Not Much Will Grow In Our Small Vegetable Garden. This Has Happened In The Last 3 Or 4 Years.

Question

Not even a healthy set of weeds. We’ve had the soil tested and it is low in phosphate and potash, high in calcium and magnesium. The ph is 7.4. The garden is surrounded on 3 sides by railroad ties and one side by a chain link fence. We’ve had railroad ties for a long time but got new ones 3 or4 years ago. The soil in all our yard has similar readings but things do grow. We started growing veggies in this area 18 years ago and most things grew okay (not great but enough for us) except root crops. There are boxwood bushes on one side by the railroad ties that are doing great.

Answer 1

Railroad ties are not usually recommended for vegetable gardens as they can be treated with creosote. However, I think that would show up in a soil test. Have you fertilized to increase the potassium and phosphorous? The pH is a bit high too. Adding soil amendments such as compost and/or aged manure will enrich the soil. These articles should help:

https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/garden-how-to/info/are-railroad-ties-safe.htm

https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/vegetables/vgen/vegetable-garden-soil.htm

https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/garden-how-to/soil-fertilizers/raise-acid-level-soil.htm

https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/garden-how-to/soil-fertilizers/compost-as-soil-amendment.htm

https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/composting/manures/the-benefits-of-manure-in-your-garden.htm