In Wyoming, Arizona, and elsewhere I spent untold hours prepping the garden soil. My annual task was getting enough nutrients in the grainy, alkaline, native soils to support the growth of lush tomatoes and crisp cucumbers. In Wyoming, I hauled in hundreds of 5-gallon buckets filled with manure from the fairgrounds and then layered on leaves and grass clippings. Endless compost, too. I cannot complain about the results. For a few years I even sold the excess at the local farmer’s market.
North Dakota. I expected to follow the same soil enrichment scheme way up here. I planned to put in my favorite seeds and hope for the best. I lowered my expectations. Crazy thoughts. This land is dark, fertile, rich, and filled with something that makes my garden plants grow rapturously. I have already harvested and frozen piles of spinach and kale. I live on three salads a day. Soon, I will be pulling beets, carrots, pac choi, zukes, peas, and potatoes. My cabbages are nearly formed. Not long after that, my canning room downstairs shall overflow!
Williams Series soil is the State Soil of North Dakota (who knew). Natural fertility and organic matter are high in these soils. I believe it! Locals tell me that a few hours east, in the Red River Valley, the soil is even richer. This stuff out here does not compare, so I hear. Still, all of North Dakota is a Garden of Eden, with a long enough growing season to produce most home crops.
My first clue to the soil fertility should have come when I read that 98% of North Dakota land is in agriculture. Another clue: farmers make a tidy profit here. Another clue: few people irrigate because enough rain falls. I believe that the extra long days make a difference as well. I have heard that vegetables are mammoth in Alaska because of all the extra daylight. Why not here?
So is gardening easier in North Dakota. In some ways yes–stuff sure grows and produces. Seeds sprung out of the ground in a few days, including carrots. I love not watering every day. This spring, my soil preparation involved shaping the flat garden into beds and then laying some compost on top (store-bought this year). However, the weeds love the fertile soil and moisture as much as my garden plants. I do my best to keep the space around the veggies weed-free. Other than that..gardening equals harvesting in North Dakota. That means more time to blog!
This was early this week–all plants in the photo are much larger today!!! Check out that lovely dark soil. Garden Heaven!!!
Potatoes nearly ready, onions looking good too.
