Soil is a mysterious organism. All the lettuce pictured above was planted at the same time. All of the transplants received identical care, and the beds were prepared using identical equipment and fertilizer. And yet, the lettuce on the left is stunted and discolored, while the lettuce on the right is just about on track. Like I said, soil has all sorts of secrets.
These heads were planted in our new leased property down the road in soil that’s very different from the ground we normally work. The soil tests showed low calcium levels and a soil pH just a tick away from being too acidic, but the land is also a good bit drier than our home farm. When our ground was too wet to work, we were grateful for the additional space. But we’re still learning the soil’s peccadilloes and idiosyncrasies, and the lettuce discrepancy is a testament to that.
Every crop is a learning opportunity, every plant a window into the complex interactions that happen below ground, and each season lays the foundation for the season to come.