Another newbie here!

[seedcorn]

See? Already I'm getting good advice! I should clarify, most of eastern MT has pretty good soil. It's just this area I'm in has what they call gumbo. I guess it would be considered clay. Best way I've found around it is raised beds, even amending the soil can only do so much because the gumbo will work it's way to the top again. The water is naturally soft, and has been made more saline by the injection of saltwater into the ground as part of the production of oil, which is (or was until recently) our main industry. It's normally pretty dry here, although last year it rained often enough that we never had to water anything at all. It was great! I actually do collect rain water, and it definitely helps!

I grew up on Illinois gumbo. Great soil as long as you didn’t work wet.

 

[Cosmo spring garden]

Welcome from Alabama!