How to Prepare Organic Garden Soil

Overview

Choosing to grow organic fruits and vegetables is a great way to control the quality of some of the food you eat. If you plan to plant and harvest organic fruits and vegetables, you must first make sure that the soil that they're growing in is prepared organically using all-natural or certified-organic amendments and fertilizers. And once they're in the ground, avoid using any pesticides or herbicides that are not organic and derived from natural sources.

Step 1

Use a hand or rototiller to till the soil 6 to 8 inches deep. Remove any rocks, plants and roots that you encounter as you till and be sure to break up any large clumps of dirt.

Step 2

Spread any necessary soil amendments (ideally only those recommended by a soil test). Be sure that all of the amendments are certified organic or are from natural sources (homemade compost is one of the best organic soil additions). If you are unsure of the natural sources of certain nutrients, contact your local county extension office for advice.

Step 3

Till the soil again, to a depth of 8 inches.

Step 4

Rake the soil smooth.