Prep soil for eggplant, bell pepper and Korean lettuce (Eggplant, pepper and lettuce cultivation)
How to grow eggplants, bell peppers, and Korean green leaf lettuce in rental patch. This time, since it’s the first time growing, I’ll prepare the soil for eggplants, bell peppers and Korean lettuce. Bed size is about 60cm x 120cm (2 feet x 4 feet).
For growing eggplants, bell peppers, and Korean lettuce, the needed fertilizer (base fertilizer) is 2 liters (65 oz) of cow manure, 100g (3.5 oz) of chicken manure, and 100g (3.5 oz) of canola cake. (Best fertilizer for eggplants, bell peppers, and Korean lettuce.)
Cow manure compost is made by mixing cow manure with straw or sawdust and letting it fully ferment. It helps activate the microorganisms in the soil. Cow manure compost contains about 1% nitrogen, 1% phosphate, and 1% potassium.
Chicken manure is fertilizer made by drying and fermenting chicken droppings. It is an organic fertilizer that contains a good balance of nutrients needed for the growth of eggplants and bell peppers. Chicken manure contains about 3% nitrogen, 6% phosphate, 4% potassium, and 11% lime.
Canola cake is the leftover residue after squeezing rapeseed oil or soybean oil. It is an organic fertilizer that contains a lot of nitrogen, which is needed for the growth of eggplant and bell pepper stems and leaves. Canola cake contains about 5% nitrogen, 2% phosphate, and 1% potassium.
Also, for soil improvement, I will use 10 liters (10 qt) of coco peat and 1 liter (1 qt) of zeolite. (Both coco peat and zeolite are materials that meet organic JAS standards.)
Coco peat is a soil improvement material made from coconut shells. It helps with drainage and air flow in the soil. It also makes the soil softer, which helps eggplant and bell pepper roots grow better.
Zeolite is a soil improvement material made from natural minerals. It has the ability to hold and keep fertilizers, so it prevents fertilizers from being washed away by rain. Although it holds fertilizers, it still provides the nutrients that eggplants and peppers need.
To prepare the soil for growing eggplants, bell peppers, and Korean lettuce, first use a shovel to dig the whole bed about 30cm (1 foot) deep.
Put 10 liters (10 qt) of coco peat (one bucket) into the hole and mix it with the soil. (Mix the coco peat into the soil using a shovel or hoe.)
After mixing coco peat with the soil, put the saved soil back on top. The coco peat is light, so cover it with soil to press it down.
After that, mix 1 liter (1 qt) of zeolite, 2 liters (2 qt) of cow manure, 100g (3.5 oz) of chicken manure, and 100g (3.5 oz) of canola cake into the soil.
After fertilizing, the next step is to create the bed for eggplant, bell pepper, and Korean lettuce. Shape the bed with a trowel and wooden boards.
As a tip for making the eggplant, bell pepper, and Korean lettuce bed, use a trowel to press the edges of the bed and make it slightly compacted. If you press the edges of the bed, you can maintain the shape of the bed.
Afterward, cover the eggplant, bell pepper, and Korean lettuce bed with black polythene mulch, and secure the mulch with mulch pins. Mulching is a traditional method for making the growing eggplant, bell pepper, and lettuce healthy. Mulch will keep the soil moist and the plants clean. Your eggplant, bell pepper, and Korean lettuce bed is complete.
Following is the video for how-to. English subtitles are available.