Growing on Rocks

Soil is the key component to growing stuff. With good soil, things grow easily. With bad soil, things hardly grow.

The key to good soil is organic matter. The best soil in the garden is the compost pile. You know, when you compost your pumpkin and the next year a few seeds grow...? Those pumpkin plants in the compost pile are always the healthiest and most vigorous in your garden. Why is this?

The basis of soil is rocks -- rocks in different sizes. The biggest rocks would be a cliff. Pebbles are smaller rocks. Sand is an even smaller rock. And clay soil is made of microscopic rocks.

The problem with growing things in rocks is water. Without water, plants cannot grow. You can imagine that on a cliff water runs off immediately and it dries out. Water runs through pebbles and sand really quickly making it difficult to keep plants alive.

Organic matter traps water and makes it hang around longer. On a cliff, in places where organic matter gets stuck, plants begin to grow. Adding organic matter to pebbles and sand makes the water stick around longer. Plants grow better with organic matter because it makes the water stick around longer.

In clay, the problem is the opposite. The rocks are so small that the water sticks to them. In this situation, the organic matter separates the microscopic rocks and takes the water away from them. Organic matter in clay helps it dry out so the plants do not drown.

So, in all types of soil, organic matter helps stuff grow.

Remember: Stuff just grows in organic matter!

Stuff Just Grows

Gardening is easy. Plants will grow if you get out of the way.

Stuff just grows.

This blog is about growing things with the aid of the Nature instead of fighting it.

I live in southwestern Pennsylvania. The principles I present will be applicable to any region. There will be occasional references to seasonal activities. I will relate them to events in nature rather than dates on the calendar. This will make it possible for you to adjust the advice to your local climate.

Enjoy Gardening.
Stuff Just Grows -- Just Get Out of the Way!