrients.

• Characteristics: Feels crumbly light and fluffy making it easy to work with.

• Crops that can grow in loamy soil: sugarcane, cotton, okra, lemons and oranges.