Some gardeners prefer to dig up the soil in autumn after the harvest, while others do it in spring. When is it really better to carry out this procedure to avoid mistakes?
The optimal time for soil cultivation is considered to be autumn. To achieve stable and high vegetable yields, it is necessary to form a cultivated arable layer 35–40 cm deep. It is at this depth that high yields can be obtained. At the initial stage of developing the plot, a well-fertilized and structured arable layer 15–20 cm deep, when properly applying agronomic techniques, allows for good results in vegetable cultivation.
During the first plowing (recommended at a depth of 18–22 cm), all plant residues are collected and placed in compost heaps, except for the rhizomes of perennial weeds, which should be burned along with the dried potato tops, and the ash used as fertilizer.
During autumn plowing, large clods of soil should not be broken up: such a cloddy surface retains snow (moisture) better, and the small rhizomes of weeds, their seeds, and pests (including larvae and eggs) that are turned to the surface die off during severe frosts.
