Renew the soil before the second sowing! Here’s how to prepare your kitchen garden and raised beds

By mid-summer, the space previously occupied by early lettuce, spinach, radishes, green peas and other spring-sown crops gradually becomes available. However, the empty beds are by no means finished for this season: it is now time for the second sowings.

In the second half of the summer, lettuce varieties, radishes, beetroot, spinach, rocket, dill and certain short-season vegetables, amongst others, can be sown again. Success, however, does not depend solely on good seeds. By that time, the spring crops will have drawn nutrients from the soil and their roots will have permeated it, whilst watering and the summer heat may have compacted and dried out the top layer.

Before you throw away the following plants, it’s worth taking a few steps to restore the flowerbed to good condition.

1. Don’t plant straight away in the newly cleared bed!

Once the harvested crops have been removed, the soil may appear, at first glance, to be ready for sowing, but dead roots, compacted clods and plant debris may still remain beneath the surface.

First step:

• remove diseased and withered parts of the plant;
• pull out the weeds, roots and all;
• remove the thicker root remnants;
• Check the bed for any remaining pests or signs of disease.

Some of the healthy, small root remnants can be left in the soil to decompose over time, but do not work the diseased parts of the plant back into the soil.

2. Loosen up the compacted soil!

Frequent watering, summer showers and work carried out around the beds can cause the soil surface to compact. In compacted soil, less air reaches the roots, water drains away more slowly, and seedlings grow more slowly.

Deep digging is not usually necessary for a second sowing. In kitchen gardens and raised beds, it may be sufficient to gently loosen the top 15–20 centimetres using a spade or a hand cultivator. The aim is to create a crumbly texture, rather than completely turning over the soil layers.

If the soil is compacted, heavy or prone to compaction, mixing in Florimo horticultural perlite can improve its aeration and water retention. Florimo’s range of soil improvers includes horticultural perlite, natural peat and fibrous peat blocks; these can be used to improve the soil’s nutrient-holding capacity, aeration and water management.

Florimo solution: Florimo horticultural perlite for compact, compacted soil.

3. Top up the potting compost when it runs out!

The soil in raised beds settles naturally over the course of the season. As organic matter decomposes and plant roots interweave through the soil, the soil level may drop noticeably even within a single growing season.

If the surface of the bed has sunk, do not automatically top it up with ordinary garden soil. Soil that is too compacted can impair the aeration and drainage of the growing medium.

Florimo raised-bed compost can be used to replenish the missing layer in raised beds. To improve the top layer of kitchen garden beds, you can choose Florimo garden flower and vegetable compost; for direct sowing or growing seedlings, Florimo seedling and sowing compost is also available. These products form part of Florimo’s range of plant-specific composts.

Florimo solution:

• for filling raised beds Florimo raised-bed garden;
• to improve the topsoil in the kitchen garden Florimo garden flower and vegetable compost;
• for seed trays, smaller pots and delicate seeds Florimo potting compost for seedlings and sowing.

4. A medium with a reduced peat content behaves differently!

The composition of modern growing media may differ from that of traditional soil mixes with a high peat content. In some of Florimo’s reformulated media, the proportion of peat has been reduced and wood fibre has been added to the mixture.

Because of the wood fibre, the soil, at first glance:

• more relaxed,
• more fibrous,
• lighter,
• it may look a bit more crumbly.

This is not a quality fault, but a deliberate product design feature. The wood fibre improves aeration in the root zone, promotes healthy root development, slows down the compaction of the growing medium, and reduces the likelihood of waterlogging.

However, a medium with a looser structure can drain water more quickly. It is therefore particularly important to water carefully and replenish nutrients regularly when using this type of medium.

What should you bear in mind when using it?

Don’t over-compress it.
Do not press the soil down too firmly into the bed or seed tray, as this would reduce one of the main benefits of its aerated structure.

Gently smooth it out over the sowing area.
Use a rake to break up the larger clumps in the top few centimetres so that the smaller seeds come into even contact with the moist soil.

Water it thoroughly, but gradually.
Before sowing, water the soil thoroughly, then leave it to soak in. Do not try to water it with a single strong jet of water.

Check the moisture levels more often.
The surface may lighten and dry out more quickly, so do not base your decision on whether to water solely on the colour of the soil. Check with your finger to see if the top few centimetres are moist.

5. Improve the soil’s water management in line with its condition!

Not all soils have the same requirements.

If the soil is compacted and remains wet for a long time

Waterlogging can easily occur in soil that is too compact and lacks aeration, which is particularly harmful to young roots. In such cases, the soil structure can be loosened by mixing in horticultural perlite.

Florimo solution: Florimo horticultural perlite.

If the soil dries out quickly

Sandy, loose soil can quickly lose moisture and nutrients. In such cases, it is advisable to improve the topsoil with good-quality potting compost and organic matter.

Florimo solution: Florimo garden flower and vegetable compost, in a raised bed Florimo raised-bed garden, as required Florimo organic fertiliser.

If the soil in the bed has collapsed

Top up the compacted raised bed with fresh growing medium, then mix it gently into the existing top layer. Do not create sharply distinct layers, as the movement of water may change at the interface between media of different structures.

Florimo solution: Florimo raised-bed garden.

6. You also need to replenish your nutrients – but in moderation!

The plants from the first sowing have already used up some of the readily available nutrients in the soil. This is particularly true after growing high-nutrient-demand vegetables such as brassicas, courgettes or early potatoes.

Before the second sowing, the soil’s nutrient content and biological activity can be improved with organic manure. Florimo’s range includes both composted cattle manure and vegetable manure. Organic fertilisers can help to increase the soil’s microbiological activity and improve nutrient utilisation.

Work the applied fertiliser evenly into the topsoil, and always follow the dosage instructions on the packaging. More fertiliser does not necessarily result in faster growth: an excessively high concentration of nutrients can also damage the delicate roots of emerging plants.

Just before sowing small seeds, it is particularly important to ensure that the seed is applied in moderation and mixed in evenly.

Florimo solution: Florimo vegetable fertiliser or Florimo composted cattle manure.

7. Prepare a suitable seedbed!

A significant proportion of second-crop sowings consist of small-seeded vegetables. These will only germinate evenly if the seed comes into direct contact with moist, fine-textured soil.

Steps for preparing the seedbed:

1. Loosen the top layer of soil.
2. Remove any large clumps, stones and plant debris.
3. Work in the necessary soil improver or fertiliser.
4. Rake the surface until it is smooth and even.
5. Water it thoroughly before sowing.
6. Sow the seed to the depth indicated on the packet.
7. Gently tamp down the surface so that the seed comes into contact with the damp soil.

The tiny seeds must not be sown too deep. Sowing them too deep may slow down or completely prevent germination.

8. Do not let the freshly sown area dry out!

In the middle of summer, the surface of the seedbed can dry out in as little as a few hours. Once germination has begun, even a brief dry spell can damage the delicate seedlings.

Until the boil:

• water with small amounts of water, using a fine mist;
• do not wash the seeds out of the soil;
• Check the moisture content of the topsoil regularly;
• In strong sunshine, use temporary shade as and when necessary.

The soil between the rows, once the seedlings have emerged and become established, can be covered with a thin layer of mulch at a later stage. Mulching reduces evaporation and helps to retain moisture, but do not cover the seed rows directly with thick, coarse material.

A quick guide to second-chance applications from Florimo

Don’t treat every flowerbed the same way!

Proper soil preparation does not mean simply adding the same amount of soil, perlite or fertiliser everywhere. First, check the condition of the bed:

• If it has become compacted, loosen it and improve its aeration.
• If the soil has settled, top it up with suitable potting compost.
• If it dries out quickly, increase its organic matter content and water it more carefully.
• If the previous plants have used up a lot of nutrients, ensure you replenish them in moderation.
• If it is in good condition, crumbly and rich in nutrients, don’t subject it to unnecessary intervention.

New crops should only be sown in rejuvenated soil

A second crop provides the opportunity for the kitchen garden and raised beds to yield fresh vegetables even in autumn. However, simply replanting the empty space is not enough to ensure success. Loosening the soil, replenishing any missing growing medium, improving water management and adding nutrients in moderation create the conditions for even germination and healthy growth.

Discover Florimo’s raised-bed and vegetable garden soils, seedling and sowing composts, soil improvers and organic fertilisers, then choose the solution best suited to the condition of your bed. You can find out about product availability from your nearest Florimo partner.