Part 3

Getting Ready to Plant

Now it’s time to get your hands dirty. Part 3 is all about soil and digging. First, in Chapter 8, we look at what soil actually is, how it functions, and how to make it as good as it can be. We explore the mysteries of pH, and we also include a section on making compost, which many gardeners get nearly spiritual about.

Later in this part we offer rules for preparing garden beds, including the arduous double digging the English are so fond of. You’ll find out why in Chapter 9, where we also go into quite a bit of detail on how to create raised beds and how to amend the soil. There’s also a little bit in there about machine tilling for gardeners who like that kind of thing. And even if you’re science phobic, you won’t have any trouble understanding the plant biology lesson in Chapter 10.