You might be wondering about the soil quality at MOES Tuinen and how much compost and/or fertilizer you need to grow strong plants. We asked Eurofins to analyze our soil and provide fertilization advice for the vegetable garden. The analysis showed that the soil is rich in all the necessary nutrients and has a good structure. Eurofins recommended maintaining this quality and stimulating soil life to keep crops strong and resilient.
Background
First of all, it's good to know that before MOES Tuinen began in 2024, the land had been uncultivated for about 30 years. Although flowers were grown in our greenhouses during that time, this was done above ground in rockwool pots with a closed water system. This makes the soil nutrient-rich and well-balanced. It's also safe to garden in our soil from a health perspective, as confirmed by research. The soil pH (acidity) is 7.1, which is ideal for most vegetables. However, note that fruit trees don't require more acidic soil.
Nutrients
Plants naturally need nutrients to grow strongly and healthily. When plants lack nutrients, they become vulnerable to diseases and pests. Nutrients can be divided into macronutrients and micronutrients:
- Macronutrients are substances that plants need in large quantities, such as nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, magnesium, calcium and sulfur.
- Micronutrients (also called trace elements) are minerals that are needed in smaller quantities but are essential for plant metabolic processes. A micronutrient deficiency prevents plants from properly absorbing or processing macronutrients. Examples include iron, zinc, and copper. All necessary macronutrients and micronutrients are present in sufficient quantities in our soil.
In addition, organic matter in the soil is vital because it promotes good soil structure and stability. Our soil at MOES Tuinen is loam, a combination of clay and sandy soil. According to research, the crumbliness (crumb structure) of the soil is rated as good to excellent.
Cultivation in (raised) vegetable garden beds
In our experience, vegetables grow best in (raised) garden beds with at least 6 cm of compost. You can optionally mix this in or supplement it with organic potting soil. Many vegetable plants are sown directly or planted as seedlings, and they generally grow somewhat better, faster, and more evenly in a topsoil of lighter material like compost.
As a grower at MOES Tuinen, you have year-round access to the high-quality, certified compost we offer free of charge.
Annual fertilization advice
Based on the analysis report, this is the recommended fertilization plan:
- Add at least 2–3 cm of compost to your vegetable garden beds annually. Compost is available free of charge to MOES Tuinen customers. Our tip: Cover the walkways with a layer of wood chips to prevent drying out and enrich the soil with organic matter.
- Add extra nitrogen and potassium to the soil annually. Our tip: Composted chicken manure is very effective for this. According to Eurofins, the recommendation is 3–4 kg of chicken manure pellets for a 16–19 m² vegetable garden. Lightly mix the pellets into the topsoil during planting or gently rake them into your garden beds.
We also recommend adding a layer of worm compost (worm boxes) twice a year. This enriches the soil with beneficial bacteria, enzymes, and fungi, which improves nutrient absorption and makes plants more resilient to diseases and pests. We offer worm compost at our location. If you're lucky, the boxes may contain worm cocoons that will produce young worms, further improving soil quality. Mixing lava meal into the worm compost also adds valuable minerals, which is especially helpful when working with raised beds. These minerals help make your plants even stronger.